Disputed chieftains claim Tuanku Muhriz breached 1898 agreement

 They lay out their grounds for Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir's removal as Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan in a 12-page release.

The four purported undangs claim a 1898 agreement signed between the Yang Dipertuan Besar and four undangs then in office form the basis of the Negeri Sembilan constitution.

PETALING JAYA:

The four purported undangs of Negeri Sembilan, together with the Tunku Besar Tampin, have defended their bid to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang Dipertuan Besar, claiming the ruler had breached provisions of a 1898 agreement.

The chieftains claimed the ruler had breached two clauses in the agreement by interfering in the custom affairs of each area, and entertaining complaints against their appointed undangs.

In a 12-page statement, they also accused Tuanku Muhriz of hearing complaints against the purported Rembau undang Abdul Rahim Yasin from a rival group that participated in the undang elections.

They said this was despite the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) confirming Rahim’s appointment in July 2025. However, in a statement issued on Aug 1 this year, the DKU clarified that Rahim was never formally appointed.

The nobles also claimed that Mubarak Dohak, who claims to be the Sungai Ujong undang, was removed from his post for leading an enquiry into the ruler’s alleged interference in Rembau.

“Based on these facts, we maintain that Tuanku Muhriz interfered in the custom affairs in Rembau and Sungai Ujong and acted to remove the undangs of both areas,” they said.

The chieftains also argued that the 1898 agreement between the Yang Dipertuan Besar and four undangs then in office formed the basis of the Negeri Sembilan constitution.

They said the terms of the agreement were repeated and ratified again under a 1934 agreement between the ruler and undangs at the time.

They also said Article 32 of the state constitution outlines that the First Part of the constitution “shall not affect the ancient constitution and ancient custom” of Negeri Sembilan.

The ongoing constitutional crisis was sparked by the “undangs” in April when they announced the purported removal of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang Dipertuan Besar, without disclosing any grounds or evidence.

Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was then purportedly proclaimed the “new” Yang Dipertuan Besar by one of the undangs at a five-star hotel in Melaka, as the others joined online.

The DKU, the state’s highest custom council, has repeatedly upheld that Tuanku Muhriz remains the rightful Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

Undangs claim unlawfully bypassed by ruler

The chieftains also accused Tuanku Muhriz of failing to consult them before a Conference of Rulers meeting and in the appointment of the state mufti.

They cited Article 28(2) of the state constitution, which defines the term “ruler” as the Yang Dipertuan Besar acting together with a majority of the undangs in exercising discretions under Article 40(2).

Article 40(2) outlines the “ruler’s” discretion in appointing a menteri besar as well as “any function” as the state’s head of Islam or involving Malay custom, among others.

The “undangs” said this meant they must be consulted by the ruler prior to the Conference of Rulers convening and the mufti’s appointment. - FMT