‘Proclamation’ of new ruler invalid, says Negeri Sembilan palace

 Keeper of the Negeri Sembilan ruler's seal also says Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar has relinquished his title of Tunku Panglima Besar by his own actions.

On Friday, a video showed Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar being proclaimed as Negeri Sembilan’s 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar amid an ongoing customary and constitutional crisis in the state. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Negeri Sembilan palace has maintained that the purported proclamation of the “new” Yang di-Pertuan Besar is invalid in terms of the state’s constitution, laws and customs.

Azizi Ali, keeper of the Negeri Sembilan ruler’s seal, said this meant that Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar’s attempt at assuming the role has no legal effect.

“However, by attempting to accept the title, Tunku Nadzaruddin has, by his own actions, relinquished the hereditary title of Tunku Panglima Besar of Negeri Sembilan, which he previously held.

“This means that the hereditary title of Tunku Panglima Besar is currently vacant,” he said in a statement tonight.

On Friday, a video showed Tunku Nadzaruddin being proclaimed as Negeri Sembilan’s 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar amid an ongoing customary and constitutional crisis in the state.

It is understood that the proclamation was made by the Jelebu undang, Maarof Mat Rashad, on behalf of the four chieftains.

The ceremony took place at a five-star hotel in Melaka.

In response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had said that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the recognised Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

Anwar warned that any move to remove or depose a state ruler would have far-reaching implications for the country and its stability, and said the customary dispute should be resolved through the courts.

The Negeri Sembilan crisis arose after Mubarak Dohak, the former undang of Sungai Ujong, announced the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar at a press conference on April 19 with the three other undangs.

Menteri besar Aminuddin Harun rejected the declaration, saying Mubarak himself had been removed from his post prior to that.

This sparked a political crisis after all 14 Umno state assemblymen withdrew support for Aminuddin over his handling of the royal dispute.

The political crisis culminated in the Negeri Sembilan assembly being dissolved last Friday, though the undangs contend that the menteri besar must also obtain their agreement, alongside the Yang di-Pertuan Besar’s, to dissolve the assembly. - FMT