STRAITS TIMES SINGAPORE: MALAYSIA'S RULERS CONFERENCE POSTPONED LAST MINUTE OVER NEGERI SEMBILAN THRONE DISPUTE

 This is from Singapore's Straits Times (for full report click here). I have summarised the main points.

• Msia’s rulers last-minute postponement of Ruler's Conference 
• scheduled June 23-25 
• amid brewing dispute over throne of Negeri Sembilan
• raised doubts over whether state polls on Aug 1 can proceed.
• Palace confirmed cancellation of Conference to ST early on June 23
• no further details were offered
• several sources, including a chief minister scheduled to attend conference  
• told ST concerns over whether it was appropriate to proceed 
• given two claimants to throne of Negeri Sembilan

• Under Negeri's unique Adat Perpatih, Undang elect state ruler 
• can remove him if an inquiry establishes serious grounds for dismissal
• rulers’ decision now throws months-long Negeri palace crisis back to courts
• which are due to hear arguments from the two parties in July

• On April 17 Undang’s years of disgruntlement with Muhriz 
• over perceived curbing of their privileges came to a head 
• when he affirmed removal of one chieftain by his own tribal chiefs 
• at a special meeting of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU)
• the state’s highest authority on Malay customs

• Undang then retaliated with April 19 ceremony to remove Muhriz
• This led state govt to dissolve legislature for polls
• announcing in rushed press conference close to midnite on June 4 
• to pre-empt chieftains from installing new ruler on morning of June 5
• On June 5 police blocked venue where installation supposed to be held
• forcing Undang to retreat to hotel in Melaka to install Nadzaruddin

The delay will serve as encouragement to the Undang who installed Nadzaruddin Ja’afar (above centre) – the son of the previous Yamtuan and Muhriz’s cousin – as the new sovereign on June 5.  PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

• same day Seremban High Court granted interim injunctions 
• barring any DKU meetings until suit Undang vs Yamtuan & state admin settled
• Undangs persisted in proclaiming Nadzaruddin new ruler
• They wrote to Malaysia’s King on matter ahead of Conference of Rulers
• risking contempt of court 
• Conference of Rulers’ postponement despite state and federal govt recognising only Muhriz Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, or Yamtuan.
• If council had proceeded with Muhriz in attendance – he was also scheduled to take on rotational chair of meetings – it would have affirmed status quo.
• delay will encourage Undangs who installed Nadzaruddin new sovereign June 5
• Nadzaruddin Jaafar is son of the previous Yamtuan and Muhriz’s cousin

Conference of Rulers is rarely called off 

last time because of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2021 

signalling how seriously brother rulers view crisis in Negeri 

which has reverberated politically, forcing snap polls in the state

• this will now spark uncertainty over whether upcoming vote will be held
• as Muhriz Munawir dissolved state legislature on June 5. 
• after four Undang, “sacked” him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar in April.
• dissolution came after UMNO withdrew support on April 27 for Negeri MB
• who hails from ..Pakatan Harapan (PH) 
• alleging MB had interfered in royal affairs by declaring Muhriz ruler

• The state election could be crucial for PH
• PH performed disastrously at the last state election in Sabah
• Another heavy defeat in Johor could jeopardise leadership 
• force national polls well ahead of the February 2028 deadline.

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