N Sembilan royal council voids ruler's removal bid, sacks two customary chiefs

 

N SEMBILAN POLLS | The Negeri Sembilan Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang) has reaffirmed Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s position as the state ruler.

Council secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said the state’s highest customary body met yesterday, ahead of today’s polling day, and ruled that an April 19 declaration by four chieftains to remove Tuanku Muhriz was “unconstitutional” and had no legal effect.

The council also declared the removal of Jelebu undang Maarof Mat Rashad and Sungai Ujong’s datuk syahbandar Badarudin Abdul Khalid, effective May 31, 2023 and July 30, 2026, respectively.

“The council further advised and ruled that the individuals who purported to hold the offices of undang of Sungai Ujong, undang of Rembau, and undang of Jelebu - namely Mubarak Thahak, Abdul Rahim Yasin, and Maarof Mat Rashad, respectively - had, at all material times, either ceased to hold or had never lawfully held those offices.

“The council held that the undang of Sungai Ujong and the undang of Jelebu had each been removed in accordance with the customs of their respective luak (territory) on the applicable dates, while the purported undang of Rembau had never been lawfully appointed under the required customs, nor had his appointment ever been completed through the Ceremony Proclaiming the Appointment of the Undang,” said Raja Norazli.

He added that the council accepted a decision by a group of Jelebu nobles to remove Maarof after summoning them and hearing their complaints yesterday.

The nobles, whose own positions are also disputed, had alleged that Maarof breached the territory’s customary laws.

Negeri Sembilan Undang Yang Empat reading a proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar in April. From left: Maarof Mat Rashad (Jelebu), Mubarak Thahak (Sungai Ujong), Muhammad Abdullah (Johol), and Abdul Rahim Yasin (Rembau).

Lack of quorum

In an immediate response, the four chieftains, tunku besar of Tampin, and Sungai Ujong’s datuk syahbandar claimed all decisions made during yesterday’s council meeting were unlawful and therefore void.

In a statement, they argued the session lacked a quorum, alleging only three of the seven council members were present.

The leaders cited Article 20 of the Negeri Sembilan state constitution, which stipulates that a council sitting must be attended by at least half of its members.

“Thus, we, the Undang Yang Empat, with the tunku besar of Tampin and Sungai Ujong’s datuk syahbandar, hereby state that all decisions taken during the July 31 special meeting as mentioned in today’s statement were invalid and void,” the chieftains said.

They also questioned the legitimacy of the special sitting, claiming it was influenced by “confusing external motives”.

Royal dispute spills into politics

Tuanku Muhriz’s position had been disputed since the four chieftains announced in April that they had unanimously decided to remove him.

The dispute escalated when the Undang Yang Empat, together with the tunku besar of Tampin and datuk syahbandar, proclaimed Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

The crisis later spilt into politics after BN assemblypersons withdrew support for caretaker Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun, accusing him of mishandling the dispute and allowing it to escalate.

This led to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on June 4. - Mkini