Royal court rejects claims Tuanku Muhriz meddled in customary affairs

 The Negeri Sembilan DKU secretary says the undang of Sungei Ujong was dismissed by territorial chiefs, and the decision accepted by the DKU as part of its role under the state constitution.

DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said Article 16(1) of the state constitution expressly states that the DKU must advise on questions of Malay custom referred to it. (Wikipedia pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Negeri Sembilan royal court has rejected claims that the Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, had interfered in the customary affairs of a territorial chief, the Luak Sungei Ujong, at a meeting on April 17.

Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, secretary of the royal court, known as Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, said the meeting, chaired by Tuanku Muhriz, was part of the DKU’s function to advise on the luak’s customary decisions, as provided for under Article 16 of the state constitution.

He said the DKU heard a complaint at the meeting from the Ibu Soko Klana Hulu and Waris Klana Hulu as representatives of Telaga Undang Luak Sungei Ujong.

Raja Norazli said they had removed Mubarak Dohak as undang of Sungei Ujong according to the luak’s customs through a termination letter dated May 13, 2025.

He said that Tuanku Muhriz clearly emphasised that the power to choose, appoint and remove undangs lies with the luak itself under the state constitution. Furthermore, DKU members, including Tuanku Muhriz, have no power to support or reject the luak’s decisions.

“As such, the DKU accepted the termination as a decision made by the luak according to its customs under Article 14(3). The DKU did not terminate any undang, nor did Tuanku Muhriz. The DKU accepted the luak’s decision to terminate the undang of Sungei Ujong,” Raja Norazli said in a statement today.

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

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

Raja Norazli said that the 1898 agreement between the Yang Dipertuan Besar and the Undang Yang Empat was an important part of the state’s constitutional history but was no longer the state’s sole source of constitutional rights or powers.

“It must be read subject to the express provisions of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 and can only be given effect insofar as it does not conflict with the state constitution,” he said.

Raja Norazli said Article 16(1) of the state constitution also expressly states that the DKU must advise on questions of Malay custom referred to it, and any delay or failure to do so constitutes a neglect of the duty entrusted to it. - FMT