Negeri Sembilan Constitutional Dispute Deepens as Ruling Chiefs Urge Delay of State Assembly Opening

The constitutional dispute in Negeri Sembilan is getting worse as the ruling chiefs ask for more time to open the state assembly.

On April 23, in Negeri Sembilan, a constitutional standoff got worse when the state’s traditional leaders tried to stop the official opening of the legislative assembly, saying that there were still unanswered questions about the monarch’s authority.

Together with Tunku Syed Razman Syed Idrus Al-Qadri, the four Undang (Datuk Mubarak Dohak, Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Datuk Muhammed Abdullah, and Datuk Abdul Rahim Yasin) said in a statement that the state government should delay Thursday’s planned start of the assembly.

Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had been removed from the throne on April 19, they said, so he couldn’t lead the event. The group also stated that they would not be going to the event, pointing out that royal protocol requires them to be there.

The leaders used parts of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution and the Federal Constitution to say that the Menteri Besar had to follow their order until a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar was officially named.

On the other hand, the state government has taken a different stance. Aminuddin Harun, the Menteri Besar, has questioned whether the move to remove Tuanku Muhriz was valid, saying that one of the Undang, Datuk Mubarak Dohak, had already been removed on April 17 and did not have any power in the ॰િ॰્ॣ९.

According to Aminuddin, Mubarak was removed because he was accused of breaking adat, which is Arabic for “customary law.” The DKU, which is the state’s top traditional council and watches over the rulers, made the decision. The four Undang have since denied this claim, which has made the institutional deadlock even worse.

While the turmoil was going on, it looked like the plans for the start of the assembly were going as planned. State Secretary Mohd Zafir Ibrahim reported that Tuanku Muhriz and his wife, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, were planning to attend. The Royal Malay Regiment had already set up ceremonial plans outside the building, including a guard of honor.

The problem started when the four Undang announced their decision to remove Tuanku Muhriz for “unspecified misconduct” and to name Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The official word from the royal house has not been released yet.

The Undang said Aminuddin was unfit to be governor and called for his replacement, worsening the situation.

Politicians say the ंة could lead to a bigger test of Malaysia’s constitution, especially when it involves balancing power between elected leaders and traditional Malay masters in states like Negeri Sembilan, where customary law is very important.

At this point, it’s still not clear if the assembly meeting will happen as planned or if talks between the state government and the traditional will lead to a temporary solution.