SEREMBAN, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) today reiterated that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the lawful Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and chairman of the council.
DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said there was no vacancy in the position and no successor as long as it was lawfully occupied.
He said under Article XVI of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 (UUTKNS 1959), matters concerning adat (Malay customs), including the selection, appointment, abdication and removal of the Yang Dipertuan Besar and Undang, fell within the DKU’s jurisdiction.
Article XVI(3), he said, further provided that the council’s advice on such matters was final and could not be challenged or questioned in any court on any grounds.
As such, he said, the State Executive Council (Exco) and state government had no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation or the position of the Yang Dipertuan Besar.
Referring to the “Decision of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council No. 6 of 2026” dated Sept 16, Raja Norazli said any decision to confirm Tuanku Muhriz’s removal, recognise a new Yang Dipertuan Besar and implement it immediately was beyond the Exco’s jurisdiction and contrary to the DKU’s decision.
“As such, it is unconstitutional, invalid and has no legal effect,” he said in a statement today.
The DKU also reiterated its position that the April 19, 2026 proclamation was defective from the outset, saying no inquiry under Article X(1) of the UUTKNS 1959 had been conducted.
Raja Norazli said three of the four individuals who signed the proclamation did not hold the office of Undang on the date in question, while the functions under Article X(2) had been carried out until the proclamation lapsed and became void.
He said the Exco could not cure the alleged defects, while any subsequent proclamation to select a new Yang Dipertuan Besar based on the same grounds would likewise be invalid and have no legal effect.
Meanwhile, the DKU said it was aware that the matter was currently before the High Court in Seremban and that court orders remained in force.
“The council urges all parties to respect the court process and refrain from taking any action that could circumvent or interfere with it,” he said.
Raja Norazli said the Negeri Sembilan customary institutions, including the institutions of the Yang Dipertuan Besar and the Undang, belonged to neither political parties nor individuals, but were a trust for all anak buah and waris.
The DKU therefore urged all parties to uphold the UUTKNS 1959, respect the council’s jurisdiction and determinations, and resolve any dispute through valid constitutional and legal processes.
-- BERNAMA