SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA — Negeri Sembilan’s Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has declared that the signing of a September 5 document seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar constitutes treason under customary tradition and state law.
The decision was reached during a special DKU session on September 13. The council said the document violated the adat of Negeri Sembilan and the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959.
DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said four of the six signatories did not hold the official positions stated in the document. He added that the signatories had attempted to initiate the ruler’s abdication without the mandatory investigation required under the state Constitution, used titles they were not legally entitled to hold and issued directives to civil servants under unauthorised authority.
The six signatories were identified as Undang of Johol Muhammed Abdullah; former Undang of Sungei Ujong Mubarak Dohak; former Undang of Jelebu Maarof Mat Rashad; former Undang of Rembau Abdul Rahim Yasin; Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Syed Razman Tunku Syed Al-Qadri; and former Datuk Shahbandar Sungei Ujong Badarudin Abd Khalid.
Raja Norazli said no government officer was required to act on instructions based on the disputed document. He reaffirmed that the state administration and all state officers must continue to recognise Tuanku Muhriz as the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
He said no lawful process had taken place to end Tuanku Muhriz’s tenure. The DKU secretary will convey the council’s decision to the Menteri Besar, the State Secretary and the state legal adviser, while also filing a police report concerning the actions of the six individuals.
The council further ruled that an April 19 proclamation calling for the ruler’s removal was invalid from the outset. Raja Norazli said three of its signatories—Mubarak, Maarof and Abdul Rahim—did not hold the relevant Undang positions at the time. The three individuals are challenging their removal from office.
According to Raja Norazli, state law permits the Undang to call for the ruler’s abdication only after a full investigation has been completed. He said no such investigation had been conducted or brought before the DKU, and Tuanku Muhriz had not been given notice or an opportunity to respond.
He also said former Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun had refused to sign the April 19 proclamation on April 20 because the constitutional requirements had not been fulfilled. Raja Norazli maintained that the refusal caused the proclamation to lapse and prevented a new Menteri Besar from exercising the same function again.
The current Menteri Besar, Ismail Lasim, has claimed that he was forced to sign the September 5 document. Police are investigating the allegation.
The DKU recognised Muhammad Faris Johari as the current Undang of Sungei Ujong and Hassan Ab Hamid as the Undang of Rembau. It said the positions of Undang of Jelebu and Datuk Shahbandar Sungei Ujong remained vacant.
The council also said a reconciliation committee proposed by the state government was unnecessary if its mandate covered customary matters, which fall under the DKU’s authority. However, it will seek clarification from the government on the committee’s proposed terms of reference.
Raja Norazli urged all parties to avoid spreading unsubstantiated allegations about the institutions of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Undang. He said Negeri Sembilan’s customary institutions belonged neither to political parties nor individuals, but represented a trust held for the state’s people and clan heirs.