The Negeri Sembilan Council of Justice and Undang (DKU) has once again affirmed that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Council secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said Tuanku Muhriz was elected by the Undang and proclaimed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar on December 29, 2008, before being formally installed under the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 (UUTKNS) on October 26, 2009.
He said Tuanku Muhriz had continued to hold the position, as well as serving as president of the Council under Article 19.
Raja Norazli said the UUTKNS 1959 provides the only lawful process through which the position can become vacant.
This includes an adequate and complete investigation by the Undang, a determination that grounds specified under Article 10 exist, the exercise of authority by legally recognised Undang in the numbers required under Article 29, and a proclamation under Article 10(2).
“None of these requirements have been fulfilled,” he said in an official statement today.
As such, Raja Norazli said Tuanku Muhriz had continued carrying out his functions as Yang di-Pertuan Besar since April 19, while the Council had continued to sit with him as its president.
He said there was therefore no vacancy in the position and Article 11 could only apply when the position was vacant.
“The tenure of His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz can only be ended in the manner provided under the UUTKNS 1959.
“The Council does not recognise any other person as holding the position,” he said.
Raja Norazli also addressed claims of interference by Tuanku Muhriz in the affairs of Luak Sungei Ujong during the Council’s sitting on April 17.
He said the matter brought before the Council involved a complaint from representatives of the Telaga Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, namely Ibu Soko and Waris Klana Hulu.
According to him, they had removed Mubarak Thahak @ Dohak from the position of Undang through a letter of dismissal dated May 13, 2025.
Raja Norazli said Tuanku Muhriz had made it clear that the customary authority to select, appoint and remove an Undang rested with the respective Luak under Article 14(1) and (3).
He said no member of the Council, including Tuanku Muhriz himself, had the authority to support or reject such a decision by the Luak.
“The Council therefore accepted the dismissal as a decision made by the Luak according to its own customary practices under Article 14(3),” he said.
He added that the views of Council members were sought before the conclusion was reached, and the minutes recorded no further objections after Tuanku Muhriz, in his capacity as Council president, announced the decision to accept the dismissal.
Raja Norazli stressed that neither the Council nor Tuanku Muhriz had dismissed any Undang.
Instead, he said the Council had accepted the decision already made by the Luak to remove the Sungei Ujong Undang.
He said the April 17 sitting therefore did not constitute interference in the affairs of the Luak, but was the Council carrying out its function under Article 16 to receive and advise on decisions already made by the Luak according to its customs.
Raja Norazli also outlined the current status of several traditional positions.
He said Mubarak had been removed as Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong by his Luak, effective May 13, 2025, while Maarof Mat Rashad had been removed as Undang of Luak Jelebu by his Luak, effective May 31, 2023.
He said Abdul Rahim Yasin had never been legally appointed as Undang of Luak Rembau because his appointment had not been completed through the required Menzahirkan Kejadian Undang ceremony.
Badarudin Abdul Khalid, meanwhile, had ceased holding the position of Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong through Luruh Pusaka declared by the anak waris and Ibu Soko Waris at Ayer on July 30, 2026, and recognised the following day.
Raja Norazli said the Undang position in Luak Sungei Ujong was now held by Datuk Klana Petra Muhammad Faris Johari, while Datuk Sedia Raja Hassan Ab Hamid was the Undang of Luak Rembau and Datuk Johan Pahlawan Lela Perkasa Setiawan Datuk Muhammed Abdullah was the Undang of Luak Johol.
The Undang position in Luak Jelebu and the Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong position are currently vacant, he said.
The Council therefore maintained its July 31, 2026 decision that the document dated April 19, 2026 did not comply with Article 10, was unconstitutional and had no legal effect.
Raja Norazli said no lawful process had resulted in Tuanku Muhriz ceasing to hold the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
He reiterated that the Council continued to recognise Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar and president of the Council under Article 19, did not recognise any vacancy in the position and did not recognise anyone else as its holder.
The Council also urged all state and federal public servants to continue administering Negeri Sembilan according to the law and legitimate chain of command.
It further called on anyone claiming that an “adequate and complete investigation” had been conducted to present the full records of that process before a forum with jurisdiction.
“All parties are also urged to respect proceedings before the courts, preserve public order and not use custom as a reason to set aside the UUTKNS 1959,” Raja Norazli said.
