SEREMBAN: There was an air of uneasiness over Negri Sembilan as the state faced an unprecedented attempt to topple the Ruler, with some believing that a constitutional crisis is looming.
While locals carried on with their daily routine, largely unaffected by the turmoil, the storm continued to brew in the corridors of power.
This came after a dramatic declaration on Sunday evening by the Undang of Sungai Ujong Datuk Mubarak Dohak that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had been deposed as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
He claimed the four Undang (ruling chiefs) of the state, including himself, had unanimously agreed to the decision.
The other three were the Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah and Undang of Rembau Datuk Abdul Rahim Yassin.
They claimed the decision was made due to misconduct on the part of Tuanku Muhriz, though they did not elaborate.
The four even went on to name Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new state Ruler.
However, just a few hours later and into the wee hours of Monday, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said his administration did not recognise the declaration, arguing that Mubarak no longer held any legal authority as he himself had been removed as Undang.
“The state government neither accepts nor recognises the declaration as it was not in line with Articles 10 to 13 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959,” he said in a statement.
Aminuddin said Mubarak had been removed as Undang on May 13, 2025.
The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) – the highest authority governing the four Undang – which sat on April 17, Aminuddin said, had agreed to accept the recommendations of the Telaga Undang and Waris Klana Hulu Sungai Ujong, who had agreed to remove Mubarak as Undang.
The removal, he noted, was due to 33 offences related to the traditions and customary laws committed by Mubarak.
Aminuddin said Mubarak’s removal was also carried out in accordance with Article 14(3) of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan.
“There is also a precedent on this. In March 2016, the DKU had also accepted the removal of the Undang of Johol Datuk Mohammad Jan Abdul Ghani for contravening traditions and customary laws,” he said.
As of late yesterday, there was no official statement or updates from the DKU, which is also known as the Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs, or the Mentri Besar’s office.
There were also statements being circulated, including one disputing events which transpired during the DKU meeting on April 17, but its contents could not be immediately verified.
Meanwhile, police have also reminded the people not to make or post provocative, seditious or slanderous statements on the matter.
“The police are highly respectful of the Adat Perpatih and the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959,” said state police chief DCP Datuk Alzafny Ahmad.
“As such, we will not interfere in any matters related to the customary laws,” he said in a statement.
