Absence of ruling chiefs set to deepen Negri Sembilan royal crisis
SEREMBAN: The four Undang or ruling chiefs of Negri Sembilan are expected to stay away from the official opening ceremony of the state legislative assembly by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir today.
This comes following an unprecedented royal crisis in the state in recent days.
This is expected to deepen the royal crisis in the state which began unfolding on Sunday.
As per tradition, the attendance of the ruling chiefs is an important feature of the assembly’s opening and believed to be in accordance with the state’s customary laws.
Earlier yesterday, Ahmad Hanafi Ruzlan, the aide of the Undang of Sungei Ujong Datuk Mubarak Dohak revealed that the latter has not been invited to the official opening of the first meeting of the fourth session of the 15th legislative assembly.
Ahmad Hanafi said on previous occasions, the Undang’s office would get an invite a week before the ceremony.
“The invite is usually sent by hand by the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) personnel.
“However, we did not get one this time around,” he said.
Ahmad Hanafi said he was also made to understand that the Undang of Jelebu had received an invite to the event.
It could not be immediately established if the Johol and Rembau chiefs had received invites.
This latest development comes following Sunday’s stunning manoeuvre by the four ruling chiefs – Mubarak, Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah and Undang of Rembau Datuk Abdul Rahim Yasin – who signed a joint declaration to depose the Ruler.
Also, earlier yesterday the itinerary in the media invite from the state secretary’s office had indicated that the Undang and the Tunku Besar Tampin were scheduled to be present at today’s event.
However, it did not state how many invitations were sent out by the state administration.
On April 19, the four Undang decided to remove Tuanku Muhriz on grounds of misconduct. However, they did not elaborate.
The palace has not commented publicly on the issue, but Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun has questioned the legality of the attempt to remove Tuanku Muhriz.
Aminuddin claimed this was because Mubarak had himself been removed as Undang on April 17 and as such, no longer held any authority.
Mubarak, he said, was removed due to offences related to the traditions and customary laws following a meeting of the DKU (Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling chiefs).
The DKU is the highest authority governing the four Undang of Negri Sembilan.
The four have since disputed this.
They went on to say that Aminuddin was no longer fit to lead the state administration and should be replaced.
When met earlier yesterday, state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim said the state Ruler will be accompanied by his consort Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud to the ceremony.
“Both Tuanku and his consort will be present,” he said when met after attending an event at Wisma Negri near here.
Checks outside the state assembly building showed that tents and a podium from where Tuanku Muhriz will receive a royal salute and inspect a guard of honour to be mounted by personnel from the 14th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment have also been put up.
Mohd Zafir also politely refused to take questions on the list of VVIP invitees for the ceremony.
