SEREMBAN: The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) cannot convene a special meeting to, among others, discuss matters related to the ongoing state royal crisis because the involved parties are currently locked in a legal dispute.
DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said that any meeting called unilaterally by the Undang (ruling chiefs) and the Tunku Besar of Tampin would be invalid.
He said no official meeting can be called at this time because the Undang, the Tunku Besar of Tampin, and the Datuk Shahbandar have filed an originating summons in court against him, the DKU, and the state government.
"The DKU finds that the actions set out in a May 21 letter from the Undang, Tunku Besar Tampin, Datuk Shahbandar and two others to be improper and undermine the integrity of the ongoing court proceedings.
"The DKU and I reserve our right to take appropriate legal action regarding any unilateral steps taken that would prejudice or delay the said court proceedings," he said in a letter, dated May 26, addressed to the six.
Raja Norazli’s letter was addressed to Datuk Mubarak Dohak, who has been removed as Undang Sungei Ujong, Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah, Abdul Rahim Yasin, who claims to be the Undang of Rembau, Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri and Datuk Shabandar Sungei Ujong Datuk Seri Utama Badarudin Abdul Khalid.
The six in their letter had asked the DKU to convene a special meeting on Friday (May 29) to, among others, discuss matters related to the royal crisis and adat in the state.
The six, who claim to represent the majority of the DKU members, said there was a pressing need to convene a meeting to discuss these issues.
They said the DKU secretary was also duty-bound to follow their orders.
A copy of their letter was also sent to the Chief Secretary to the Government and the Attorney General.
Earlier on Thursday, an invite was sent out to the media to cover a press conference to be held by the six at the Tunku Besar Tampin’s official residence in Tampin at 9am on May 29.
Raja Norazli said a special meeting cannot be convened now as it is bound to touch on issues before the court.
On May 6, the two Undang, Mubarak, Abdul Rahim, Tunku Syed Razman and Badarudin Abdul Khalid filed an originating summons at the High Court to compel the DKU secretary to provide them a copy of the minutes of a special session which advised on Mubarak's removal as Undang of Sungei Ujong.
The DKU is the highest authority governing matters related to the four Undang in Negri Sembilan.
The six claimed that as members of the DKU, they had the right to be furnished with the minutes of a special session held at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on April 17 and sought a declaration that the first and second defendants provide them with it within seven days.
They also sought a declaration that all decisions taken during the session be suspended until then.
The High Court then ordered the defendants to file affidavits within seven days after hearing preliminary objections raised by the first two defendants.
The defence team had objected to the originating summons on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction under Article 16(3) of the State Constitution 1959.
The court then fixed July 28 to hear the case.
