TAMPIN: The royal and adat (customary law) crisis in Negri Sembilan has escalated following the indefinite suspension of Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin by the state’s ruling chiefs.
Action had to be taken against Raja Norazli as he had failed to execute an order to convene a special meeting of the DKU, which was to be held yesterday to discuss the ongoing crisis, said Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad.
“We are incensed and disappointed with Raja Norazli for failing to carry out our order to call for a meeting.
“The decision to have the meeting was taken by the majority – six of the eight members of the DKU – yet Raja Norazli failed to follow our instruction,” said Maarof, who spoke on behalf of group.
The DKU is the highest authority governing matters related to Negri Sembilan’s ruling chiefs.
This decision to suspend Raja Norazli was made by Maarof, Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammad Abdullah, Undang of Rembau Datuk Raja Abdul Rahim Yasin, Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri, Datuk Shahbandar Sungei Ujong Datuk Seri Utama Badarudin Abdul Khalid and Datuk Mubarak Dohak.
Mubarak was the Undang of Sungei Ujong until his removal which was officially announced after a special sitting of the DKU on April 17 this year, but the removal took effect from May 13, 2025.
News of his contentious removal, which kicked off the current crisis, came about following Mubarak’s abrupt announcement last month about deposing the state Ruler.
The suspension of Raja Norazli was a result of him issuing a letter to the six chieftains, saying that the DKU cannot convene a special meeting as requested because the parties involved are locked in a legal dispute.
He had pointed out that the ruling chiefs, the Tunku Besar of Tampin, and the Datuk Shahbandar have filed a law suit against him, the DKU, and the state government.
(The plaintiffs are seeking to compel the DKU secretary to provide them a copy of the minutes of a special session that had sought for Mubarak’s removal as Undang of Sungei Ujong. The court has fixed July 28 to hear the case.)
However, Maarof said yesterday that Raja Norazli should have complied with their order for a meeting as the four Undang were co-rulers in the state.
“There is no such thing as veto power in the DKU.
“We have also decided that whatever letters or correspondence made out in the name of the DKU and signed by Raja Norazli from April 17 onward is without the mandate of the majority of its members and against the adat institution,” he said.
Maarof said a committee would be appointed to carry out the duties of the DKU secretary in the interim.
He said it was also decided that the next meeting of the DKU would be held on June 5 at the same place.
“Invitations will be sent out to other members of the DKU including Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir (the state Ruler) and his son Tunku Ali (who is the Tengku Besar Seri Menanti).
“We will also invite the Chief Secretary to the Government, the Attorney General and Inspector-General of Police as independent observers,” he said.
