SEREMBAN: The High Court has granted a temporary injunction order to preserve the status quo amid ongoing royal and adat crises in Negri Sembilan.
The ad interim injunction was granted by Justice Roz Mawar Rozain at the High Court on Friday (June 5).
The decision followed legal applications made by Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin.
"An ad interim injunction is intended to preserve the status quo of the matter until the court is able to hear and decide the matter more fully," a statement issued on behalf of Raja Norazli and the DKU on Friday (June 5) read.
By the order, the plaintiffs are restrained from convening or holding any meeting of the DKU, including a special sitting that had been announced for June 5.
Other restrictions include a ban on suspending or removing Raja Norazli as the DKU secretary.
The plaintiffs are also barred from establishing any committee or body to assume the powers and functions of the secretary.
Furthermore, they are barred from making or implementing decisions concerning the administration, governance and affairs of the DKU.
They cannot take any action that would alter the status quo of the council as it stood before May 21.
The order remains in force pending the hearing of the jurisdiction and justiciability issues, and thereafter until further order of the court.
On May 5, Datuk Mubarak Thahak and five other individuals filed an originating summons in the High Court.
They sought copies of the minutes of the special sitting of the Negri Sembilan DKU held on April 17.
Mubarak was the Undang of Sungei Ujong until his removal, which was announced after the special sitting on April 17, and he has since challenged his removal.
On May 29, the six individuals suspended Raja Norazli indefinitely for failing to execute an order to convene a special meeting of the DKU on that day.
The meeting was intended to discuss the ongoing royal and customary law crisis in the state.
They claimed the decision to hold the meeting was made by a majority of six of the eight members of the DKU, but Raja Norazli failed to follow instructions.
On Thursday (June 4), Raja Norazli argued that his appointment was made directly by Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
He stated that he was bound to obey the duties and responsibilities entrusted to him by the Ruler.
Raja Norazli described any action intended against him as an insult aimed at usurping the constitutional powers of the Ruler, adding that it had no legal effect.
