SEREMBAN: A High Court injunction order has temporarily frozen a special sitting of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and suspended any attempt to remove or sideline its secretary while a legal challenge unfolds.
The ad interim injunction sought by the recently suspended secretary of the DKU, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, has effectively preserved the existing royal and adat administration, putting on hold decisions linked to the removal of the Undang of Sungei Ujong Datuk Mubarak Dohak.
It also freezes the wider constitutional dispute that has gripped the state’s customary institutions.
A statement issued on behalf of Raja Norazli and the DKU said the injunction was granted by Justice Roz Mawar Rozain yesterday.
The injunction was sought by the duo who are defendants in a suit brought by Mubarak and five others on May 5, seeking copies of the special sitting minutes of the Negri Sembilan DKU on April 17.
“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.
“By the order, the plaintiffs, whether acting by themselves or through any servant, agent, nominee, appointee, committee or other person, are restrained from, among other things, convening or holding any meeting of the DKU.
“This includes the special sitting that had been announced for June 5,” read the statement.
Other restrictions include suspending or removing Raja Norazli as DKU secretary, or establishing any committee to assume the secretary’s powers and functions.
The plaintiffs are also barred from making or implementing decisions concerning the administration, governance and affairs of the DKU, as well as taking any action that would alter its status quo 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,” it added.
Mubarak was the Undang of Sungei Ujong until his removal, which was announced after a special sitting of the DKU on April 17.
On May 29, the six had suspended Raja Norazli indefinitely for failing to execute an order to convene a DKU special meeting that day to discuss the ongoing royal and adat crisis in the state.
They claimed the decision to have the meeting was made by the majority – six of the eight DKU members – yet Raja Norazli failed to follow their instruction.
On Thursday, Raja Norazli argued that his appointment was made directly by Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, and that he was bound to obey the responsibilities entrusted to him.
