SEREMBAN: The ongoing dispute between the Undang of Johol, three contested ruling chiefs, the Tunku Besar Tampin and the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has escalated with the group again rejecting the declaration that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.
In an 11-page statement issued on Monday (Oct 5), the group claimed that the claims made in a 17-page statement in the name of the DKU secretary the day before were untenable and contradictory.
"The positions of the original four Undang (ruling chiefs) remain valid and their decree (sabda) of April 19, 2026, made pursuant to Articles 10 and 29 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959 removes Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
"Also the statement (by the DKU) has three flaws as it is riddled with self-contradictory statements, fails to deny that an enquiry was made on March 5, 2026 and almost all of its denials are unsupported by evidence or by law," they claimed.
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On Sunday, DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said Tuanku Muhriz was elected by the four Undang and proclaimed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar on Dec 29, 2008, before being officially installed in accordance with the state laws (UUTKNS) on Oct 26, 2009.
He said Tuanku Muhriz continued to hold the position, as well as serving as chairman of the DKU under Article 19.
Raja Norazli said the UUTKNS provides that the only lawful way for the position to become vacant is if it is established that the ruling chiefs have called upon His Royal Highness to abdicate or step down following a proper and full enquiry as required under the law.
He said Tuanku Muhriz had continued to discharge the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar since April 19, while the council continued to sit with His Royal Highness as its chairman.
As such, he said there was no vacancy in the office of Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
However, the group maintained that Tuanku Muhriz had already received a fair hearing, claiming that inquiries were presented directly to His Royal Highness in person on March 5.
In their statement, the group also claimed that the DKU secretary (Raja Norazli) had been dismissed by Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar on Sept 17.
The group went on to question the outcome of a July 31 meeting where the Undang of Jelebu, Undang Rembau and Dato' Shahbandar Sungei Ujong were removed.
"The meeting was invalid as it was chaired by Tuanku Muhriz, who had been removed, and lacked a quorum," they claimed.
On Sunday, Raja Norazli had stated that Undang Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad was dismissed as a ruling chief under the Luak's customs, effective May 31, 2023, while Abdul Rahim Yasin was never formally appointed as Undang of Rembau in accordance with the prescribed customs because his appointment was never completed through the Istiadat Menzahirkan Kejadian Undang ceremony.
The Dato' Shahbandar Sungei Ujong, he said, had ceased to hold the position following a Luruh Pusaka declaration by anak waris and Ibu Soko Waris di Ayer on July 30, 2026.
The DKU affirmed their removals on July 31.
The group also claimed that the statement issued by the DKU on Sunday was merely to influence the public into believing that the ruling chiefs were not the lawful office-holders despite the fact that the DKU had itself recognised them until April.
