SEREMBAN: Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar, the Undang of Johol, and three former ruling chiefs are challenging the validity of Negri Sembilan government gazettes that formalised the removal of two former Undang.
The group argued that the move by Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir to instruct Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin to have the decisions gazetted was unconstitutional.
They claimed this was because Tuanku Muhriz had been deposed and could no longer carry out the duties as state Ruler with effect from Sept 15.
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This came after the state exco at the time voted unanimously to endorse an April 19 proclamation issued by the Undang of Johol and three others on the removal of Tuanku Muhriz and to recognise Tunku Nadzaruddin as his successor.
Similarly, the group claimed Tunku Nadzaruddin had also terminated Raja Norazli's services on Sept 17.
"Therefore, neither of the two parties has the locus standi to direct or execute any gazetting concerning the affairs of the DKU.
"Accordingly, the status quo of the original Undang Luak remains as it was prior to April 17," they said in a statement.
Apart from Tunku Nadzaruddin and the Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah, the other signatories to the statement were the former Undang of Sungei Ujong Datuk Mubarak Dohak, the former Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, former Undang of Rembau Abdul Rahim Yasin, and Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Syed Idrus.
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The state government had, in separate gazettes dated Oct 23, made official Mubarak and Maarof's dismissals.
It also gazetted the proclamations of their successors following a decree from Tuanku Muhriz.
Raja Norazli confirmed that their removals complied with Article 16(1) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan.
In their joint statement on Thursday (Oct 29), the disputing group claimed the said gazettes were invalid, had no legal effect, contradicted state laws and was made to mislead the public.
"Post April 17, 2026, no valid meeting of the DKU that meets the quorum requirements was held.
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"This is also due to an ad-interim injunction by the Seremban High Court preventing the original and legitimate members of the DKU from holding and/or attending any meeting of the DKU.
"Also, to enable a meeting to proceed and for valid, binding decisions under to be made under the state laws, the convening quorum must consist of at least half of the number of permanent members, which must be at least four persons, excluding the chairman," they claimed.
They alleged that a DKU meeting on July 31 did not meet the quorum because only the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti, a legitimate permanent member, was present and the position of Tuanku Muhriz was disputed as he had been deposed on April 19.
They also claimed that the decision to hold the said July 31 DKU meeting also violated the June 5 ad-interim injunction order which prohibited any DKU meeting from being held until the disposal of the application in the Seremban High Court.
