SEREMBAN: The dismissals of the former Undang of Sungei Ujong and the Undang of Jelebu, whose positions had been in dispute, are now official following their formal publication in the state government gazettes.
According to the state gazettes dated Oct 23, Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin confirmed that their removals complied with Article 16(1) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959.
Raja Norazli, when contacted, verified the authenticity of the gazette notifications.
The gazettes were issued following a decree from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
The first gazette stated that a special session of the DKU was formally notified of the decision by the Telaga Undang (the customary electoral body) of Luak Sungei Ujong to dismiss its former Undang, Datuk Mubarak Dohak.
His removal, which was done in accordance with customary laws and the prescribed procedures, took effect on May 13, 2025.
According to a separate gazette, the waris (heirs), anak buah (clan members), buapak (lineage heads) and Ibu Soko (matriarchs) of the ruling lineage of Luak Jelebu had also made a decision regarding the dismissal of Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad as Undang of Jelebu.
It said Maarof’s dismissal, which fulfilled the requirement of absolute consensus (kebulatan muafakat), took effect on May 31, 2023.
Similarly, the dismissal of the former Datuk Shahbandar of Sungei Ujong, Datuk Seri Badarudin Abdul Khalid, has also been gazetted.
His dismissal, which was decided by kebulatan muafakat (absolute consensus) by the anak-anak waris (heirs of the clan) and the Ibu Soko of Waris di-Ayer, took effect on July 30 this year.
The appointments of the new Undang of Sungei Ujong and Undang of Rembau were also made official in separate state gazettes dated Oct 23.
The document said Datuk Muhammad Faris Johari was proclaimed and manifested as the Undang of Sungei Ujong after being elected by the anak waris (customary heirs) in Luak Sungai Ujong. His appointment was formalised by DKU on July 31.
The appointment of Datuk Hassan Ab Hamid as Undang of Rembau has also been gazetted after he was elected by the customary heirs of the luak (chiefdom). Hassan’s appointment also took effect on July 31.
On April 19, Mubarak, Maarof, the former Undang of Rembau Abdul Rahim Yasin and Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah had declared the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as state ruler for alleged misconduct and were backed by the Tunku Besar of Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri.
However, the then mentri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s administration refused to recognise Tuanku Muhriz’s removal.
On Aug 3, Aminuddin’s successor Datuk Ismail Lasim signed a document affirming the April 19 proclamation by the four.
Initially, Ismail claimed that he was made to sign the document under duress. But on Sept 15, he said the state exco had unanimously endorsed the document which also recognised Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanlku Jaafar as the new state ruler.
On Sept 20, Tuanku Muhriz proceeded to remove the state’s 10 member exco for violating their oath of loyalty and pledge of allegiance to him.
The 10 of them are now challenging the matter in court.
