The Negeri Sembilan state government faces a deepening political and constitutional crisis as newly sworn-in Chief Minister Ismail Lasim reportedly signed a proclamation to depose state ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, according to statements from the state’s traditional chieftains. According to a Sept 5 statement by the four traditional chieftains known as the Undang, Ismail allegedly signed the document on Aug 3 during a meeting attended by United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) top brass, just a day after taking an oath of loyalty to the sovereign. The standoff highlights the growing entanglement of Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy with partisan politics, threatening the unique Adat Perpatih customary succession system that has governed the central Malaysian state for generations.
Disputed Proclamation and Police Report Filed Under Duress
According to the four Undang—representing the territories of Sungai Ujong, Rembau, Johol, and Jelebu—Ismail Lasim met with them on Aug 3 to secure their backing and the support of contender Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, who is Tuanku Muhriz’s cousin and the son of the previous ruler, as reported by The Straits Times. Sources stated that UMNO president Zahid Hamidi, secretary-general Asyraf Dusuki, and Law Minister Azalina Othman Said were present at the gathering. While the chieftains maintained that Ismail willingly signed the removal proclamation, legal and government sources told The Straits Times that Ismail claimed he was coerced under duress and prevented from leaving the meeting until he put pen to paper. Ismail subsequently filed a police report on Sept 8 stating he was forced to sign the document. Despite the Aug 3 episode, Ismail proceeded to swear in his state Cabinet before Tuanku Muhriz on Aug 7 while simultaneously declaring full loyalty to the ruler.
UMNO Shifts Stance Amid Preceding Leadership Turmoil
The unfolding royal dispute follows months of political upheaval sparked in April when all 14 UMNO state assemblypersons withdrew support for former Chief Minister Aminuddin Harun over his handling of the monarchy crisis, according to Malaysiakini reporting. Aminuddin, a vice-president in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat, had refused to sign off on the Undang’s initial April proclamation ousting Tuanku Muhriz, deeming it invalid because Sungai Ujong chieftain Mubarak Dohak had supposedly been dismissed the previous May under customary rules. UMNO’s current push to resolve the palace battle contrasts with its earlier criticisms of Aminuddin for interfering with the Adat Perpatih. Sources told The Straits Times that Zahid chaired an UMNO meeting on Sept 6 giving Ismail three months to settle the palace dispute, as party leaders eye potential electoral gains ahead of upcoming Melaka state polls and general elections due by early 2028.
Did you know? Unlike Malaysia’s eight other states with hereditary Malay rulers, Negeri Sembilan follows the matrilineal Adat Perpatih system from West Sumatra, where the Yang di-Pertuan Besar is elected and deposed by a council of four territorial chieftains rather than succeeding directly by hereditary descent.
Court Cases Loom Ahead of Conference of Rulers
With at least two ongoing court cases centered on the royal succession, the dispute remains far from resolved as a crucial mid-October Conference of Rulers meeting approaches in neighboring Melaka. The previous meeting scheduled for June was cancelled by the monarchs amid uncertainty over the Negeri Sembilan throne, despite Attorney-General advice that Tuanku Muhriz’s initial April removal was unconstitutional because the required inquiry into his fitness to rule was never convened. Tuanku Muhriz, known for taking a strong public stance against corruption, was slated to chair the June conference where a renewed pardon bid by former Prime Minister Najib Razak was expected to be discussed. As the Undang threaten to release copies of the signed proclamation publicly, the unfolding crisis underscores how political actors continue to intersect with traditional institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the power to remove the ruler of Negeri Sembilan?
Under the state’s traditional Adat Perpatih customary law and state constitution, the four traditional chieftains known as the Undang hold the dual power to both elect and depose the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Why did former Chief Minister Aminuddin Harun lose his position?
According to Malaysiakini, UMNO lawmakers withdrew their support for Aminuddin in April after he refused to sign the Undang’s proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz from the throne, leading to his eventual replacement by Ismail Lasim following snap polls.
Has Ismail Lasim officially shifted his allegiance?
While chieftains claim Ismail signed a proclamation to depose Tuanku Muhriz on Aug 3, Ismail filed a police report claiming he acted under duress and publicly expressed full loyalty to the state ruler on Sept 6.
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