'Stay out of N Sembilan affairs' - disputed territorial chieftains tell PM

'Stay out of N Sembilan affairs' - disputed territorial chieftains tell PM

Published: Sep 22, 2026 7:51 PM


Negeri Sembilan’s disputed territorial chieftains and customary leaders today warned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the federal government against what they described as meddling in the state's affairs.

This was in response to advice issued by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) - which is a federal body - that invalidates Negeri Sembilan state exco's decision to accept the chieftains' disputed April 19 proclamations replacing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir with Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the state ruler.

In a statement, the chieftains - Mubarak Thahak (Sungai Ujong), Maarof Mat Rashad (Jelebu), Muhammad Abdullah (Johol), and Abdul Rahim Yasin (Rembau) - together with the tunku besar of Tampin and Sungai Ujong’s datuk syahbandar, stressed that they are the ones who hold the authority to remove Tuanku Muhriz from the throne.

They added that state Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim and his exco team were just executing the decision they made.


"Bear in mind that we strongly condemn every effort by certain parties, whether openly or covertly, to violate our prerogatives and constitutional rights in our state.

"We wish to remind the prime minister and the AGC not to interfere in the affairs of the Negeri Sembilan government, particularly our prerogatives under Articles 10 and 11 of the Negeri Sembilan constitution, as the prime minister and the AGC have no jurisdiction to do so.

"The prime minister should not, merely for political gain and influence or in submission to pressure from certain quarters, be willing to do anything without exercising reason and conscience, and should not brazenly violate the principle of constitutional supremacy.

"He should not act beyond his authority or interfere in matters that do not concern him," the statement said.


‘Adhere to state constitution’

The chieftains pointed to Article 71 of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that any dispute on the right to succeed as a state ruler shall be determined solely by such authority and according to the state constitution.

Any action that violates the provision would be unconstitutional, they stressed.



In their statement, they also advised Tuanku Muhriz (above) to accept that he has been removed from the throne and step down gracefully.

"We also call upon all members of the state civil service to not bow to pressure from any parties and instead abide by the state exco decision, and pledge their allegiance to Tuanku Nadzaruddin as the Negeri Sembilan's 12th ruler."

On Sept 16, the state exco issued a statement declaring the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar valid and recognised Tuanku Nadzaruddin as the new ruler with immediate effect.

However, the AGC responded by saying the exco's decision is invalid, arguing that the menteri besar and state exco do not have unilateral powers to terminate or vacate the ruler’s office.

It stressed that the proclamation’s validity and effect must be determined through lawful constitutional and legal processes.

READ MORE: Tuanku Muhriz revokes exco appointments, but reading of state constitution disputed

Following this, state secretary Zafir Ibrahim’s office on Sept 18 said they accepted the AGC's advice and would not gazette or implement the proclamation.

Earlier today, Ismail (above) announced the suspension of Zafir and state legal adviser Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal with immediate effect.

He also named state financial officer Masri Razali as acting state secretary and lawyer Fahmi Adilah as acting state legal adviser, pending permanent replacements by the chief secretary to the federal government and the AGC, respectively.

 

Negeri Sembilan MB, exco to meet Tunku Nadzaruddin tomorrow

Negeri Sembilan MB, exco to meet Tunku Nadzaruddin tomorrow

Yesterday

FMT Reporters

The meeting is scheduled to take place at Tunku Ja’afar Gallery in Seremban at 9am.

A media invitation stated that the meeting is intended to be an ‘ice-breaking’ session and to build rapport between Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, the menteri besar, and the exco members. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim and his state executive council members are expected to meet Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar tomorrow morning.

According to The Star, the meeting will take place at 9am at Tunku Ja’afar Gallery in Seremban.

The news outlet cited a media invitation which stated that the meeting was intended to be an “ice-breaking” session and to build rapport between Tunku Nadzaruddin, the menteri besar, and the exco members.

Others expected to attend the meeting are the four purported undangs, Tunku Besar of Tampin, and the Shahbandar of Sungai Ujong.

In the latest development, the Negeri Sembilan executive council suspended Zafir Ibrahim and Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal from their duties as state secretary and state legal adviser, respectively.

Ismail announced the suspension of the duo following a special meeting of the state executive council today. However, the status of the state exco is in dispute after the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan revoked the appointments of its members on Sunday.

Ismail today also confirmed that all members of the Negeri Sembilan executive council remained in their respective positions, despite the Yang Dipertuan Besar’s decision.

The menteri besar disputed the Yang Dipertuan Besar’s decision, saying that the state ruler could not terminate the tenure of an exco member unless advised or requested to do so by the menteri besar.

Members of the Negeri Sembilan executive council on Sept 16 issued a statement affirming that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s removal as Yang Dipertuan Besar in April was legitimate and that Tunku Nadzaruddin was the new ruler of Negeri Sembilan.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Ismail endorsed the statement the following day.

However, the state’s Dewan Keadilan dan Undang said the exco’s decision had no legal effect and that Tuanku Muhriz remained the legitimate Yang Dipertuan Besar.

 

Negeri Sembilan exco can’t suspend top officials, says lawyer

Negeri Sembilan exco can’t suspend top officials, says lawyer

Yesterday

FMT Reporters

Hariz Yusoff, who also represents the Rembau undang, says only the public services commission has power to suspend the officials.

Lawyer Hariz Yusoff said the special exco meeting that decided on the suspensions was invalid since the 10 exco members, other than the menteri besar, had their appointments revoked by Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir on Sunday. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

A lawyer has disputed the Negeri Sembilan executive council’s authority to suspend Zafir Ibrahim and Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal from their duties as state secretary and state legal adviser, respectively.

Hariz Yusoff, who also represents the Rembau undang, contended that Zafir and Muzalmah remained in their posts as the state exco had no direct authority over the state secretary and legal adviser.

Hariz said the state constitution outlined that appointments to those two posts were made by the public services commission (SPA), not the menteri besar or state exco.

He added that even the Federal Constitution stated that the SPA would oversee the appointment, promotion, transfer and discipline of civil servants.

“Menteri besar Ismail Lasim’s own statement acknowledges this fact. He mentions that the new state secretary will be ‘named by the chief secretary to the government’ and the new state legal adviser ‘by the Attorney-General’s Chambers’.

“This is a clear admission that the authority over the two posts falls under other parties, not the state exco. Those without the power to appoint would have no power to suspend,” Hariz said in a statement.

He also argued that the special exco meeting that decided on the suspensions was invalid since the 10 exco members, other than the menteri besar, had their appointments revoked by Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir on Sunday.

“The menteri besar’s ‘confirmation’ that the posts of the exco members remain valid and legitimate is merely his personal stand. He has no authority to declare His Royal Highness’s order as invalid.”

Earlier today, Ismail announced that Zafir and Muzalmah had been suspended from their duties as state secretary and legal adviser. State financial officer Masli Razali and lawyer Fahmi Adilah would take over those roles, respectively, in the interim.

Advertisement

Advertisement

This came after the Negeri Sembilan administration said it would not proceed with the menteri besar’s request to gazette the proclamation on the purported removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang Dipertuan Besar.

Hariz questioned Fahmi’s appointment, saying a regular lawyer could not be appointed as the state legal adviser, even as an interim measure.

“The position of state legal adviser is a constitutional position filled by the public service,” he maintained.

The lawyer urged Negeri Sembilan civil servants to continue following instructions from Zafir as state secretary, saying the exco decision was open to legal challenge.