N Sembilan crisis: Customary council says Tuanku Muhriz still ruler, ex-MB, lawyers cry treason

N Sembilan crisis: Customary council says Tuanku Muhriz still ruler, ex-MB, lawyers cry treason

Published: Sep 17, 2026 12:43 PM


The Negeri Sembilan Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang; DKU) has reaffirmed Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s position as the state’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar

The council, which acts as an advisory body on customary affairs and the appointment and removal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, stressed that there is no vacancy or successor for the post “so long as the office is lawfully occupied”.

The statement from the DKU secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, comes after the state executive council yesterday issued a statement affirming Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and recognising Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as his successor.

The statement from the excos, however, contradicted an earlier Sept 15 statement from Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim, who said he lacks the unilateral power to depose a state ruler.


READ MORE: N Sembilan rebel chieftains 'prove' MB backed ruler's ouster, Ismail only denies Zahid's involvement

Both statements were issued after a Sept 15 state executive council meeting chaired by Ismail (above).


‘Treasonous coup’

The DKU today said the statement from the state exco members had touched upon matters outside its jurisdiction and contravenes the DKU’s binding decision to back Tuanku Muhriz.


“The state executive council and the state government have no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation or the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

“(The statement from the state executive council) is unconstitutional, null, and void, as well as having no legal effect,” the DKU said.

READ MORE: Rembau undang: Exco cannot override N Sembilan constitution, DKU ruling on Tuanku Muhriz

It further reiterated that the April 19 proclamation, which the state excos had cited in their reasoning to depose Tuanku Muhriz, was “defective from the onset”.

The DKU also pointed out that ongoing court proceedings had resulted in an interim injunction issued by the Seremban High Court to preserve the status quo, and all parties should respect the judicial process and refrain from measures that could bypass the courts.

READ MORE: Court freezes moves against N Sembilan royal council, orders status quo maintained

Lawyers for the DKU have also accused the executive councillors of attempting a coup d’état and committing treason (derhaka), which Messrs Halim & Ismail argued should be punishable under the Penal Code and all other laws.

In a legal letter issued to Ismail, 10 exco members, the state secretary, and the state legal adviser, the lawyers said their clients are “deeply shocked by the reckless announcement”, which they claimed disregarded the court’s June 5 injunction order.

As such, the law firm said the DKU and Raja Norazli intend to commence contempt proceedings against the recipients over the alleged breaches.

Sudden U-turn ‘difficult to comprehend’

Separately, former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun similarly said the state executive councillors are committing treason against Tuanku Muhriz.

Urging authorities to take appropriate legal action against the exco members, he emphasised that he does not recognise their announcement yesterday and maintained that Tuanku Muhriz is the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

“On Sept 9, the current state government publicly stated that the proclamation document did not fulfil the processes and procedures set out in Article 10 (of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution),” the state PKR chief said in a statement early this morning.

“The state government also stated that the proclamation was invalid, unconstitutional, and unenforceable. However, seven days later, members of the same state exco decided that the proclamation was complete and in force.

“This change in stance is difficult to comprehend,” Aminuddin (above) added.

Meanwhile, The Star reported that Tuanku Muhriz is scheduled to return home from an overseas trip tonight.

Citing a poster circulating on social media, it said organisers have called on the public to gather at the KLIA Terminal One Level 5 car park at 8.30pm tonight.

The gathering is said to be organised by Profans, Waris Dato Siamang Gagap, Waris Negeri Sembilan, and Pekan.



View Comments


"Attempting a coup d’état and committing TREASON"... Oh! Such 'statement'.

For a Better Malaysia 01:41 PM, 17 Sep 2026


The press statement issued by Negeri Sembilan executive council members yesterday has no legal effect and does not need to be acted on by civil servants, says the Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU). 

In a statement, the DKU maintained that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remained the state’s Yang Dipertuan Besar, and that it had the ultimate authority to decide on the appointment or removal of the state ruler. This is enshrined in the Negeri Sembilan constitution, it added. 

We can all see that the DKU is the sane voice here. This contrasts with those attempting a coup detat, they are scrambling here and there like sinking rats changing positions like they know they have no leg to stand on. They used the state exco which does not hold such authority and jurisdiction to try to oust a sitting ruler. Last throw of the dice, reckless beyond anything. At the back of their minds is greed, greed and greed. NS is rich in mineral resources, did someone promise them a share?

Warm Skies 01:30 PM, 17 Sep 2026


Treachery and menderhakah are not uncommon in Malay politics. Time for the Sultan of Negri Sembilan to act fast and take appropriate actions to uproot these udangs di sebalik batu (pun intended)

Rupert 1601:20 PM, 17 Sep 2026