Tuanku Muhriz remains legitimate Yamtuan, says Negeri Sembilan DKU

Tuanku Muhriz remains legitimate Yamtuan, says Negeri Sembilan DKU



Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir at the investiture ceremony of the state awards and medals in conjunction with his 76th birthday celebration at Istana Besar Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah January 14, 2024. — Bernama pic


Summary

• The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) Negeri Sembilan has confirmed the legitimacy of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, asserting there is no valid vacancy or successor while he lawfully holds the position.
• The DKU highlighted that decisions by the state executive council regarding his removal lack legal standing and fall outside its jurisdiction according to the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.
• It emphasized that any change to the position should adhere to constitutional and legal processes, and the matter is under judicial scrutiny.
• The DKU also stressed that the traditional institutions are communal trusts, not owned by any political entity.

First Published: Thursday, 17 Sep 2026 10:58 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) Negeri Sembilan has reaffirmed that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, saying there is no vacancy in the position and no successor while it is lawfully occupied.

In a statement today, the DKU also said the state executive council’s decision dated September 16 had no legal effect insofar as it purported to confirm Tuanku Muhriz’s removal, recognise a new ruler and order its immediate implementation.


It said such matters fell outside the jurisdiction of the state executive council and contradicted the binding determinations of the DKU under the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.

The statement came after two statements were issued following the DKU’s September 13 media statement, namely the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar’s statement dated September 15 and the document titled “Keputusan Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan Bil. 6 Tahun 2026” dated September 16.


The DKU said it welcomed Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim’s September 15 statement, which maintained that the menteri besar had no unilateral power to terminate or vacate the office of Yang di-Pertuan Besar and that the validity and effect of the April 19 proclamation should be determined through lawful constitutional and legal processes, including judicial determination.


It said this position was consistent with the Negeri Sembilan Constitution and the DKU’s own determinations.

The DKU said questions involving Malay adat, including the election, appointment, resignation and removal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and Undang, fell within its jurisdiction under Article XVI of the state constitution.


It said Article XVI(3) further provided that the DKU’s advice on such matters was final and could not be challenged or questioned in any court on any grounds.

The DKU said the April 19 proclamation remained defective and void from the outset, as no enquiry under Article X(1) of the state constitution had been conducted, while three of its four signatories were not lawfully serving as Undang at the time.

It also said the function under Article X(2) had already been exercised after the menteri besar at the time refused to sign the proclamation, resulting in the proclamation lapsing and becoming void.

“The State Executive Council cannot cure these defects,” the statement said.

The DKU added that any proclamation purporting to elect a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar under Article XI would similarly be invalid as it was based on the same defective foundation and signed by people who did not lawfully hold the office of Undang.

It also said the prerogative of the Undang Yang Empat could only be exercised by Undang who lawfully held office and in accordance with the requirements and procedures prescribed by the state constitution.

The DKU said the matter was currently before the Seremban High Court and that a court order remained in force, urging all parties to respect the judicial process and refrain from taking steps that could circumvent or interfere with it.

It reiterated that Tuanku Muhriz remained the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar and Yang di-Pertua of the DKU, adding that the institutions of Malay adat in Negri Sembilan, including those of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and Undang, did not belong to any political party or individual but were a trust for all members of the community and their descendants.