THE Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) affirmed that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, as no valid process has ever caused him to cease holding the office.
The DKU stated that the announcement made on September 5, which aimed to depose Tuanku Muhriz, has no effect under the Constitution or custom.
The decision was reached during a special DKU meeting on Sunday, before the release of a media statement on the matter today.
According to the DKU, the document dated 5 September relied on a proclamation from 19 April that had been ruled flawed, lapsed, and void.
“No legitimate process has ever caused His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir to cease holding that office.
“He remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and the President of the Dewan,,” the statement read.
The DKU explained that the proclamation of April 19 was invalid because three of the four signatories were not recognised Undang at the time.
Furthermore, a full inquiry—as mandated by Article X(1) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959—was never conducted.
According to the DKU, Tuanku Muhriz was also never given notice or an opportunity to be heard regarding the matter.
The DKU stated that the then-Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, refused to sign the proclamation on April 20 because the requirements of Article X had not been met and one of the signatories was not a legitimate Undang.
That refusal meant the function of the Menteri Besar under Article X(2) had been exercised, thereby causing the proclamation in question to lapse and become void.
Consequently, the action of the new Menteri Besar, Datuk Ismail Lasim, in signing what was essentially the same proclamation on September 5 could not rectify the defect.
The DKU emphasised that a change in Menteri Besar does not allow a function that has already been exercised to be repeated, as doing so would enable the same proclamation to be revived whenever there is a change in administration.
Meanwhile, the DKU stated that the actions of the six individuals in signing the September 5 document could be deemed an act of 'derhaka' (treason/disloyalty) under custom and law.
This is because four of them allegedly did not hold the stated offices, in addition to signing a document to depose the Yang di-Pertuan Besar without the mandatory inquiry and issuing directives to government officials without lawful authority.
Accordingly, the DKU has instructed its secretary to lodge a police report to enable the authorities to conduct an investigation.
The DKU also directed the state government and all its officials to continue recognising and dealing with Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
The Dewan emphasised that Tuanku Muhriz remains the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar and president of the Dewan, and that no vacancy exists.
It also clarified the current holders of Undang positions: Datuk Klana Petra Muhammad Faris Johari (Sungei Ujong), Datuk Sedia Raja Haji Hassan Ab Hamid (Rembau), and Datuk Johan Pahlawan Lela Perkasa Setiawan Datuk Haji Muhammed Abdullah (Johol).
The posts of Undang Luak Jelebu and Datuk Shahbandar Sungei Ujong remain vacant.
The Dewan urged all parties not to spread baseless claims about the institutions of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Undang, stressing that these adat institutions are a trust held for the people and heirs, not the property of any party or individual. – September 14, 2026
