UMNO branch chief quits over Negeri Sembilan royal dispute
AN UMNO branch chief has resigned from his party post, saying he could no longer accept the way UMNO leaders in Negeri Sembilan had handled the dispute involving the state’s royal institution.
Datuk Ir Abdul Aziz Abdullah, who heads UMNO Cawangan Pinggiran Sri Baduri under the Damansara division, said his resignation took effect on September 21.
In a video statement, Abdul Aziz said he was deeply angered and saddened by the developments in Negeri Sembilan, particularly what he described as the treatment of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
“Why did I choose to resign? Because I cannot bear the anger and sadness over the attitude of UMNO leaders today in Negeri Sembilan, who have been so disrespectful towards Tuanku Muhriz,” he said.
Abdul Aziz said the issue was personal to him as he now lives in Negeri Sembilan and has family ties to the state.
“My mother is from Johor, but my father is a native of Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
He said this was among the reasons he had been closely following the developments, particularly the increasingly strained relationship between the state administration and the palace.
“I cannot accept the attitude shown by the Menteri Besar, the Exco members and UMNO in Negeri Sembilan. I cannot accept it,” he said.
The resignation comes as the dispute between the Negeri Sembilan government and the palace continues to unfold.
On September 20, the Negeri Sembilan palace announced that Tuanku Muhriz had revoked the appointments of all state executive councillors with immediate effect, saying they had breached their oaths of office through their actions and statements on September 15.
Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim, however, said the following day that the existing Exco members remained in office and could continue carrying out their duties, based on his interpretation of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959.
The conflicting positions have left the status of the state executive council at the centre of the dispute.
UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has since said he would meet Ismail to obtain an explanation for the developments.
For Abdul Aziz, the situation was enough for him to walk away from his party position.
He said the conduct of UMNO leaders in Negeri Sembilan towards Tuanku Muhriz was the main reason behind his resignation. – September 22, 2026
See video here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1559434902075689