THE installation ceremony for the 22nd Undang of Luak Rembau will take place on Saturday after the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, consented to hold the royal audience and installation at Istana Besar Seri Menanti.
The matter was announced by Tunku Besar Sri Menanti, Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, during an audience with the Dato’-Dato’ Adat of Luak Rembau at the palace on Thursday.
Tunku Ali said he had been informed that the selection of the new Undang had been carried out in accordance with the customs and traditions practised in Luak Rembau.
“In line with that, I wish to convey the command of my father, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, who has graciously consented to hold the royal audience and installation ceremony for the 22nd Undang of Luak Rembau on Saturday at 2 pm at Istana Besar Seri Menanti,” he said.
He also instructed the Dato’-Dato’ Adat to coordinate with the Orang Empat of Istana Besar Seri Menanti on preparations for the ceremony, expressing hope that all arrangements would proceed smoothly.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Kerapatan Buapak Delapan Kampung Waris Biduanda Nan Dua Carak, Dato’ Juan Datuk Zulkipli Shamsudin, confirmed that the Buapak and Ibu Soko of Luak Rembau had unanimously chosen retired teacher Hassan Ab Hamid, 67, as the 22nd Undang of Luak Rembau.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that Tuanku Muhriz had initiated, selected or appointed the new Undang, saying such portrayals misrepresented both Adat Perpatih and Negeri Sembilan’s constitutional traditions.
Under Adat Perpatih, he explained, the process begins within the luak itself, with the Undang chosen through established customary procedures rather than by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“The recent audience at the palace was initiated by the customary bodies of the luak in accordance with tradition. It was not an instance of the palace intervening in the affairs of the luak,” he said.
Juan stressed that the Yang di-Pertuan Besar’s role is to receive the representatives of the luak, grant royal consent where required under custom, and formally recognise the decision reached by the community.
He said the recent audience was held solely to seek royal consent for the date of the installation ceremony, adding that the initiative originated from the luak and not from the palace.
“As such, any suggestion that His Royal Highness called, selected or appointed the Undang is a misunderstanding of the customs that have governed Negeri Sembilan for centuries,” he said.
He added that the Yang di-Pertuan Besar acts as the guardian of Adat Perpatih by granting royal assent to decisions made through customary processes, rather than creating or directing those decisions.
Juan also noted that the palace had refrained from commenting on matters currently before the courts.
The previous Undang of Luak Rembau, Datuk Lela Maharaja Datuk Muhamad Sharip Othman, died on May 15, 2024, at the official residence of the Undang. – June 26, 2026
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