THE legal battle involving Negeri Sembilan’s traditional leadership structure took another turn today after contempt proceedings against six Undangs and state chieftains were postponed pending their bid to halt the case at the Court of Appeal.
High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain adjourned the committal proceedings after lawyer Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, representing the six, informed the court that an interim stay application would be heard by the appellate court on Wednesday.
The six are challenging the High Court’s July 8 decision, which allowed contempt proceedings to be initiated against them over an alleged breach of a June 5 interim injunction obtained by the Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin.
The injunction bars the six from convening or attending meetings purported to be DKU meetings, acting on behalf of the council, interfering with Raja Norazli’s duties, or taking steps that could alter the position of affairs before May 21.
Awang Armadajaya also informed the court that the six had filed a notice of appeal against Roz Mawar’s decision to grant leave for the contempt action to proceed.
The Court of Appeal has fixed October 19 for case management to determine the hearing date for the appeal, while Roz Mawar has fixed September 28 for case management on the various outstanding matters.
The dispute centres on a wider conflict within Negeri Sembilan’s unique customary leadership system, involving the removal of Mubarak Dohak from the DKU and the subsequent actions taken by the six.
The six — Mubarak, whose position as Undang of Sungai Ujong is disputed; Jelebu Undang Maarof Mat Rashad; Johol Undang Muhammed Abdullah; Rembau Undang Abdul Rahim Yasin; Tunku Besar of Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri; and Shahbandar of Sungai Ujong, Badarudin Abdul Khalid — had previously sought access to the minutes of an April 17 DKU meeting linked to Mubarak’s removal.
Following Mubarak’s removal, the group had announced the appointment of Tunku Datuk Seri Nazaruddin Tuanku Jaafar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan on April 19, a move that was not recognised by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
Meanwhile, Raja Norazli’s legal team has also filed a fresh contempt application against the six, accusing them of failing to accept service of documents related to the earlier committal proceedings.
Lawyer Steven Thiru, who represents DKU and Raja Norazli, said the fresh application was filed after attempts to serve the documents were unsuccessful. – July 28, 2026
