THE dispute surrounding the Negeri Sembilan royal institution shows no sign of abating, despite repeated assertions that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the state’s lawful ruler.
Latest developments now look more like political games at the expense of the state constitution and the dignity of the state monarchy.
The state executive council today issued a statement claiming that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed from the throne with immediate effect, citing Article 10 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 (UUTKNS).
The statement referred to the proclamation dated April 19, 2026, which it said had been signed and sealed by the Undang Luak.
The statement was shared on social media by several Negeri Sembilan exco members, all from BN-UMNO, including Linggi assemblyman Faizal Ramli, Asna Amin (Lenggeng); Mustapha Nagoor (Palong); and Chennah assemblyman Siow Kong Choon from MCA.
The two Perikatan Nasional representatives in the exco, Fairuz Isa (Serting) and Razali Abu Samah (Sikamat), did not share the statement.
However, a source familiar with the matter told The Vibes that the state executive council had no authority to make such a decision.
According to the source, the state legal adviser had also determined that the decision was invalid and contrary to existing legal provisions.
“The state secretary (SUK) also refused to sign the notice. As such, Tuanku Muhriz’s removal cannot take effect,” the source said when contacted.
The source also claimed that Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’far, who has been named as Tuanku Muhriz’s successor, personally contacted the SUK and urged him to gazette the removal.
The SUK, however, stood firm and told Tunku Nadzaruddin that the move could not be carried out as it would contravene the relevant legal provisions, the source claimed.
It was also disclosed that an individual, Raja Rahiman, who is the CEO of a company of which Tunku Nazaruddin is the chairman, messaged the state secretary asking him to seek an audience with Tunku Nazaruddin
The question of who has the authority to speak for the state government was also raised by Teo Kok Seong, a former Negeri Sembilan executive councillor under Pakatan Harapan.
Teo said that while he may not have been among the more senior members of the state executive council during his tenure, established administrative practice was for official government positions or announcements to be issued through the menteri besar or the state secretary’s office.
“Therefore, a joint statement by the executive councillors only reflects the position of those exco members and should not be regarded as the official position of the state government,” he said.
Taking the matter to Facebook, former NSTP Group Editor-in-Chief Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan also questioned the authority of the state executive council to make a decision on the position of a ruling monarch.
“Since when can the Exco of Negeri Sembilan decide to remove a ruling monarch?
“Then, can it happen in Pahang as well? Or in Kelantan? Or any other state?” he said.
Earlier, the Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) also affirmed that Tuanku Muhriz 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 an announcement made on September 5, which aimed to remove Tuanku Muhriz, has no effect under the Constitution or custom.
The decision was reached during a special DKU meeting on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the source added that constitutional and palace affairs experts had also questioned how the state executive council could issue a statement ahead of the Menteri Besar’s Office or the SUK’s office.
“Everyone was taken aback. How can the executive council of a state government have greater authority?” the source said.
The Vibes is attempting to contact the parties mentioned for their reactions. – September 16, 2026
