Negeri Sembilan legal body accuses state Exco of coup against ruler

THE Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan (DKU) has accused the state executive council of attempting to overthrow and dethrone Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, calling the alleged move tantamount to a coup d’etat and an act of treason.

The accusation was made in a letter issued by Messrs Halim & Ismail on Wednesday night on behalf of Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, secretary of the DKU, and the DKU itself in proceedings before the Seremban High Court.

The Edge reported that the letter was addressed to Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and copied to members of the state executive council, the state secretary and the state legal adviser.

The letter followed a Sept 15 state government statement announcing that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed as Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan and that Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar had been chosen and recognised as his successor with immediate effect.

The lawyers said the state government had relied on a proclamation dated April 19, 2026 in making the announcement.

They disputed its validity, arguing that the proclamation did not meet the mandatory requirements under Article 10 of the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan 1959 (UUTKNS) and was therefore null and void.

They also challenged the Exco’s authority to make the announcement, saying it had no jurisdiction or constitutional power to declare that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed from the throne.

“Our clients are shocked by your reckless announcement,” the letter said.

The lawyers alleged that the state government’s conduct was intended to subvert Tuanku Muhriz’s executive authority under the UUTKNS and ultimately remove him from the throne.

“It is our clients’ firm view that your conduct in issuing the abovementioned announcement is to subvert the executive authority of Tuanku Muhriz under the UUTKNS, and is further intended to overthrow and dethrone Tuanku Muhriz,” they said.

The letter went further, describing the conduct as “tantamount to a coup d’etat and an act of treason”, which it said should be punishable under the Penal Code and other relevant laws.

The accusations are contained in the legal correspondence and remain allegations before the Seremban High Court. September 17, 2026