For weeks, the visible position had appeared relatively stable. Tuanku Muhriz continued to perform the functions of Yang di-Pertuan Besar, including at the State-level Maulidur Rasul (Berita Harian, 25 August 2026) and National Day celebrations (Bernama, 31 August 2026). The State Government continued to participate in official functions under his reign. Tunku Nadzaruddin made no corresponding public appearance exercising the functions of Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Then came one statement, and the confusion returned.
On 5 September 2026, the group challenging Tuanku Muhriz issued a media statement. This time, it made a specific new claim: Menteri Besar (MB) Ismail Lasim signed the proclamation required by Article 10(2) of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 to depose Tuanku Muhriz on 3 August.
Translation
Pages 1 and 2, signatories (with seals affixed):
YTM Dato’ Klana Petra, Dato’ Haji Mubarak bin Thahak, Undang Luak Sungei Ujong
YTM Dato’ Mendika Menteri Akhirulzaman, Dato’ Maarof bin Haji Mat Rashad, Undang Luak Jelebu
YTM Dato’ Johan Pahlawan Lela Perkasa Sitiawan, Dato’ Muhammed bin Haji Abdullah, Undang Luak Johol
YTM Dato’ Sedia Raja, Dato’ Haji Abdul Rahim bin Haji Yasin, Undang Luak Rembau
YTM Tunku Syed Razman ibni Almarhum Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri, Tunku Besar Tampin
YAM Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Badarudin bin Abd Khalid, Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong
Page 3:
The lawful Ruling King of Negeri Sembilan under the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan (UUTKNS), DYMM Tuanku Nadzaruddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar, together with the Ruling Chiefs of Negeri Sembilan, namely YTM Maarof (Undang Luak Jelebu), YTM Mohammed (Undang Luak Johol), YTM Abdul Rahim (Undang Luak Rembau) and YTM Tunku Syed Razman (Tunku Besar Tampin), together with YAM Badaruddin (Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong), received the audience of YB Dato’ Ismail bin Lasim on 3 August 2026 at Istana Laguna Biru, Port Dickson, for him to be assented to as Menteri Besar.
At that audience, YAB Dato’ Ismail bin Lasim also signed and completed the instrument of proclamation under Article 10(2) UUTKNS, in accordance with his constitutional duty, before the Ruling King of Negeri Sembilan and the invited guests present, at a brief ceremony that closed with a doa selamat (prayer of well-being).
Page 4:
All four Undang Yang Empat have signed the Proclamation under Article 10(2) UUTKNS, together with affixing their respective seals, on 19 April 2026, to declare the removal from the throne (penurunan takhta) of Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.
The Proclamation signed by the Menteri Besar on 3 August 2026 reads:
“WHEREAS, with reference to the Decree of Declaration of Dismissal (Sabda Pengisytiharan Pemecatan) of Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir as Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, made unanimously by the Yang Teramat Mulia Undang Yang Empat under Article 10(1)(b) of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959, dated the 19th day of April 2026, which has been duly signed and sealed with the seals affixed thereon;
NOW THEREFORE, in fulfilment of the requirements of Article 10(2) of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959, and for the purpose of carrying out that provision, I, as Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, hereby affix my signature as below.”
In order to explain the crisis that has occurred, it is affirmed that the former Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir has never challenged the completeness of his removal from the throne on 19 April 2026 under Article 10(2) UUTKNS in Court.
Page 5:
Further, it must be explained here that the DKU meeting on 31 July 2026 is invalid, because it was convened by the former Yang di-Pertuan Besar, without the attendance of the four Undang confirmed under Article 16(3) UUTKNS in the official record as at 30 July 2026, and without the Tunku Besar Tampin and the Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong.
Accordingly, the consensus (kemuafakatan) of the four Undang to exercise the prerogative under Article 10(2) UUTKNS on 19 April 2026 to remove Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir is complete under the law of the Constitution.
Further, with the affixing of the signature of the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan on 3 August 2026 to the Proclamation made on 19 April 2026, the four Undang and the Tunku Besar Tampin resolve that this Proclamation must be enforced immediately, in order to preserve the sovereignty of the law (kedaulatan undang-undang) and the supremacy of the Constitution (keluhuran Perlembagaan).
Therefore, the State Secretary of Negeri Sembilan and all members of the administration of the Government of Negeri Sembilan are commanded (disabdakan) to comply with the said proclamation immediately and to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution wholeheartedly (tanpa berbelah bahagi).
That is all (Sekian).
The group claimed that Ismail met Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar and its members at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson, where he added his signature to a proclamation previously signed and sealed by the four purported Undangs on 19 April (Malaysiakini, 6 September 2026).
The signed proclamation was not published.
There are three immediate problems with the account.
Were the signatories valid Undangs on 3 August?
The first problem comes before the Menteri Besar’s signature.
Article 10(2) requires a proclamation under the hands of the Undangs and the MB. According to the advice of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU), three of the four people claiming to exercise those powers did not hold office as Undangs on 3 August.
Mubarak Dohak had ceased to hold office as Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong following his removal according to Luak custom. The DKU subsequently acknowledged that Maarof Mat Rashad had been removed as Undang of Luak Jelebu and advised that Abdul Rahim Yasin’s appointment as Undang of Luak Rembau had never been completed (Malay Mail, 1 August 2026).
Badarudin Abdul Khalid, who joined the 5 September statement as Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong, had also been removed according to Luak custom with effect from 30 July.
Yet the latest statement continues to use those disputed official titles, with the seals of the four Undangs affixed to the purported proclamation.
That takes the dispute beyond competing interpretations of Article 10. It raises the more basic question of who possessed the authority to exercise the offices whose constitutional powers were supposedly being used.
The claims are becoming more specific
There is another consequence to the latest statement. The more specific the Undang camp becomes, the more of its account can be tested against the documentary record.
The group places Ismail Lasim at Istana Laguna Biru on 3 August and says he signed a proclamation already bearing the four Undang seals. It also reproduces the wording attributed to his signature. Greater specificity should make the account easier to verify.
The signed proclamation has not been made public. The DKU secretary has sworn that no declaration carrying the signatures required by Article 10(2) was issued (FMT, 10 August 2026).
And on 6 September, the MB himself responded with a media statement posted on his socials. Curiously, Ismail neither confirmed nor denied signing the document. He described the group’s views as “hak mereka” (their right), before reaffirming the taat setia (loyalty) of himself and the State Government to Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Translation
MEDIA STATEMENT
MENTERI BESAR OF NEGERI SEMBILANI take note of the media statement of the YTM Undang Yang Empat dated 5 September 2026.
Whatever the views of the YTM Undang Yang Empat, that is their right. My focus now is to carry out the trust (amanah) of the office of Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan for the good of the people and the state.
I, together with the State Government, express full support and loyalty (taat setia) to DYMM Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
YAB Dato’ Haji Ismail bin Lasim
Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Sunday, 6 September 2026
That leaves the alleged signature unresolved. It also creates an obvious tension: the group says the Menteri Besar helped complete Tuanku Muhriz’s removal on 3 August; yet the same Menteri Besar continues publicly to recognise Tuanku Muhriz in that office.
It must be noted that even if the proclamation is produced and Ismail’s signature is authenticated, questions would remain over the validity of the other signatures, compliance with the Article 10(1) process, and whether the proclamation was validly issued under Article 10(2).
Why the confusion and frustration on social media?
Translation:
Did the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar actually sign it or not?
If the Menteri Besar did sign it, that would mean that on 2 August he took his oath of office before Tuanku Muhriz,
then on 3 August signed to remove Tuanku Muhriz.
Wow...
This media statement is unclear and is only leaving people with even more questions.
The frustration visible on social media is understandable. These reactions are illustrative rather than representative of wider public opinion, but the same basic questions recur: who is the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, who are the legitimate Undangs, did the MB sign a proclamation and what exactly happened on 3 August?
The institutional position, meanwhile, is clear.
Tuanku Muhriz continues to function publicly as Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The State Government continues to recognise him. Tunku Nadzaruddin has not publicly assumed the functions of the office.
The latest statement has produced an unusual result. It has generated considerable uncertainty online while adding another layer of factual claims that the group itself must substantiate.
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Sources:
DKU, secretary seek to intervene in Negeri Sembilan ruler removal case (FMT, 10 August 2026)
Fahami, hayati Rukun Negara dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat (Berita Harian, 25 August 2026)
Anak Nogori is independent commentary on the unfolding constitutional crisis in Negeri Sembilan, where centuries-old Adat Perpatih, royal succession law, and modern political manoeuvring are colliding in ways Malaysia has never seen before. If you find this useful, share it with someone who should be following this, or subscribe to receive the latest articles in your inbox.
