KENYATAAN MEDIA BERSAMA (JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT)
DYMM YANG DI-PERTUAN BESAR NEGERI SEMBILAN DARUL KHUSUS
YTM UNDANG YANG EMPAT
YTM TUNKU BESAR TAMPIN
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the master of the messengers, and upon his family and all his companions.
AL-WATHIQU BILLAH [royal formula: “He who places his trust in God”], Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Nadzaruddin ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Yang Teramat Mulia Dato’ Klana Petra Dato’ Mubarak Bin Thahak, Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, Yang Teramat Mulia Dato’ Mendika Menteri Akhirulzaman Dato’ Maarof Bin Haji Mat Rashad, Undang of Luak Jelebu, Yang Teramat Mulia Dato’ Johan Pahlawan Lela Perkasa Sitiawan Dato’ Muhammed Bin Haji Abdullah, Undang of Luak Johol, Yang Teramat Mulia Dato’ Sedia Raja Dato’ Haji Abdul Rahim Bin Haji Yasin, Undang of Luak Rembau, and Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Syed Razman Bin Syed Idrus Al-Qadri, Tunku Besar of Tampin:
WHEREAS We affirm that the issue of custom and the throne of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus has already been resolved with the completion of the Proclamation of Removal from the Throne of YAM Tunku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir under Article 10(2) of the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan (UUTKNS) 1959 [the Constitution of the State of Negeri Sembilan]. The Proclamation was also received and decided for implementation by the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (MMKN) [State Executive Council] of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, chaired by YAB Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Dato’ Ismail bin Lasim, at its sitting dated 15 September 2026. Official notification of this was also made to the Conference of Rulers by the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus through the official letter of YAB Menteri Besar on 21 September 2026.
WHEREAS We also uphold with the highest reverence the gracious decree of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja-Raja Melayu [the Malay Rulers] dated 14 October 2026, corresponding to 3 Jamadilawal 1448. That decree called on all parties to the dispute over the throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus to give priority to wisdom, patience and respect for the decorum, custom and dignity of the royal institution. All actions and their implementation must also be founded on UUTKNS 1959. We, DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, the Undang Yang Empat and the Tunku Besar of Tampin, therefore welcome that call with the fullest reverence. We also affirm that all matters of the removal from the throne and the election of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus have already been completed in accordance with custom and UUTKNS 1959.
WHEREAS We also welcome the said Decree, which calls on outside parties not to interfere in and/or politicise the throne crisis of the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus. We affirm that the matter of the position of the throne of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar is the absolute prerogative of YTM Undang Yang Empat, as enshrined according to custom and UUTKNS 1959. This right is also protected by Article 71(1) of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees that a dispute concerning the right of succession to the throne of a State shall be determined solely by the authority, and in the manner, laid down by that State’s Constitution. For Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, that authority is the Undang Yang Empat under Articles 10 and 11 of UUTKNS 1959. The Federal Government, its departments and its agencies have no jurisdiction in this matter. They must respect the sovereignty of the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus and the supremacy of custom and of UUTKNS 1959.
WHEREAS the Administration of the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus must be loyal, obedient and compliant with this ruling, and exercise its powers in accordance with Article 35 of UUTKNS 1959. THEREFORE We, as the lawful Raja Pemerintah [Reigning Ruler] of the Government of Negeri Sembilan under Article 28 of UUTKNS 1959, decree and proclaim that YB the State Secretary and YB the State Legal Adviser follow the administrative directions of YAB Menteri Besar and comply with the rulings of the State Government.
WHEREAS We affirm that, according to the principles of constitutional and administrative law, at the latest on 15 September 2026, that is, after the MMKN decision, YAM Tunku Muhriz could no longer exercise the functions and powers of rule. We therefore further affirm that any functions and powers of rule after 15 September 2026 must be referred directly by the administration of the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus to Us, as the lawful Raja Pemerintah of Negeri Sembilan under Article 28 of UUTKNS 1959. This crisis of the throne and of custom has been resolved, and it is improper for it to be made a polemic of and/or politicised as though it were still unresolved and were supposedly to continue indefinitely, to the point of threatening the conduct of the State’s administrative powers and harming the welfare of the people. Respect the administration of the State Government, which has been given a large mandate by the people.
WHEREAS We affirm that the decree of YAM Tunku Muhriz revoking consent to the appointment of ten (10) EXCO of the Government of Negeri Sembilan, and the gazette that followed concerning it, is invalid and unconstitutional. At the time that decree was made, YAM Tunku Muhriz was no longer Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus and could not exercise the functions of rule. Accordingly, We hereby bestow gracious consent upon YAB Dato’ Ismail Bin Lasim as Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan and the line-up of EXCO of the Government of Negeri Sembilan, namely:
YB Dato’ Mohd Faizal bin Ramli
YB Dato’ Haji Zaifulbahri bin Haji Idris
YB Dato’ Hj. Mustapha bin Nagoor
YB Tuan Siow Kong Choon
YB Puan Siti Nur Umaira binti Hasim
YB Datuk Haji Mohd Asna bin Haji Amin
YB Dato’ Mohd Razi bin Mohd Ali
YB Tuan Suhaimizan bin Bizar
YB Tuan Mohd Fairuz bin Mohd Isa
YB Datuk Razali bin Abu Samah
to continue steering the administration of the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus. We also command and decree that the members of the administration and the officers of the Government of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus give their full cooperation, loyalty and obedience to the State Government.
WHEREAS YAB Menteri Besar must carry out his responsibilities with full dedication, without fear of pressure from any party. We affirm that any issue arising on questions of custom and the throne that fall under Part One of UUTKNS 1959 is to be handled by Us as Raja Pemerintah of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus. The administration of the State Government must proceed as usual, and there is no longer any need for YAB Menteri Besar to have an audience with YAM Tunku Muhriz on matters of State Government administration, because the ruling of custom, UUTKNS 1959 and the position of the State Government are clear.
We also call on all the people of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus to remain calm and to guard their words. The people are also urged not to spread news that has not been verified and not to be influenced by divisive narratives.
In closing, may Allah SWT bestow wisdom to overcome emotion, and muafakat (consensus) to overcome discord, for the sake of the interests of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, the welfare of the people and the honour of the royal institution. As the perbilangan (customary saying) has it, “bulat air kerana pembetung, bulat manusia kerana muafakat” (water is made round by the culvert, people are made one by consensus) and “usah dikusut yang telah selesai” (do not tangle what has already been settled).
Sekian (That is all).
Termaktub (Recorded) on the 20th day of October, 2026, corresponding to 9 Jamadil’awal 1448H.
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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.
