If you have arrived at this publication and are not sure where to begin, this page is for you.
The Negeri Sembilan crisis is not a simple story. It involves six centuries of customary law, a royal family whose ruler is uniquely chosen by election among the ruling chiefs, a history of succession drama, four chieftains whose authority is now contested, a political party with a clear interest in the outcome, and a constitution that most have never read.
This publication aims to track and explain as much as we can. The posts below are organised by theme. Start with the Timeline and Context section if you are new. Dive into whichever section matches what you are trying to understand.
Start Here: Timeline and Context
What Is the Negeri Sembilan Royal Crisis? A Summary of the Constitutional Dispute - This article summarises events, key players, constitutional framework, court and political tracks in the crisis. If you only want to read one article, read this.
The Negeri Sembilan Crisis - A Detailed Timeline - Updated 21 Oct 2026. This timeline sets out every event in order, with detailed sourcing.
How Does Negeri Sembilan’s Royal Succession System Work? - The unique succession system is unlike any other in Malaysia.
What Misconduct Did The Undangs Accuse Tuanku Muhriz of? - Essentially, nothing. In other words, the silence on Tuanku Muhriz’s alleged offences says everything.
Tuanku Muhriz’s Anti-Corruption Stance - Tuanku Muhriz is well known and respected for his strong anti-corruption stance. We ask who benefits from his removal, and which other ruler will be willing to take the same stance.
The Negeri Sembilan Crisis Just Changed Shape: From Royal Dispute to a Political Play - The moment the story shifted from a constitutional dispute to a political one. On 27 April 2026, the crisis took on a new agenda.
Court Documents and Media Statements - English translations of court filings and official media statements from the DKU, the palace, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the state government, UMNO and the “Undangs”, reproduced in full where available.
The Royal Family
Who Tuanku Muhriz is, where he came from, and what his position in this crisis actually rests on.
The Royal Family of Negeri Sembilan: Service over Spectacle - The family of Tuanku Muhriz and their reputation for being educated, low-key and of the people.
Who Is Tuanku Muhriz, the Ruler at the Centre of The Storm - A profile of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, what he is known for, his and the public’s response during this crisis.
The Discovery Channel Documentaries on Tuanku Muhriz’s Installation - Two 2010 documentaries introduced Tuanku Muhriz and Negeri Sembilan’s unique succession system and democratic monarchy to the world. Watch them when you have an hour.
Tuanku Muhriz is still the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Despite Events of 5 June - Much of the mainstream media called 5 June a DKU sitting that installed Tunku Nadzaruddin as the new Ruler. Neither claim was accurate as it was neither a lawful sitting of the DKU nor a valid installation.
How Was Tunku Nadzaruddin Presented by the “Undang Yang Empat” as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar After 5 June? - Following the 5 June Malacca proclamation, Tunku Nadzaruddin was received in Jelebu, Rembau and Johol with the ceremonies of a reigning ruler.
What Is the Tunku Panglima Besar, and Why Did Tunku Nadzaruddin Lose It to Tunku Zain? - A royal title changed hands on 11 June 2026 in the middle of a succession fight. This article covers what the Tunku Panglima Besar is, who may hold it, and what it means to hold it.
How Does a Consort Become Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan? - The title of Tunku Ampuan Besar is conferred through a customary installation, on the recommendation of the Penghulu of the Luak Tanah Mengandung.
Who Is Tuanku Aishah Rohani, the Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan? - On her 74th birthday, this is the story of Tuanku Aishah Rohani, from her beginnings in the Terengganu royal family to her role as Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
The Undangs
The four chieftains who signed the 19 April declaration. Who they are, what authority they hold, and where that authority now stands.
This publication uses the term "Undang Yang Empat" to refer to the four chieftains who signed the 19 April declaration. Mubarak Dohak ceased to hold office as Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong on 17 April 2026. The DKU has since acknowledged the removal of Maarof Mat Rashad as Undang of Luak Jelebu and maintains that the appointment of Abdul Rahim Yasin as Undang of Luak Rembau was never completed. Under Article 16(3), DKU advice on such questions is final and cannot be challenged in any court.
Who Are the Four Undangs: A Profile of Each Chief - The Undang Yang Empat: individual profiles of all four chieftains, their Luaks, and their backgrounds.
What Are the 33 Offences Against Mubarak? - Mubarak was removed for 33 violations of adat and syariah, including withholding allowances of adat chiefs and falsifying marriage records.
What Are the Corruption Allegations Against the Undang of Jelebu? - SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia) records reveal a potentially serious conflict of interest involving Maarof Mat Rashad, the removed Undang of Luak Jelebu.
Who Is the Undang of Johol and Why Do 70 Companies Raise Questions That Demand Answers? - SSM documents revealing significant company involvements and possible conflicts of interest.
Who Is the Undang of Rembau and Was His Appointment Legitimate? - The selection of the 22nd Undang Luak Rembau was contested by his own Buapak in July 2024 and again in May 2026.
The Undang Yang Empat Have a Legitimacy Problem - When those four men are seen to have acted without the Ibu Soko’s mandate, without proper process, and in the case of one of them without even holding a valid position, the institution itself is damaged. Future Undang will inherit that damage.
Mubarak No Longer Has Adat Authority As Undang: Two Statements from the Telaga Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong - Two official statements state that under adat and the Negeri Sembilan Constitution, Mubarak bin Thahak ceased to hold any authority as Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong.
Mubarak Ordered to Vacate Official Residence and the Balai Immediately - The post-removal order and its significance as a concrete enforcement of the DKU’s acknowledgement.
Could the Undangs’ Declaration Constitute Sedition? - The legal and customary question of whether signing the declaration against the ruler crosses a defined threshold under both adat and constitutional law.
When Have Undangs Been Removed Before? - 2016 is remembered because it was the first time an Undang was removed. But 2026 will be historic for what the Undangs attempted to do.
Undangs Are Not Co-Rulers With Equal Status and Power: What the Negeri Sembilan Constitution Actually Says - UMNO-aligned accounts across Facebook, Twitter, and Threads have been pushing the “co-ruler” claim aggressively. Repetition shapes public perception, which is precisely why this distinction matters.
How Is an Undang of Negeri Sembilan Appointed and Removed? - Each Luak appoints and removes its own Undang under Adat Perpatih. The Yang di-Pertuan Besar is not involved in the appointment or removal process. He receives the choice and grants royal assent.
What Happens When a Luak Cannot Agree on Its Undang? - When two lineages inside a Luak each claim the rightful Undang, who decides who fills the position?
Who Are the New Undangs of Sungei Ujong and Rembau? - Faris Johari and Hassan Ab Hamid were formally installed at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on 27 June 2026.
DKU Acknowledges Installation of Undangs Sungei Ujong and Rembau and Removal of Dato’ Shahbandar and Undang of Jelebu - A full translation of the DKU’s official statement, issued on state election day, covering two new Undang installations, a Shahbandar’s removal, and a backdated dismissal in Luak Jelebu.
Did the 22 September Joint Statement by the “Undang Yang Empat” and Tunku Besar Tampin Go Too Far? - A joint statement that potentially exposes the signatories to questions of sedition, treason and defamation.
What Did Former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Rais Yatim Say? - The former Menteri Besar Tan Sri Rais Yatim sided with the Undangs. Legal experts disagree.
Is Rais Yatim an Independent Expert, or the Undangs’ Appointed Counsel? - A letter dated 2 April 2026 names Rais Yatim the Undangs’ Penasihat dan Peguam Utama. Can a retained lawyer also be a neutral constitutional expert?
Rais Yatim: The Accusations That Won’t Go Away - A detailed list of allegations against the former Menteri Besar. Here is what it said, and why it matters.
What Is the Sedition Act 1948 and How Does It Apply to the Negeri Sembilan Crisis? - Rais Yatim was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act and has pleaded not guilty. This article covers what the Act says, which sections are relevant, and how it has been used in the Negeri Sembilan crisis.
Was It Derhaka? Six Moments in the Negeri Sembilan Crisis - Six acts have been called derhaka or treason in Negeri Sembilan since April. Who did what, who used the word, and where does each stand?
UMNO and the Political Dimension
The role of the political establishment in a dispute that is being framed as customary and royal in nature.
Undangs and UMNO: Who Benefits From this Power Play? - Follow the money to find out.
Who Are the 14 UMNO Assemblymen? - On 27 April 2026, all 14 Barisan Nasional state assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan announced that they had unanimously lost confidence in the MB and are withdrawing support from the state government.
Schrödinger’s Mangkuk Politics - The Negeri Sembilan crisis explained through a thought experiment: what happens when a declaration is made but the law says it does not count?
Game of Thrones, or Game of Uno (Or Should We Say UMNO)? - How an attempted royal constitutional coup became a political game in just eight days.
Who Appoints the Menteri Besar After the Negeri Sembilan Election? - BN-PN won 25 of 36 seats and submitted three names to Tuanku Muhriz. This article covers constitutional steps between the result and the next Menteri Besar.
Did the Menteri Besar Sign the Proclamation Against Tuanku Muhriz on 3 August? - Why did the media statement by the purported Undangs revive the confusion online when Tuanku Muhriz has continued to function as Yang di-Pertuan Besar?
The Constitution and the Law
What the legal and constitutional framework says.
Reference Library - Evergreen guides to the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 with detailed explainers for key Articles of the Constitution.
What Is the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) - A primer on the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, Negeri Sembilan’s council of justice and Malay custom, established under Chapter 6 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.
What the Constitution Actually Says About Removing a Yang di-Pertuan Besar: Liyana Marzuki - Former AGC Lawyer Liyana Marzuki posts the constitutional articles about removing a Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The grounds required were never named on 19 April.
Proper Processes Exist to Remove a MB and YDPB, They Were Not Followed: Anthony Loke - Anthony Loke names the legal ways to remove an MB in Negeri Sembilan, rejects the UMNO-PN backdoor move, and defends Tuanku Muhriz as the legitimate ruler.
What the Federal Constitution Says About Negeri Sembilan: Articles 71, 160, 181 - A reference piece walking through the three Federal Constitution provisions most often cited in the Negeri Sembilan crisis, in their full text and their context.
Can Negeri Sembilan’s Ruling Chiefs Suspend the DKU Secretary and Convene Their Own Sitting? - What does the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 say about who may convene the DKU, appoint its Secretary, and preside over a lawful sitting?
Does Article 79 Let the Ruling Chiefs Convene a DKU Sitting on 5 June? - A constitutional scholar says yes. We disagree. The signatories may gather on 5 June. Whether that gathering constitutes a lawful sitting of the Dewan is another matter entirely.
An Anonymous Law Review’s Case Against Tuanku Muhriz Examined - A critical examination of the evidence, assumptions, and constitutional reasoning underlying the paper’s case against Tuanku Muhriz.
Adat Perpatih
What the customary law system says.
What Is Adat Perpatih and How Does It Differ From Other Legal Systems In Malaysia? - The customary law system at the heart of Negeri Sembilan’s identity, and the tension between its conventions and the written constitution.
What Is an Ibu Soko and Why Is She Important? - In Negeri Sembilan’s Adat Perpatih, men hold power to govern. But the power to decide who governs has always belonged to a woman.
The Constitution versus Adat Perpatih - The events of 2026 have tested the legitimacy of Adat Perpatih and the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 against constitutional and political manoeuvre.
The Harder Question - The principles of adat are real. The lived reality is messier. When several Ibu Sokos sanction multiple different Undang, who decides which counts?
Social Media and the War on Information
How Social Media Has Influenced the Crisis - The crisis broke on social media before the mainstream press caught up.
What Social Media Is Revealing That Mainstream Media Is Not - Recent social media sentiment has been unequivocal: there is strong support for the current ruler and clear resistance to his removal.
New posts are published as events develop. If you have questions, leave a comment or write to us directly on X. Follow us on X for more conversation on this topic.
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.
This is very detailed and informative. Thank you for writing and making all of this accessible to read on Substack!! I'll make sure to read your future posts too!
Hi, I’m not Malaysian but happened to read about this constitutional crisis happening in Negeri Sembilan. As this issue has been ongoing for many months now, it was difficult establishing the timeline as well as who the various players are. Thank you for this Substack that explains everything clearly and in English too! Please continue to update the Substack as events unfold.