What happened last week
7 September 2026, Monday: The Court of Appeal reserved its decision on the application by Mubarak Dohak, the removed Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, and five others to stay the committal proceedings against them in the Seremban High Court pending their appeal. A three-judge bench chaired by Justice Alwi Abdul Wahab, sitting with Justices Shahnaz Sulaiman and Amarjeet Singh, fixed 14 September for case management by e-review to set a decision date, and extended the ad interim (temporary, pending a fuller hearing) stay granted on 29 July until the decision is delivered.
Counsel for the six, Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, argued that the appeal would be rendered pointless without a stay. He submitted that the Court of Appeal should first determine whether jurisdiction lies with the High Court or the Special Court. The argument relies on Articles 182 and 183 of the Federal Constitution, which govern proceedings against a Ruler in the Special Court, together with Article 160(2), which defines the Ruler in relation to Negeri Sembilan as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar acting on behalf of himself and the Ruling Chiefs.
Steven Thiru, for the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, urged the court to let the committal proceedings continue, on the settled principle that contempt proceedings take priority once commenced, and submitted that case law has established that the term ‘Ruler’ in Negeri Sembilan excludes the Undangs (The Edge Malaysia, 7 September 2026, Malay Mail, 7 September 2026, The Star, 7 September 2026, FMT, 7 September 2026).
Read also: What the Federal Constitution Says About Negeri Sembilan: Articles 71, 160, 181
8 September 2026, Tuesday: The Straits Times reported, citing legal and government sources, that Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim had privately claimed he was coerced into signing the 3 August document under severe political pressure, that he alleged UMNO’s central leadership had orchestrated the signing alongside the four chieftains who signed the 19 April declaration, and that he was preparing to lodge a police report that day. The same report noted that Ismail swore in his state executive council before Tuanku Muhriz on 7 August, four days after the purported signing (The Straits Times, 8 September 2026). Ismail lodged a police report at about 6pm.
The same day, the fifth State Executive Council meeting of 2026 discussed the establishment of a Jawatankuasa Pendamai (reconciliation committee) as a forum for resolving the customary dispute (Malay Mail, 9 September 2026).
Late that evening, the signatories of the 19 April declaration held a press conference at which they displayed the surat cara proklamasi (instrument of proclamation) dated 3 August, bearing Ismail’s signature. FMT reported the press conference as led by the Undang of Luak Johol, Muhammed Abdullah (FMT, 9 September 2026). In a separate statement responding to The Straits Times, Ismail denied that UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was involved in any attempt to remove Tuanku Muhriz, without at that stage addressing whether he had signed the document (Malay Mail, 9 September 2026).
9 September 2026, Wednesday: Ismail confirmed in a written statement that he had signed the instrument, but said he did so tanpa rela hati dan secara paksaan (unwillingly and under duress). He said the state government regarded the instrument as invalid, unconstitutional and unenforceable because it had failed to comply with the process and procedure required by Article 10 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959. He also cited Article 71 of the Federal Constitution, under which the Federation guarantees the rights and position of a state Ruler, and reaffirmed his loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz as the sole legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Malay Mail, 9 September 2026). His statement did not identify who had allegedly applied the pressure or explain why he attended the 3 August gathering or filed the police report five weeks later (Malaysiakini, 9 September 2026).
On the sidelines of the UMNO general assembly, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and information chief Azalina Othman Said each denied being present at the 3 August gathering. Zahid also denied reports that Ismail had resigned as Menteri Besar and said the lawyers who were present at the signing were best placed to establish whether any duress had occurred (Malay Mail, 9 September 2026, Malay Mail, 9 September 2026). When asked who had forced Ismail to sign, Zahid said those were the Menteri Besar’s own words and added that UMNO should keep its hands clean of the Negeri Sembilan situation (Malaysiakini, 10 September 2026).
The two Undangs whose installations the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has acknowledged also issued statements that day. The Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, Muhammad Faris Johari Meor Ngah, said the DKU sitting of 31 July at Istana Besar Seri Menanti had concluded that the 19 April declaration had no legal effect, that the 3 August instrument signed in Port Dickson was invalid and unenforceable, and that three of its four signatories had lost their pesaka (customary office) under adat and therefore lacked authority as Ruling Chiefs (Utusan Malaysia, 9 September 2026).
The Undang of Luak Rembau, Hassan Ab Hamid, argued that the Menteri Besar’s signature could not cure defects in the process preceding the proclamation. He raised three questions: whether a full inquiry under Article 10(1) had been held, whether Tuanku Muhriz had been given an opportunity to be heard, and whether those who signed the instrument had lawful authority to do so. Hassan also maintained that Abdul Rahim Yasin had never been proclaimed the 22nd Undang of Rembau and pointed to his own proclamation on 27 June (Malay Mail, 9 September 2026).
DAP vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan subsequently called on Ismail to identify who had allegedly coerced him, saying the allegation now concerned the security of the country’s rulers and institutions (FMT, 9 September 2026).
10 September 2026, Thursday: Zahid told reporters at the UMNO General Assembly that Ismail would meet him to explain the background to his statement (Malay Mail, 10 September 2026). The meeting began at about 4pm at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, with UMNO vice-presidents Johari Ghani, Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Khaled Nordin present (Malaysiakini, 10 September 2026). Neither side had published an account of the discussion at the time of writing.
The same day, Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, lawyer for the four signatories, the Tunku Besar of Tampin and the Dato’ Shahbandar of Sungei Ujong, gave the Undang camp’s account of the events of 3 August. He said Ismail attended a dinner at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson hosted by Tunku Nadzaruddin, accompanied by his lawyer, Abu Bakar Isa Ramat. According to Khairul, the chieftains explained the grounds for their 19 April action and the requirement for the Menteri Besar’s signature under Article 10. He said Ismail agreed to sign after hearing their explanation, in his lawyer’s presence and without pressure (FMT, 10 September 2026, Malaysiakini, 10 September 2026).
Khairul described Ismail’s subsequent claim of duress as an afterthought and argued that the Menteri Besar would have to substantiate it. He also confirmed that no other UMNO leader, including Zahid, was present at the dinner (Malaysiakini, 10 September 2026).
This remains the Undang camp’s account of what happened on 3 August. At the time of writing, the Menteri Besar had not publicly responded to Khairul’s account, while the police had made no public statement on his report.
12 Sept 2026, Sat: The Secretary of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU), Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, issued a notice to the Private Secretary to the Undang of Luak Johol, Muhammed Abdullah, convening a Special Meeting of the DKU at Istana Besar Seri Menanti at 4pm on 13 September, on the command of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The notice gave one day’s notice and carried no agenda. A copy of the notice was seen by this publication; its authenticity has not been independently verified, and no outlet had reported it at the time of writing.
13 Sept 2026, Sun: Special Meeting of the DKU at Istana Besar Seri Menanti, convened by the 12 September notice. Whether the sitting took place, who attended, and what it produced had not been reported at the time of writing.
What we are watching for
What comes of the DKU Special Meeting called on 13 September and whether the DKU acknowledges the 28 August proclamation of Azrin Khairi as Undang of Luak Jelebu.
14 September 2026, Monday: Case management by e-review at the Court of Appeal to fix the date for its decision on whether to stay the committal proceedings against Mubarak and five others pending their appeal. The ad interim stay granted on 29 July remains in force until that decision.
28 September 2026, Monday: Case management before the Seremban High Court in the contempt proceedings brought by the DKU and its secretary, who are seeking to have six individuals cited for contempt.
7 October 2026, Wednesday: The parties in WA-25-201-07/2026 return before Judge Norliza Othman for the court to determine whether the judicial review proceedings will remain in Kuala Lumpur or be transferred to Seremban. The pending applications to intervene also stand over to that date.
19 October 2026, Monday: The Court of Appeal’s next scheduled date in the six individuals’ appeal against the High Court’s decision granting leave to commence contempt proceedings.
Whether the police make any statement concerning the Menteri Besar’s report of 8 September.
Whether the Menteri Besar responds to Khairul Azam’s account of 3 August or identifies those he says applied pressure.
Whether the Exco proceeds with the Jawatankuasa Pendamai (Reconciliation Committee), and how its proposed remit sits alongside the advisory role of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) under Article 16.
Sources:
Fresh contempt bid filed against 6 in Negeri Sembilan dispute (FMT, 28 July 2026)
Appeals court should decide jurisdiction over NS undangs, says lawyer (FMT, 7 September 2026)
Court of Appeal reserves decision in Negri Sembilan Undang legal battle (The Star, 7 September 2026)
Ismail dakwa dipaksa tandatangan surat turunkan Tuanku Muhriz (FMT, 9 September 2026)
Proklamasi turunkan Tuanku Muhriz tidak sah (Utusan Malaysia, 9 September 2026)
Who coerced you to sign proclamation, Negeri Sembilan MB asked (FMT, 9 September 2026)
Zahid denies N. Sembilan MB resigned amid royal dispute (Malay Mail, 9 September 2026)
Lawyer disputes Ismail’s claim proclamation signed under duress (FMT, 10 September 2026)
Zahid meets Negeri Sembilan MB over proclamation issue (FMT, 10 September 2026)
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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.
