What happened last week
24 October 2026, Sat: Lianhe Zaobao and Sin Chew Daily reported that Tuanku Muhriz would reopen talks with the Menteri Besar, Ismail Lasim. The papers described it as a final attempt to resolve the dispute before the Legislative Assembly sits on 26 November. Both cited unnamed sources. According to Zaobao, those sources said Tuanku Muhriz would rather keep Ismail in office than see him replaced by the Negeri Sembilan UMNO chairman, Jalaluddin Alias.
Zaobao’s sources also described conditions for a settlement, including public acknowledgement of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar and recognition of the new Undangs. The report further cited unconfirmed talk of private meetings and manoeuvring over the Menteri Besar post (Lianhe Zaobao, 24 October 2026, Sin Chew Daily, 25 October 2026).
Jalaluddin had earlier denied any plan to move a no-confidence motion against Ismail (Malaysiakini, 23 October 2026).
Editor’s note: People familiar with the matter have told this publication that parts of the reporting are inaccurate. This publication has been unable to establish independently which details are wrong, and readers should treat the report with caution.
26 October 2026, Mon: The Negeri Sembilan Government Gazette carried five proclamations dated 23 October. Each was issued by command of Tuanku Muhriz under the name of the secretary of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU), Raja Norazli Raja Nordin.
The removed Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, Mubarak Dohak, ceased to hold office with effect from 13 May 2025. The Telaga Undang (the customary electors of the Luak) made the removal decision, and a special sitting of the DKU advised that it be accepted.
The removed Undang of Luak Jelebu, Maarof Mat Rashad, ceased to hold office with effect from 31 May 2023. This notice recites the decision of the Luak’s heirs, clan heads and Ibu Soko (lineage matriarchs) and makes no reference to DKU advice.
Badarudin Abdul Khalid ceased to hold the office of Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong with effect from 30 July 2026. This notice rests on Article 15, which covers the Shahbandar, and on a decision of the Waris di-Ayer (the Shahbandar’s customary lineage).
The gazette contains no installation notice for Luak Jelebu, likely awaiting DKU’s acknowledgement. The Undang of Luak Johol, Muhammed Abdullah, is now the only signatory.
27 October 2026, Tue: Ismail said he would not propose new EXCO members and that the courts should first rule on the ten former members’ challenge. Tuanku Muhriz had earlier ordered him to submit a new list of names.
Ismail was also reported as saying he retains the support of all 24 government assemblypersons. He said the state budget would be tabled on 27 November and that he was awaiting the Ruler’s consent to proceed (Malaysiakini, 27 October 2026).
27 October 2026, Tue: The sedition case against the former Menteri Besar Rais Yatim came up for case management at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court. With further documents pending, the court fixed 12 January 2027 for case management (The Edge, 27 October 2026). He pleaded not guilty on 25 September to a charge under the Sedition Act 1948 (Malaysiakini, 25 September 2026).
29 October 2026, Thu: The former Menteri Besar, Aminuddin Harun, told Utusan Malaysia that the Legislative Assembly could dissolve itself. He said this would happen if it does not sit by early February 2027. He asked how a government that had treated Tuanku Muhriz as no longer Ruler would now obtain his proclamation to summon the Assembly (Utusan Malaysia, 29 October 2026).
29 October 2026, Thu: Ismail did not have an audience with Tuanku Muhriz at Istana Hinggap in Seremban that morning. His press secretary, Mohd Fasha Musthafa, confirmed this to Utusan Malaysia. Earlier, reporters had been told Ismail would brief the Ruler on the 2027 state budget and seek his consent (Utusan Malaysia, 29 October 2026).
29 October 2026, Thu: Tunku Nadzaruddin’s side issued a joint media statement declaring the gazette invalid. It was issued in the names of Tunku Nadzaruddin, Mubarak, Maarof, Muhammed Abdullah, Abdul Rahim and the Tunku Besar Tampin.
The statement said:
The gazette is void. The statement called it invalid, of no legal effect and “issued to mislead the public”.
No executive council approval. It claimed the notices lacked the approval of the state executive council, citing Articles 35 and 40.
No authority to order the gazette. The signatories said Tuanku Muhriz had ceased to discharge the office from 15 September, and that Tunku Nadzaruddin removed Raja Norazli as DKU secretary on 17 September.
No valid DKU advice. It argued that the DKU’s 31 July sitting lacked a quorum under Article 20, saying only one valid permanent member attended. It also said that sitting breached the 5 June interim injunction.
The status quo stands. It said the Undangs’ positions remain as they were before 17 April 2026, and called on authorities and the media to refer to “authoritative sources”.
The assertions in this statement are the signatories’ alone.
30 October 2026, Fri: Ismail said he had yet to obtain Tuanku Muhriz’s consent for the Assembly to sit in November. “I am working on it,” he said at the opening of Perpatih Fest 2026 in Seremban. Asked about Aminuddin’s claim that the Assembly could dissolve itself if it does not sit by February, he said the relevant provisions would need to be examined (FMT, 30 October 2026, Kosmo, 30 October 2026).
FMT noted that the Assembly had been due to sit on 16 October before Ismail postponed it. It also reported that Tuanku Muhriz had rebuked Ismail in person two weeks earlier for writing to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal (FMT, 30 October 2026).
30 October 2026, Fri: Two men, aged 44 and 46, pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to charges over social media posts about Tuanku Muhriz. The posts were made on TikTok on 1 August and on Threads on 4 August.
Both were charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which covers communications that are “extremely offensive” and made with intent to offend. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission prosecuted. The court allowed bail of RM12,000 each and fixed 1 December for mention. The charges are under the Communications and Multimedia Act, with no Sedition Act count reported. If convicted, each faces a fine of up to RM500,000, up to two years’ jail, or both (The Star, 30 October 2026).
Commentary worth reading
UMNO won Negeri Sembilan but now three factions vie for power as royal crisis deepens: Shannon Teoh, The Straits Times’ Malaysia bureau chief, describes UMNO in Negeri Sembilan as split into three camps over who should be Menteri Besar:
Ismail Lasim, the incumbent. He hopes Tuanku Muhriz will let him continue if he retracts his 17 September statement that the throne was vacated. A source told the paper Ismail insists he was following orders from the party’s top leadership.
Jalaluddin Alias, the state UMNO chairman. Top political leaders told the paper he had an audience with Tuanku Muhriz on 9 October and claims the backing of most of the 36 assemblymen.
Mohd Asna Amin, the Lenggeng assemblyman. He is reportedly the preferred candidate of the UMNO president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. His appointment to the EXCO was among those Tuanku Muhriz revoked on 20 September.
Official sources told the paper that all three names were put to Tuanku Muhriz after the 1 August election, and that Ismail was chosen. Negeri Sembilan insiders said Tuanku Muhriz’s position is that he made his choice on 2 August (The Straits Times, 28 October 2026).
Editor’s note: Every claim about the three camps rests on unnamed sources, and this publication has found no confirmation on the record.
What we are watching for
2 November 2026: The Seremban High Court hears the DKU’s application to intervene in the former EXCO members’ suit.
4 November 2026: The Court of Appeal is due to decide whether to stay the earlier contempt proceedings against the six plaintiffs in the DKU suit, including Mubarak, according to Utusan Malaysia. It reserved its decision on 7 September.
16 November 2026: The Seremban High Court hears the objection that the former EXCO members should have filed a judicial review.
17 November 2026: The same court holds case management in the DKU’s new contempt application. The eFiling records also list the DKU suit and its jurisdiction applications, Enclosures 10 and 12.
26-27 November 2026: The State Legislative Assembly is due to be opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, with the 2027 budget tabled the next day. As of 30 October, Ismail had yet to obtain Tuanku Muhriz’s consent for the sitting.
16 December 2026: The Federal Court hears the former EXCO members’ motion.
12 January 2027: Further case management in the sedition case against Rais Yatim.
All of these cases remain before the courts, and this publication takes no view on their outcome.
New posts written by this publication last week
Primary documents archived:
Sources:
Rais claims trial over sedition charge linked to N Sembilan crisis (Malaysiakini, 25 September 2026)
Negri Sembilan to proceed with 2027 Budget tabling despite Exco vacancies (The Star, 8 October 2026)
Nov 2: Hearing of DKU’s bid to intervene in N.Sembilan exco case (Bernama, 21 October 2026)
百格午报 | 严端大臣将重启谈判？消息：端姑慕力兹仍在给依斯迈拉欣最后机会 (Sin Chew Daily, 25 October 2026)
Negeri Sembilan Government Gazette, Vol. 79, No. 44 (Negeri Sembilan Government, 26 October 2026)
‘Wait for court’: N Sembilan MB sticks to no-exco stance (Malaysiakini, 27 October 2026)
‘Game over?’: N Sembilan gazettes removal of 3 rebel chieftains (Malaysiakini, 28 October 2026)
DUN Negeri Sembilan berisiko bubar Februari? (Utusan Malaysia, 29 October 2026)
Ismail tidak menghadap Tuanku Muhriz hari ini (Utusan Malaysia, 29 October 2026)
Joint “Undang Yang Empat” ¹ and Tunku Besar Tampin Media Statement, 29 October 2026 (Anak Nogori, 29 October 2026)
Tunku Nadzaruddin, disputed undangs claim gazette on removals invalid (FMT, 29 October 2026)
Tunku Nadzaruddin, Undang dipertikai dakwa warta pemecatan tak sah (FMT, 29 October 2026)
Ismail yet to get Tuanku Muhriz’s consent for assembly sitting date (FMT, 30 October 2026)
Sidang DUN NS: Ismail Lasim masih usaha dapat perkenan Tuanku Muhriz (Kosmo, 30 October 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.
