Updated: 24 October 2026
To understand the crisis now unfolding in Negeri Sembilan, you need to understand who the Undang are. The name is believed to be derived from the Malay word undang-undang, meaning "law." An Undang is, in the most literal sense, a law-giver, a figure whose authority is not merely administrative but rooted in the customary order of the state itself.
According to Adat Perpatih, Negeri Sembilan is divided into territories called luaks. Traditionally, there have always been four major districts controlled by dignitaries called Undang Berempat. The four original territories are Sungei Ujong, Rembau, Jelebu and Johol.
The Undang collectively hold significant constitutional responsibilities, including the election and withdrawal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar under Article 10 and Article 11. They also share in the Ruler’s discretionary powers for seven functions under Article 40(2).
Who is the Undang of Sungei Ujong?
Mubarak Dohak held the position of Dato’ Klana Petra, the 10th Undang Luak Sungei Ujong. Sungei Ujong is the largest and most politically significant of the four Luak, covering the area around Seremban, the state capital of Negeri Sembilan.
He was the only remaining member of the 2008 cohort of Undang Yang Empat who originally participated in choosing Tuanku Muhriz as ruler, making his subsequent turn against the ruler particularly striking.
He was removed from his position by his luak on 17 April 2026 (a decision that was backdated to 13 May 2025) on the basis of 33 violations of adat, syariah and national law. The DKU acknowledged the removal on 17 April 2026.
On 19 April 2026, he read the declaration to depose Tuanku Muhriz, an act the Menteri Besar described as legally void given his already-stripped status.
On 5 May, the luak of Sungei Ujong named Muhammad Faris Johari as its 11th Undang (Bernama, 5 May 2026). He was installed before the Yang di-Pertuan Besar at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on 27 June (The Star, 27 June 2026), and at its sitting of 31 July the DKU recorded his installation and advised that his recognition be accepted (DKU Statement, 1 August 2026).
Read more:
Who is the Undang of Jelebu?
Dato’ Maarof Mat Rashad is the Undang of Jelebu, whose territory covers the northern part of Negeri Sembilan bordering Selangor, with the main town of Kuala Klawang.
SSM public records and a letter on official Balai Undang letterhead raise questions about Maarof’s conduct in the months before the crisis. In November 2024, he signed an authorisation letter granting rare earth mining rights to NREE Development Sdn. Bhd., bypassing the state PTG office. In January 2025, he became a shareholder in NREE Holdings, the parent company, and in March 2026, one month before the crisis, he exited the company.
At its sitting of 31 July, the DKU accepted the unified position of the Waris, Anak Buah and Ibu Soko Waris Berundang of the three Kemin Perut (lineage branches) to dismiss Maarof as the 16th holder of the title with effect from 31 May 2023. It advised that his actions after that date be treated as invalid. It also recorded that his Darjah Tertinggi Negeri Sembilan, the state’s highest honour, had lapsed with the office (Sinar Harian, 1 August 2026).
On 28 August, Azrin Khairi proclaimed 17th Undang at a pemasyhuran (proclamation ceremony) in Kuala Klawang (Utusan Malaysia, 29 August 2026). Tuanku Muhriz received him at the Istiadat Menzahirkan Kejadian Undang (the ceremony that completes an Undang’s installation) at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on 14 October (The Star, 14 October 2026).
Read more:
Who is the Undang of Johol?
Dato’ Muhammed Abdullah is the Undang of Johol, installed in 2016. Johol is one of the smaller Luak in Negeri Sembilan, yet the position carries the same constitutional weight as the other three. Former Court of Appeal judge Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus, writing in The Edge, noted that his own great-great-grandfather was the Undang of Johol for over 60 years, one of the longest-reigning Undang in Negeri Sembilan history.
Official SSM documents show he holds directorships in 70 companies, with 47 currently active. They include mining companies, a rare earth elements company, a gold mining company incorporated 46 days before the declaration, and a minerals company incorporated three days after it.
Read more:
Who Is the Undang of Rembau?
Dato’ Abdul Rahim Yasin was proclaimed the 22nd Undang in 2024. On 8 May 2026, Rashimah Abu Bakar, the Ibu Soko Tua of Waris Perut Kampung Pulau, spoke about his naming. She said anak waris (lineage members) from four kampung (villages) were concerned that it was defective under the adat of Luak Rembau (Negeri Kita, 8 May 2026). At its sitting of 31 July, the DKU advised that he had never been validly appointed. His appointment, it said, was never completed through the Istiadat Menzahirkan Kejadian Undang (the customary installation ceremony) (Sinar Harian, 1 August 2026).
Hassan Ab Hamid was installed at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on 27 June 2026, and the DKU advised on 31 July that his installation be accepted (DKU Statement, 1 August 2026).
Read more:
Where does each office stand?
As of October 2026, based on the official installations recognised by the DKU, the official Undangs are:
Sungei Ujong: Dato’ Muhammad Faris Johari
Jelebu: Dato’ Azrin Khairi
Johol: Dato’ Muhammed Abdullah
Rembau: Dato’ Hassan Ab Hamid
What have the April signatories done since 19 April?
19 April 2026, the declaration. The four “Undang” signatories announced the removal of Tuanku Muhriz under Article 10(1)(b) and named Tunku Nadzaruddin in his place (The Star, 20 April 2026).
23 April 2026, the State Assembly boycott. The four signatories and the Tunku Besar of Tampin stayed away from the opening of the state assembly. By custom, all five attend and sit beside the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Malaysiakini, 17 September 2026).
5 May 2026, first court filing. Six signatories filed an originating summons at the Seremban High Court seeking the minutes of the DKU’s 17 April sitting. It is a records-access case, and it does not challenge any removal (Malaysiakini, 17 September 2026).
5 June 2026, the Melaka proclamation. The signatories proclaimed Tunku Nadzaruddin at a hotel in Alor Gajah, Melaka, after police barred entry to the Tunku Besar of Tampin’s ceremonial hall. The same morning, the Seremban High Court granted an interim injunction preserving the DKU’s status quo (Malaysiakini, 17 September 2026).
17 July 2026, second court filing. The four signatories applied to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur for judicial review (WA-25-201-07/2026). They sought mandamus compelling the Menteri Besar to sign the 19 April proclamation, and a declaration that it is valid under Article 10(1)(b) and Article 10(2).
5 September to 20 October 2026, a torrent further statements. On 5 September, the signatories issued a statement claiming Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim had signed the proclamation on 3 August, completing it, and called on the state administration to implement the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The DKU, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the State Secretary each responded in September (DKU, 14 September, AGC, 17 September, State Secretary, 17 September). Joint statements in the name of the four signatories and the Tunku Besar of Tampin followed on 22 September, 2 October, 5 October and 20 October. They repeated the claims that the removals of the “Undang” were invalid and that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed, and called for Tunku Nadzaruddin to be recognised as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
What current events tell us
The four Luak chiefs hold offices of unusual weight. They elect the Yang di-Pertuan Besar under Articles 7 and Article 11, they may call on him to withdraw or abdicate under Article 10, and in adat, each is the law-giver of his Luak. The Constitution attaches those powers to the office, and Article 14(1) attaches the office to election by the luak.
That order matters. From the April declaration to the September statement, the signatories’ claim to authority has depended on their standing as holders of the 4 offices. Their entitlement to those offices has, in turn, been central to the responses of the DKU, the AGC and the state secretary’s office. Although the crisis has been argued through Article 10, it repeatedly returns to the prior question arising under Article 14: who lawfully holds the offices whose constitutional powers the signatories seek to exercise?
As the Adat saying has it, berjenjang naik, bertangga turun (authority climbs step by step and descends rung by rung). An Undang is raised by the kerapatan (customary council) of his luak, and the same council can take him down.
If you are new to this Substack and are not sure where to begin, visit our Start Here page, where we list all our articles organised by theme.
Related Posts:
Sources:
Rahim Takes Oath as New Undang Luak Rembau (Malaysiakini, 22 August 2024)
Tuanku Muhriz Opens Negeri Sembilan State Assembly Amid Dispute (The Edge Malaysia, 23 April 2026)
Pengisytiharan Mubarak tidak sah, bukan lagi Undang Luak Sungei Ujong (Buletin TV3, 20 April 2026)
28-year-old Accountant Muhammad Faris Johari Is New Undang Of Sungei Ujong (Bernama, 5 May 2026)
Ibu Soko Tua dakwa ada kecacatan Adat dalam pemilihan Undang Rembau (Negeri Kita, 8 May 2026)
Muhammad Faris installed as 11th Undang of Sungei Ujong (The Star, 27 June 2026)
Abd Rahim Yassin Takes Oath As New Undang Luak Rembau (Bernama, 22 August 2024)
KINIGUIDE | Negeri Sembilan royal rumble: What’s going on? (Malaysiakini, 17 September 2026)
Azrin diisytihar Undang Luak Jelebu ke-17 (Utusan Malaysia, 29 August 2026)
Azrin Khairi proclaimed 17th Undang of Luak Jelebu (New Straits Times, 29 August 2026)
Azrin Khairi dizahirkan sebagai Undang Luak Jelebu Ke-17 (Berita Harian, 14 October 2026)
Azrin Khairi installed as 17th Undang of Jelebu (The Star, 14 October 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.
