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Iman Muttaqin Yusof

Ushar Daniele

Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan royal crisis escalated on Monday after the state’s customary council said six men behind the latest attempt to remove ruler Tuanku Muhriz Munawir could be regarded as having committed grave disloyalty to the monarch.
The ruling deepens a months-long struggle over Malaysia’s only elective monarchy, where a rival group of traditional chiefs has sought to depose Muhriz and install another royal in his place.
The dispute helped bring down the previous state government and trigger a snap election, only to resurface weeks after a new Umno-led administration took office.
The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang said after a special sitting on Sunday that an April 19 proclamation purporting to remove Muhriz was invalid from the outset.
“No such investigation was ever carried out,” the council said, referring to the constitutional requirement for a “full and complete” inquiry before the four territorial chiefs, known as the undang, could ask the ruler to step down.
It said Muhriz had never been given notice or an opportunity to answer the allegations of misconduct, while three of the four men who signed the April proclamation were not legally holding office as undang at the time.

The council also said a later document publicised on September 5, bearing the signature of Chief Minister Ismail Lasim, could not revive the April proclamation.
“There cannot be a successor so long as the office is lawfully occupied,” it said, reaffirming Muhriz as the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar, the title used for Negeri Sembilan’s ruler.
The council said the actions of six signatories to the September document could be considered derhaka under adat law, using the Malay term for grave disloyalty or defiance towards a ruler.
It accused four of them of using offices they did not hold, trying to remove the ruler without the required inquiry and issuing invalid directions to government officials.
The council ordered its secretary to lodge a police report and told state officials not to act on instructions arising from the disputed proclamation.
It also rejected the state government’s proposal for a reconciliation committee, saying customary matters assigned to the council under the state constitution could not be delegated.
Negeri Sembilan differs from Malaysia’s eight other royal states because its ruler is elected by four undang under adat perpatih, a matrilineal customary system with roots in Sumatra.
Article 10 of the state constitution allows the undang to seek a ruler’s abdication, but only after a full inquiry and through a formal proclamation.
The crisis began in April when four chiefs declared Muhriz removed and named a replacement. The council rejected that move on July 31.

The political fallout contributed to the dissolution of the state assembly and an August 1 election, after which Ismail was sworn in before Muhriz on August 2.
Ismail later acknowledged signing another proclamation to remove Muhriz on August 3 but said he did so “against my will and under duress”.
He filed a police report and called the document “invalid, unconstitutional and unenforceable”. Lawyers for the rival chiefs denied coercion, saying Ismail signed voluntarily after being briefed and while accompanied by his own lawyer.
Police have opened an investigation into Ismail’s allegation. Constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet said the council’s use of derhaka should not be read as a criminal treason charge.
“The Malaysian Penal Code doesn’t have a ‘treason’ offence per se,” Lim told This Week in Asia, adding that provisions covering waging war against or intending death or hurt to a ruler did not apply here. “So I don’t think anyone is envisioning criminal action.”


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The customary council says an April proclamation purporting to remove Tuanku Muhriz Munawir was invalid from the outset


The customary council says an April proclamation purporting to remove Tuanku Muhriz Munawir was invalid from the outset.


Malaysian politics

Royalty

Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan royal crisis deepens amid claims of grave disloyalty to ruler

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The customary council says an April proclamation purporting to remove Tuanku Muhriz Munawir was invalid from the outset

The customary council says an April proclamation purporting to remove Tuanku Muhriz Munawir was invalid from the outset