Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar has renewed his claim to be the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, despite statements and legal positions supporting Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
In a letter dated Sept 30 that has since gone viral, Nadzaruddin asked Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to intervene over a state gazette issued in Tuanku Muhriz’s name.
Nadzaruddin claimed that Tuanku Muhriz ceased to hold the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar on April 19 and that he was subsequently proclaimed the state’s 12th ruler.
He also asked the Attorney-General to recognise his position and advise the relevant federal authorities not to give effect to the Sept 24 state gazette revoking the appointments of 10 members of the state executive council.
The letter was signed by the Undang of Johol, three other former Undangs and the Tunku Besar Tampin.
Authorities maintain Tuanku Muhriz’s position
The move comes despite the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) stating that the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar and state executive council had no unilateral power to declare the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar vacant.
The State Secretary’s Office also declined to gazette or recognise the April proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz, saying the move would be unlawful and unconstitutional.
The AGC said on Sept 17 that the April 19 proclamation was invalid because it did not comply with the mandatory requirements under Article 10 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution. It also said there was no evidence that any disqualification under the provision applied to Tuanku Muhriz.
The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, while Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said the Federal Government recognises him as the ruler.
The Attorney-General has also said the revocation of the 10 Exco appointments was valid under Article XXXVIII(5) of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.
Nadzaruddin further asked that future federal gazettes issued in the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar or Raja Negeri Sembilan be published only after confirmation from him and the state’s ruling chiefs.
None of the former Undangs has so far challenged their removal and replacement in court or before the DKU, which is the state’s highest authority on customs and traditions.
All sitting Undangs have formally proclaimed their loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz.
Dispute continues amid calls for action
The latest development has fuelled further calls from some quarters in Negeri Sembilan for action against Nadzaruddin and those involved in efforts to remove Tuanku Muhriz.
Some have alleged that the move to depose a ruler could amount to treason or sedition under Malaysian law.
Section 121B of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years for certain offences against a ruler, while Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 covers certain seditious acts.
The development also comes after Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah warned of what he described as a “crisis of manners” among Malays and Muslims, saying differences of opinion were increasingly turning into hostility and that unverified information was being circulated without regard for the dignity and reputation of others.
Speaking at the 75th meeting of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia on Sept 29, Sultan Nazrin said disagreements should be managed with knowledge, patience and respect rather than insults, humiliation or defamation.
He also called for the culture of syura, or consultation, to be strengthened when dealing with differences.
Sultan Nazrin was not referring specifically to the Negeri Sembilan dispute.
The latest letter, however, adds another development to the continuing dispute over the state’s highest traditional institution, with competing claims over the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar remaining in the public domain.
