KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Former Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim today claimed that Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar had been officially proclaimed the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan in Melaka, in apparent defiance of an interim injunction from the High Court.
The proclamation was held at a five-star hotel in Alor Gajah, The Star reported this afternoon, hours after police briefly blocked several Undang and adat leaders from entering the official residence of the Tunku Besar of Tampin, where a special sitting of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) was held.
“The process was carried out according to the state’s adat followed by a royal address,” Rais was quoted telling reporters in Alor Gajah after the ceremony.
He said Undang Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad and Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri were physically present, while three other adat leaders followed the proceedings remotely via Zoom.
He said lawyers and adat officials also witnessed the proceedings, which were conducted using scripts prepared by experts in Negeri Sembilan customary law.
“I can tell you that the rule of law according to the Constitution has been done and the rigmarole of the Adat has been fulfilled,” he was quoted as saying.
Rais added that Tunku Nadzaruddin was now free to carry out his duties as Ruler, despite the ongoing dispute over the state’s royal succession.
“We understand there may be some issues but we shall overcome these together,” Rais was quoted as saying.
The latest development comes amid a widening constitutional and customary crisis in Negeri Sembilan after four Undang announced in April that they had appointed Tunku Nadzaruddin as the new Ruler and sought to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, a move rejected by the state government as unconstitutional.
Earlier today, police briefly barred several Undang from entering the Tunku Besar Tampin’s residence for a special DKU sitting before eventually allowing them in after tensions rose at the main gate.
Rais also questioned the legality of the Negeri Sembilan Legislative Assembly’s dissolution yesterday, arguing that Tunku Nadzaruddin had already been appointed Ruler by the Undang on April 19.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun had announced that the assembly was dissolved with the consent of Tuanku Muhriz, whom the state government continues to recognise as the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Rais, a former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1978 to 1982, further claimed that Article 28 of the state constitution defines the Ruler as including the Undang and alleged they had not been consulted over the dissolution.
The latest move follows a High Court application today by the DKU seeking an interlocutory injunction to stop five Undang and a Tunku Besar from holding a special sitting scheduled for June 5 and from interfering with the duties of its secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin.
The DKU said the injunction was necessary to preserve the council’s administration and governance pending the resolution of related court proceedings, amid a broader royal succession crisis that has seen disputes over the suspension of the DKU secretary and the removal of an Undang spill into the courts.
The Negeri Sembilan royal succession dispute erupted in April when four Undang and the Tunku Besar Tampin announced that Tunku Nadzaruddin had been selected as the state’s new Ruler and that Tuanku Muhriz should be removed.
The state government has rejected the move and maintains that Tuanku Muhriz remains the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
The dispute has since triggered multiple court actions, competing interpretations of adat and constitutional provisions, and an escalating stand-off between state authorities and several members of Negeri Sembilan’s traditional leadership.
