KUALA LUMPUR — Muhammad Faris Johari, a 29-year-old accountant, has been formally installed as the 11th Dato’ Klana Petra Undang Luak Sungai Ujong.
The appointment, confirmed through a customary council at Telaga Undang on April 22, was achieved by unanimous consensus among Waris Nan Tua Klana Hulu, Ibu Soko-Ibu Soko Klana Hulu, and other senior representatives of Klana Hulu.
In a statement, Waris Nan Tua Klana Hulu, Orang Kaya Dato’ Laksamana Shaharumzaman Dato’ Lela Bangsa Abdul Malek, said the ceremony adhered to established adat principles of justice, lineage, and governance.
“It was reinforced by Ibu Soko Klana Hilir and Waris Klana Hilir, and witnessed by Ibu Soko Waris Negeri, Waris Negeri, Dato’ Lembaga Lingkungan, To’ Buapak Lingkungan, and government officials.
“Selection followed the lineage rules under Article 27 of Teromba and Salasilah Negeri Sungai Ujong 1910, as well as the ‘patuh tumbuh’ principle stipulated in Article 5 of the Sungai Ujong laws,” he said.
Shaharumzaman added that under Article 48(VI) of Teromba and Salasilah Negeri Sungai Ujong 1910, the appointment was validated by Dato’ Andulika Mandakila Zainol Ariffin Ibrahim Tua Lembaga Waris di-Darat and officially recognised by the Negeri Sembilan government.
“The adat process ensures that the appointment of Dato’ Klana Petra is carried out independently, without outside interference, in line with Article 14(1) of the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution 1959,” he said, attaching a profile of Muhammad Faris.
The installation follows the removal of Datuk Mubarak Dohak as the 10th Undang of Sungai Ujong. On April 20, the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang advised the luak of Sungai Ujong to accept his removal.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang provided 33 reasons for Mubarak’s removal, carried out under Rule 14(3) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan.
The four Undang of Negeri Sembilan, including the Undang of Sungai Ujong, hold key positions in the Adat Perpatih system and are responsible for electing the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The other three Undang are Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau. All four Undang have contested Aminuddin’s statement regarding Mubarak’s removal.
Born on October 30, 1997, Muhammad Faris is the second child of Johari Meor Ngah and Ibu Soko Klana Hulu Shazlina Dato’ Sinda Maharaja Abd Karim. His mother graduated from McGill University, Montreal, while his father holds a degree from Coventry University, England.
Muhammad Faris traces his lineage directly to Dato’ Klana Petra Bador ibni Dato’ Penghulu Menteri Chantek, the first Undang Luak Sungai Ujong through maternal lines.
He is also a descendant of Dato’ Klana Petra Ma’amor Dato’ Menteri Kassim, the 8th Undang Luak Sungai Ujong, and Dato’ Mendika Menteri Akhirulzaman Abdullah Panglima Muda Luk, the 12th Undang Luak Jelebu, known as the Lion of Jelebu.
He attended Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Beseri, Perlis, before completing a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
In 2022, he obtained professional qualifications through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and is currently employed at global firm Marsh.
The installation continues the centuries-old tradition of Negeri Sembilan’s Undang, a key institution responsible for matters of adat, succession, and the election of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. Muhammad Faris succeeds Datuk Mubarak Dohak, the 10th Undang Luak Sungai Ujong. – May 5, 2026