KUALA LUMPUR – Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and the state executive government have pledged their unwavering support and allegiance to Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the rightful Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
In a statement today, Ismail emphasized that his primary focus remains on steering the state government and serving the populace, downplaying the escalating tension between his administration and the state’s traditional ruling chiefs.
“I take note of the statement issued by the Undang Yang Empat yesterday. Whatever views they may have are their right,” Ismail said.
The political and constitutional crisis exploded yesterday after the Secretariat of the Undang Yang Empat—the four traditional chieftains who hold the constitutional power to elect the state’s ruler—publicly demanded that the state administration, particularly the State Secretary, comply with a proclamation declaring the removal of Tuanku Muhriz.
The chieftains alleged that Ismail himself had signed the removal proclamation during a high-stakes meeting at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson on August 3. Under Negeri Sembilan’s unique customary law (Adat Perpatih), the Undang Yang Empat hold significant sway over royal succession, making the clash between the state’s executive leadership and the traditional institution an unprecedented constitutional showdown.
Despite the growing pressure from the chieftains, Ismail’s firm stance signals that the state administration stands squarely behind Tuanku Muhriz, setting up a high-stakes legal and political standoff over the state’s highest office. – September 6, 2026