KUALA LUMPUR – Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has confirmed that the state executive council unanimously endorsed a proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar during its Sept 15 meeting.
Ismail said the State Secretary had been instructed to proceed with gazetting the proclamation in accordance with existing regulations, Sinar Harian reported.
“Today, I would like to confirm that the proclamation was indeed discussed and unanimously decided upon by all members of the state executive council during a meeting on Sept 15.
“The exco has already directed the state secretary to proceed with the gazetting process in accordance with existing regulations. That is all. Thank you,” he told reporters after attending the Negeri Sembilan First-Class Graduates Excellence Awards ceremony at a hotel here today.
Ismail had earlier told reporters that he would make only a brief statement and would not take questions.
“Short and simple and I will not be taking any questions.
“You understand? Short and simple and no questions to be asked,” he said.
The confirmation follows a statement issued by the state exco on Wednesday declaring the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz valid and recognising Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar with immediate effect.
According to the exco, the proclamation dated April 19 had been signed and sealed by the lawful Undang and was subsequently completed when Ismail signed it on Aug 3.
The exco said the decision was based on Articles 10 and 11 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959, as well as provisions concerning the prerogative of the four Undang to elect and remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“It is the absolute prerogative of the four Undang to elect and remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.
“This prerogative is guaranteed by Article 32 and Article 79 of the state laws as well as Article 71 and Article 181 of the Federal Constitution,” they said.
The exco’s position, however, has been challenged by the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU), which maintains that Tuanku Muhriz remains the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar and that there is no vacancy in the position.
DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said the state government and exco did not have the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation or the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“The state executive council and the state government do not have the jurisdiction to determine the validity of the said proclamation or the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“The decision of the state exco dated Sept 16 has no legal effect,” he said.
The dispute centres on an April 19 proclamation purportedly removing Tuanku Muhriz and naming Tuanku Nadzaruddin as his successor.
On Sept 9, Ismail confirmed that he had signed the document but said he had done so against his will and under duress. He also lodged a police report over the matter and said the state government considered the document invalid, unconstitutional and unenforceable because it did not comply with the procedures under Article 10 of the state constitution.
At the time, Ismail also reaffirmed his support for Tuanku Muhriz as the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
The latest development has further intensified the constitutional and customary dispute over the Negeri Sembilan throne, with the state exco and DKU now taking opposing positions on the validity of the proclamation. The DKU’s lawyers have also accused the exco of acting without jurisdiction and described the proclamation as having no legal effect.
Also present at today’s event were several state executive councillors, including Datuk Zaifulbahri Idris, Siow Kong Choon, Datuk Mohd Razi Mohd Ali and Datuk Razali Abu Samah. – September 17, 2026