KUALA LUMPUR — The Negri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has filed for a new contempt of court proceeding against Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim, ten state exco and six others over the state’s ongoing constitutional dispute involving the the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
The six others named include the Undangs (territorial chieftains) who are under dispute and who are currently serving.
According to court documents sighted by the New Straits Times, the disputed Undangs are Datuk Mubarak Thahak, Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad and Datuk Abd Rahim Yasin, while the serving Undang is Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah. Others named are Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri and Datuk Syahbandar Sungei Ujong Datuk Seri Badarudin Abdul Khalid.
The legal challenge, which was filed at the Seremban High Court on Oct 15, claims that Ismail and the 16 others have undermined a High Court injunction issued on June 5 concerning the administration and affairs of the DKU.
The injunction restrains them from taking any action concerning the DKU that would alter its status quo as it stood before May 21.
However, the DKU has alleged that Ismail, the exco, Undangs and others named had persisted with implementing a purported proclamation dated April 19 concerning the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, despite the injunction remaining in force.
The DKU said this was evidenced by the media statements and press conferences held between Sept 5 and Oct 11 by those named to assert that the proclamation was valid and effective.
The state exco had also held a meeting on Sept 15 where they decided that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had been dethroned and Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar recognised as the state’s 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Such actions, the DKU said in its filing, showed that Ismail, the exco, Undangs and others had deliberately violated the court injunction and also interfered with the DKU’s administration and affairs.
Further steps taken by the exco that breached the injunction included a letter dated Sept 17 from Ismail to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal to reiterate the state exco’s decision on Tuanku Muhriz and for the matter to be brought to the Malay Rulers.
Another breach was the exco’s unilateral decision to suspend State Secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim and state legal adviser Datuk Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal with immediate effect.
The DKU had previously rejected the April 19 proclamation and holds that Tuanku Muhriz remains the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Tuanku Muhriz has revoked the appointments of the 10 Negeri Sembilan state executive councillors, effective Sept 20. The revocation was gazetted on Sept 24. – October 19, 2026