KUALA LUMPUR – The Negeri Sembilan government should have withdrawn its controversial letter concerning the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir much earlier, says former menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
Aminuddin criticised the state administration for taking so long to reverse its earlier position, saying those responsible should have admitted their mistake from the outset.
“It has taken far too long. The process has taken far too long,” he told Scoop when contacted.
“Today, they are admitting that they made a mistake. But I believe they knew from the very beginning that their decision was wrong.
“However, they felt they could use this issue for their political interests. Eventually, this is what has happened today.”
He questioned whether the withdrawal was made out of genuine conviction or prompted by external pressure, maintaining that the decision should not have been delayed.
“Whether they are doing this out of sincerity or because they are being forced to do so, we do not know.
“But this was a decision that should have been made much earlier,” he said.
Aminuddin also urged the state government to explain its decision publicly rather than merely communicating the withdrawal to the royal institution through official correspondence.
He said the administration should engage directly with the relevant parties and clarify its position transparently, instead of leaving the public to piece together developments through leaked information.
He noted that while the original decision had been made public, the subsequent withdrawal was conveyed to the royal institution through a letter that had not been publicly disclosed.
Given the sensitivity of the matter, Aminuddin said the state government should have observed proper procedures and avoided making hasty decisions involving the royal institution.
The controversy stems from a letter dated September 17, in which the state government endorsed a proclamation seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar and recognise Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the state’s ruler.
However, in a letter dated November 10, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ismail Lasim and 10 former state executive councillors withdrew the contents of their earlier correspondence to the Conference of Rulers.
The latest decision took into consideration a statement issued by the Conference of Rulers on October 14 and a Seremban High Court order dated June 5, which maintained the status quo regarding Tuanku Muhriz’s position.
Ismail confirmed the withdrawal today, saying it was intended to uphold the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959, preserve the established order of the state’s constitutional monarchy and ensure continuity in state administration.
Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman J. Arul Kumar said the reversal further reinforced that the state government’s earlier position was wrong, particularly regarding the appointment or selection of the Undang.
He said the authority to appoint or select the Undang, as well as matters concerning the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, did not rest with the state government, the menteri besar or the state executive council.
Arul Kumar maintained that the Undang occupied a higher position in Negeri Sembilan’s traditional hierarchy than the menteri besar and executive council, making such matters beyond the state government’s jurisdiction.
“The letter issued today is very clear. The action clearly shows that what they did previously was wrong, and that is why they have acknowledged it and withdrawn their position,” he told Scoop.
He also warned that repeated reversals on sensitive matters could damage the public’s confidence in the state leadership.
“We cannot make U-turns repeatedly. If we keep making U-turns on sensitive issues such as this, the people will no longer have confidence in us.
“Whatever decisions are made, the state leadership must maintain a clear position so that public confidence can be rebuilt. Confidence among investors and all stakeholders is also important for the development of the state,” he said.
Arul Kumar urged the state leadership to adopt a consistent approach and stand by its decisions, stressing that maintaining public trust and investor confidence was essential to Negeri Sembilan’s development. – November 14, 2026