The Negeri Sembilan Royal Council, known as the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, has officially reaffirmed Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state's legitimate ruler. In a decisive move on July 31, 2026, the council declared that an April 19, 2026, attempt by four traditional chieftains to remove the ruler was unconstitutional and held no legal effect. This clarification comes at a critical time, just before the state's snap elections, aiming to stabilize the royal institution and ensure a clear path for the appointment of the next state government.
The council’s ruling also addressed the status of the traditional chieftains, or Undang, who play a central role in the state's elective monarchy. The body formally recognized two new Undang, Muhammad Faris Johari for Sungei Ujong and Raja Hassan Ab Hamid for Rembau. Simultaneously, it declared that three individuals who had previously claimed the titles of Undang for Sungei Ujong, Rembau, and Jelebu had either ceased to hold or never lawfully held those positions. Specifically, the council confirmed the dismissal of Jelebu’s Maarof Mat Rashad, effective May 31, 2023, due to customary offenses.
By invalidating the April declaration, the council has effectively neutralized the challenge to Tuanku Muhriz's authority. The decision rests on the interpretation of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959, which dictates the specific procedures for the removal of the ruler. The council emphasized that the claimants lacked the necessary legal standing to exercise powers under Article 10 of the state constitution at the time of their announcement.
This resolution is significant for the public as it clarifies who holds the constitutional authority to swear in the next chief minister. With the royal succession dispute now addressed by the state's highest customary body, the focus shifts to the upcoming state polls. The government has been instructed to execute the council’s findings, marking a formal end to the uncertainty that has surrounded the state's leadership for months.