Only in Malaysia, of course! Where else in this world could a royal dispute spark a snap state election?
For the record, the standoff involving the Palace in Negeri Sembilan has now turned into a political maelstrom, culminating in the sudden dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly for snap elections.
The result? A unique twin crisis.
First the palace saga.
Matters reached a climax recently when a rival “new” ruler was installed by the state's traditional chieftains, triggering the all-important question:
Do the state's chieftains actually possess the authority to depose the reigning ruler, Tuanku Muhriz?
The answer is an emphatic YES! They do technically possess the constitutional power to depose the state ruler.
This is because under Negeri Sembilan’s unique Adat Perpatih system, the Undang Yang Empat (the four territorial chieftains of Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau) hold a rare, dual-edged power.
They are effectively the kingmakers who elect the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Yamtuan Besar), while simultaneously holding the unique constitutional authority to remove or seek the withdrawal of a reigning ruler under specific and strict circumstances.
Then comes the second, far more pressing question:
Did the chieftains actually comply with the mandatory customary protocols and processes to legally install a new ruler?
Here, the evidence points to a definitive “No." Crucially, they were alleged to have bypassed critical constitutional, judicial, and customary protocols.
In short, attempts to remove Tuanku Muhriz and "proclaim" Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the 12th Ruler allegedly failed to get through several mandatory legal roadblocks.
Under the state constitution a ruler can only be removed if he is deemed to be unfit to rule due to serious incapacity, misconduct, or breaches of the constitution or Islamic principles.
What allegedly transpired was that the Undangs had abruptly declared Tuanku Muhriz "deposed," citing vague misconduct without presenting specific charges to the public or allowing a formal, transparent hearing.
The burning question here is: why the urgency to remove a popular state monarch who is known for his anti-corruption stance—the very ruler who in 2018 reportedly revoked the Datuk Seri Utama title conferred on ex-premier Najib Razak?
Adding to the intrigue, the Council of Justice and Law (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang) had earlier stripped the lead Undang of Sungai Ujong of his title over several customary offenses. So, when the remaining chieftains staged their palace challenge, the state government immediately declared it null and void.
Then came another bombshell.
Instead of resolving the deadlock through the state’s institutional bodies, the dissenting Undangs—with the help of their supporters—moved the entourage across the border. They reportedly staged a coronation ceremony at a posh hotel in Melaka, declaring a new ruler in an unprecedented coronation-in-exile.
Enter the politicians…
Of course, when it comes to sniffing out a tactical opening, politicians don't need a PhD!
In truth, is any crisis ever complete in this country without opportunistic politicians jumping onto the royal bandwagon while kicking up tantrums for everyone to see?
What followed was textbook stuff. Allegedly sensing a golden chance to reclaim control of the state, UMNO promptly pulled its support from the Pakatan Harapan-led government, instantly stripping Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun of his working majority.
As expected, the public impression given was that it was defending the state's royal Adat Perpatih institutions.
But to detractors, it would have seemed more like a raw, calculated move to allegedly ride on the crisis to force a snap election, probably confident that it could permanently eliminate Pakatan Harapan—with DAP and all—from the state.
Naturally, having lost the support of his UMNO-BN partners, Aminuddin appeared to have no other alternative but to secure the state ruler's consent to dissolve the 36-seat assembly.
Ironically, by calling for a snap election, the PH-led state administration effectively turned the tables on their erstwhile ally, passing the buck straight back to the ordinary rakyat to sort out the mess.
But is this how UMNO would have really wanted things to unfold?
As it stands, the Seremban High Court’s recent interim injunction has temporarily put the brakes on the rebel chieftains' palace challenge and the impromptu coronation of the “new” ruler. The outcome: Tuanku Muhriz remains the sole, legally recognized ruler pending the court's final verdict.
Now, with the royal conflict consigned to the courts, and the dissolution of the state assembly done and dusted, UMNO may have finally gotten the snap election it earlier craved. But the bigger question remains: more than anything else, will the election outcome be a clear indication of the people's verdict on the entire crisis?
Credit Image: Scoop, Straits Times, FMT, TwentyTwo13, The Star, SCMP and The Edge Malaysia.
JK Joseph (jtkingsworld@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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