Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir returns from abroad tonight amid an escalating dispute over the state’s royal institution.
PETALING JAYA: Attention is expected to centre on Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir tonight as he returns from abroad, amid an escalating dispute over the state’s royal institution.
Tuanku Muhriz is scheduled to arrive at Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang at 8.30pm.
A poster circulating on social media has called on members of the public and several non-governmental organisations to gather at the Terminal 1 Level 5 car park to welcome the ruler and show their support. The gathering is reportedly being organised by Profans, Waris Dato Siamang Gagap, Waris Negeri Sembilan and Pekan.
His return comes as conflicting positions continue to emerge over a proclamation purportedly removing him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim confirmed earlier today that the state executive council had unanimously approved the proclamation at its meeting on Tuesday (Sept 15).
He also said the state secretary had been instructed to proceed with the gazettement in accordance with existing regulations.
The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU), however, has maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remains the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
DKU secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin said Article 16 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 places matters involving Malay customs, including the selection, appointment, abdication and removal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and Undang, under the council’s jurisdiction.
He said the DKU’s determination on such matters was final and could not be challenged or questioned in court. The council also said the state executive council had no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation or the position of the ruler, and that its Sept 16 decision had no legal effect.
The DKU has also reaffirmed that there is no vacancy in the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar and no successor while the office remains lawfully occupied.
The dispute has escalated after the state executive council said on Wednesday that the April 19 proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz was valid and recognised Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new ruler.
The conflicting positions have left the constitutional and legal status of the proclamation contested, with the DKU insisting that any dispute should be resolved through valid constitutional and legal processes.
Meanwhile, Tuanku Muhriz is expected to perform Friday prayers tomorrow at the Royal Tuanku Munawir Mosque in Seri Menanti, Kuala Pilah, where NGOs are reportedly planning another show of support following prayers.
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