This is from Singapore's Straits Times (for full report click here). I have summarised the main points.
- Msia’s rulers last-minute postponement of Ruler's Conference
- scheduled June 23-25
- amid brewing dispute over throne of Negeri Sembilan
- raised doubts over whether state polls on Aug 1 can proceed.
- Palace confirmed cancellation of Conference to ST early on June 23
- no further details were offered
- several sources, including a chief minister scheduled to attend conference
- told ST concerns over whether it was appropriate to proceed
- given two claimants to throne of Negeri Sembilan
- Under Negeri's unique Adat Perpatih, Undang elect state ruler
- can remove him if an inquiry establishes serious grounds for dismissal
- rulers’ decision now throws months-long Negeri palace crisis back to courts
- which are due to hear arguments from the two parties in July
- On April 17 Undang’s years of disgruntlement with Muhriz
- over perceived curbing of their privileges came to a head
- when he affirmed removal of one chieftain by his own tribal chiefs
- at a special meeting of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU)
- the state’s highest authority on Malay customs
- Undang then retaliated with April 19 ceremony to remove Muhriz
- This led state govt to dissolve legislature for polls
- announcing in rushed press conference close to midnite on June 4
- to pre-empt chieftains from installing new ruler on morning of June 5
- On June 5 police blocked venue where installation supposed to be held
- forcing Undang to retreat to hotel in Melaka to install Nadzaruddin
The delay will serve as encouragement to the Undang who installed Nadzaruddin Ja’afar (above centre) – the son of the previous Yamtuan and Muhriz’s cousin – as the new sovereign on June 5. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
- same day Seremban High Court granted interim injunctions
- barring any DKU meetings until suit Undang vs Yamtuan & state admin settled
- Undangs persisted in proclaiming Nadzaruddin new ruler
- They wrote to Malaysia’s King on matter ahead of Conference of Rulers
- risking contempt of court
- Conference of Rulers’ postponement despite state and federal govt recognising only Muhriz Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, or Yamtuan.
- If council had proceeded with Muhriz in attendance – he was also scheduled to take on rotational chair of meetings – it would have affirmed status quo.
- delay will encourage Undangs who installed Nadzaruddin new sovereign June 5
- Nadzaruddin Jaafar is son of the previous Yamtuan and Muhriz’s cousin
Conference of Rulers is rarely called off
last time because of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2021
signalling how seriously brother rulers view crisis in Negeri
which has reverberated politically, forcing snap polls in the state
- this will now spark uncertainty over whether upcoming vote will be held
- as Muhriz Munawir dissolved state legislature on June 5.
- after four Undang, “sacked” him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar in April.
- dissolution came after UMNO withdrew support on April 27 for Negeri MB
- who hails from ..Pakatan Harapan (PH)
- alleging MB had interfered in royal affairs by declaring Muhriz ruler
- The state election could be crucial for PH
- PH performed disastrously at the last state election in Sabah
- Another heavy defeat in Johor could jeopardise leadership
- force national polls well ahead of the February 2028 deadline.
My Comments:
