Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan royal crisis deepens amid claims of grave disloyalty to ruler

Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan royal crisis worsened on Monday as the customary council accused six men of grave disloyalty to the ruler. This escalation deepens the ongoing struggle for control over the only elective monarchy in Malaysia, where a group of traditional chiefs aims to remove the current ruler, Tuanku Muhriz Munawir, and replace him with a different royal.

This dispute had previously forced the previous state government out of power and led to a snap election, only for it to resurface weeks after a new Umno-led administration came to power.

The state's customary council, on Sunday, ruled that a proclamation from April 19 purporting to remove Muhriz was invalid from the start. They stated that no inquiry was ever conducted, as required by the constitution, and that Muhriz was never given notice or a chance to respond to the allegations of misconduct. Additionally, the council noted that three of the four signatories to the April proclamation were not legally holding their positions at the time.

Furthermore, it dismissed a later document signed on September 5 by Chief Minister Ismail Lasim as being unable to revive the April proclamation. The council asserted that Muhriz remains the legitimate ruler of Negeri Sembilan, known as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The council also deemed the actions of six signatories to the September proclamation as derhaka under adat law, which translates to grave disloyalty or defiance towards a ruler in Malay. They accused four of them of using positions they did not hold, attempting to remove the ruler without the necessary inquiry, and issuing invalid instructions to government officials.

The council took the step of ordering its secretary to file a police report and instructed state officials not to adhere to instructions stemming from the disputed proclamation. They also dismissed the state government's proposal for a reconciliation committee, clarifying that customary matters under the state constitution cannot be delegated.

Negeri Sembilan distinguishes itself from Malaysia's eight other royal states because its ruler is elected by four undang under the adat perpatih system, a matrilineal customary system with origins in Sumatra. Article 10 of the state constitution permits the undang to request a ruler's abdication, but only after a thorough inquiry and through a formal proclamation.

The crisis began in April when four chiefs declared Muhriz removed and named a replacement. The council rejected this move on July 31. This political fallout resulted in the dissolution of the state assembly and an election on August 1, after which Ismail was sworn in as the new chief minister before Muhriz on August 2. Ismail later admitted to signing another proclamation to remove Muhriz on August 3, claiming it was done "against my will and under duress."

He filed a police report and labeled the document as "invalid, unconstitutional and unenforceable." Lawyers representing the rival chiefs deny coercion, stating Ismail voluntarily signed after being briefed and with his own lawyer present. Police have initiated an investigation into Ismail's claim. Constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet clarified that the council's use of derhaka should not be interpreted as a criminal treason charge, as there is no direct "treason" offense in the Malaysian Penal Code.

He explained that provisions covering waging war or intending harm to a ruler do not apply in this situation and that no criminal action is likely to be taken.