‘Am I not the Tuanku?’ Tuanku Muhriz tells off Ismail Lasim (video)

A video circulating on social media shows Negeri Sembilan's Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz, confronting Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ismail Lasim over a letter that the latter claimed disputed the Tuanku's position as the state's ruler. The video, posted today, captures Tuanku Muhriz asking, "Am I not the Tuanku?" in response to Ismail's assertion that he was not the Tuanku.

The confrontation appears to have occurred after Friday prayers, though the full context of the dispute is not clear from the footage. The controversy stems from a failed attempt to remove Tuanku Muhriz from the throne, which involved a proclamation dated April 19. The disputed proclamation aimed to replace Tuanku Muhriz with Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, but the legitimacy of this change has been disputed.

The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has maintained that Tuanku Muhriz is the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar and that the proclamation was invalid. Ismail has since claimed he signed the document involuntarily and that the proclamation was not in compliance with Negeri Sembilan's constitutional procedures. The dispute has intensified following the emergence of a document allegedly bearing Ismail's signature in connection with the proclamation.

On September 17, Ismail reversed his stance and confirmed that the state executive council had approved the proclamation. The developments have raised questions about the state government's position, especially given Ismail's earlier public support for Tuanku Muhriz. The DKU has called for an investigation into any alleged criminal offences related to the dispute and reaffirmed its position that Tuanku Muhriz remains the legitimate ruler.

The latest footage brings the controversy into sharper focus, with Tuanku Muhriz appearing to rebuke Ismail directly over the letter and its implications for his position as the state's ruler.