Go away, I don’t want to see you, Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB

The Yang Di Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, publicly rebuked Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim in a recent confrontation. This confrontation took place amid a constitutional crisis in the state. In various videos circulating online, Tuanku Muhriz can be seen reprimanding Ismail, claiming he had received a letter from Ismail stating he was no longer the Yang Di Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

Tuanku Muhriz questioned Ismail's intention in seeking a meeting, saying, "Why does he want to see me? Until he retracts what he said earlier, go away." Before addressing Ismail directly, Tuanku Muhriz told the audience, "Don't see me, I don't want to see you. You understand? I am the Yang Di Pertuan Besar but you said I am not."

Ismail's response was to perform the traditional "angkat sembah" gesture, a greeting often rendered when addressing royalty. Following Tuanku Muhriz's admonishment, worshippers at the mosque were heard exclaiming "Daulat Tuanku". The Negeri Sembilan crisis began in April when four individuals claiming to be undangs, or chieftains, announced the purported removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the state's ruler.

These same undangs also purportedly declared Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja afar as the new Yang Di Pertuan Besar in June at a five-star hotel in Melaka. Last month, Ismail supported a statement from his executive council asserting Tuanku Muhriz's removal as Yang Di Pertuan Besar. In response, Tuanku Muhriz dismissed the entire state executive council. FMT has reached out to Ismail for further comment.