{
  "id": 9268271,
  "title": "'Go back to Constitution': Azalina on Negri crisis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/go-back-to-constitution-azalina-on-negri-crisis",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T04:20:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1539099/go-back-constitution-azalina-negri-crisis"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), emphasized that any resolution to the Negri Sembilan crisis must be based on the state's foundational law, the Negri Sembilan Constitution. Azalina, who is also the member of parliament for Pengerang, stated that she lacks the expertise to comment on the complexities of Adat Pepatih, the matrilineal customary system that forms the basis of Negri Sembilan's constitutional arrangements. She believes that the people of Negri Sembilan should be the ones to find a solution, as they are the most knowledgeable about their unique situation. Azalina noted that changing state secretaries is not uncommon when a new menteri besar assumes office, citing examples from both federal and state levels, including Tun Mahathir's actions when he was prime minister and Selangor's experience when a new menteri besar was appointed. However, she reiterated her stance that the federal government should not encroach upon matters that are constitutionally the purview of the state.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that any decision on the Negri Sembilan debacle must be anchored in the state’s own foundational law, the Negri Sembilan Constitution.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "SNAPSHOT | Azalina: Let N Sembilan find own solution to royal crisis; Anwar, Awang settle defamation case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/snapshot-azalina-let-n-sembilan-find-own-solution-to-royal-crisis",
        "published": "2026-09-23T05:53:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}