Negri Sembilan’s constitutional and customary crisis must be resolved in accordance with the state constitution and traditional institutions, according to Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim. Speaking at a media session on Thursday, Ismail emphasized that resolution should follow the provisions of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959, the Adat Perpatih customary law, and the authority of the four ruling chiefs known as Undang Yang Empat, along with the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU).
Ismail reiterated that the state government respects the role of these customary institutions and does not intend to interfere in their jurisdiction over matters concerning custom and the monarchy. He also affirmed the government’s respect for federal institutions, including the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), while underscoring the need for equal respect towards state laws and the elected state government.
The Mentri Besar cautioned against any federal or other agencies attempting to exert pressure or influence in a way that might be seen as encroaching on the state’s constitutional or customary functions. He expressed regret that the ongoing dispute has been portrayed as a confrontation between the state government and the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, noting that such issues should be settled through established customary channels instead of public discord.
Ismail underscored that his administration seeks neither confrontation with the royal institution nor the politicization of adat, the customary laws unique to Negri Sembilan. He stressed the importance of allowing the state government to fulfill its mandate without unlawful interference, intimidation, or restrictions that could undermine its legitimacy.
The current crisis centers on a constitutional impasse over the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. On June 5, two of the Undang—the Tunku Besar Tampin and Dato’ Shabandar Sungei Ujong—declared Tunku Nadzaruddin as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar. However, the DKU disputed the legitimacy of three ruling chiefs, asserting they had been stripped of their positions, deepening the dispute.
Further tensions arose on September 22 when the state government suspended the state secretary, Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim, and the legal adviser, Datuk Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal. The AGC responded by stating that the state executive council does not hold the authority to suspend these officials and that appointments of the state legal adviser must comply with state laws and be ratified by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, with the appointee being a member of the Judicial and Legal Service.
The Mentri Besar concluded by urging all parties to allow matters to proceed within the frameworks of custom and law, so that the state government can continue to operate effectively in serving the people’s interests.