Negri MB and Exco to Face Contempt Proceedings

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

Negri Sembilan’s Mentri Besar Ismail Lasim and his executive council face contempt proceedings after announcing the alleged removal of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, violating a court injunction meant to maintain the current royal leadership. This legal conflict underscores a deep constitutional dispute over the state's monarchy, with potential penalties for defying the injunction and ongoing challenges to the legitimacy of the executive council’s actions.

SEREMBAN – The Mentri Besar of Negri Sembilan, Ismail Lasim, along with his executive council, are set to face contempt proceedings following their announcement regarding the purported removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan. The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, who contend that the declaration violates existing court orders.

The controversy stems from an injunction granted on June 5 that aimed to preserve the status quo amid a customary and constitutional dispute concerning the state's leadership. The DKU and its secretary successfully secured this ad interim injunction to prevent any unilateral changes to the state's royal leadership during ongoing legal proceedings. Subsequently, on July 8, the High Court granted leave for contempt proceedings after several ousted Undang factions attempted to depose the current ruler.

Lawyers representing the DKU stated that the September 16 announcement by Ismail and his exco disregards the injunction and was issued without any legal authority. They emphasized that the executive council, the state secretary, and the legal adviser have neither jurisdiction nor power to effect the removal of Tuanku Muhriz, asserting that such actions are unconstitutional and carry no legal weight.

In a letter addressed to the state leadership, the lawyers described the announcement as an effort to undermine Tuanku Muhriz’s authority under the Laws of the State of Negri Sembilan 1959, accusing Ismail and his council of attempting to orchestrate a coup d’état tantamount to treason. They also challenged the validity of an April 19 proclamation—which named Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar—arguing it failed to meet the mandatory requirements outlined in Article 10 of the 1959 state laws.

Furthermore, Ismail himself reportedly acknowledged in a media statement on Tuesday that he lacks the unilateral authority to remove or declare the vacancy of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar’s position. Despite this, the June 5 injunction remains in force, and the DKU intends to pursue contempt proceedings for the purported breach.

The legal representatives stressed that appointing a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar while the injunction is active contravenes the court’s orders. As a result, the High Court’s July decision allows for committal proceedings to be initiated against Ismail and others should they be found in breach of the injunction.

The ongoing dispute highlights a significant constitutional challenge within Negri Sembilan’s traditional leadership framework, with the state’s executive council and the DKU locked in a legal battle over the rightful ruler and the limits of political authority in the state.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.