Umno Says Negri Govt Needs Space to Resolve Crisis

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Negri Sembilan’s Umno information chief Muhammad Sufian Maradzi called for respect of the current government’s efforts to resolve the state’s constitutional and customary law dispute through legal channels, highlighting unresolved issues from the previous administration related to the appointment of the Undang of Sungei Ujong. He emphasized that this crisis influenced Umno’s withdrawal of support for the former mentri besar and led to the dissolution of the state assembly, affirming the legitimacy of the new government mandate following the election.

The government of Negri Sembilan must be allowed room to address the state’s ongoing constitutional and customary law (adat) crisis through established legal procedures, according to state Umno information chief Muhammad Sufian Maradzi.

Muhammad Sufian emphasized the importance of resolving the dispute with respect to the state constitution, Adat Perpatih, relevant court rulings, and the authority of legitimate institutions. He cautioned against leveraging issues involving the royal institution, adat, and state governance to exert political pressure or circumvent the ongoing processes.

The crisis, he said, stems from unresolved matters inherited from the previous administration. Muhammad Sufian pointed to the failure of the former government, then led by Pakatan Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), to release the minutes of a key Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) meeting held on April 17, 2026. This meeting was central to the dispute regarding the appointment of the Undang of Sungei Ujong, a traditional chieftain role.

He noted that the April 17 meeting was considered a critical turning point, during which the Undang of Sungei Ujong’s position was reportedly decided collectively by the DKU. However, this decision was later contested by some attendees, including the Undang himself and the Tunku Besar of Tampin. The absence of the meeting’s minutes has been a fundamental issue, prompting the serving and former Undang alongside two others to file an originating summons at the Seremban High Court on May 5, seeking the document.

Muhammad Sufian questioned why such a crucial record was not made public when the dispute initially emerged, arguing that early clarification might have prevented much of the confusion, institutional disputes, and administrative challenges faced today. He maintained that the crisis should be assessed from its origins rather than attributing blame solely to the current government.

The Umno leader also cited this situation as a factor in the party’s loss of confidence in then mentri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, leading to the withdrawal of Umno’s support. He clarified that this move was not a rejection of the unity government concept but a response to the management of the crisis under Aminuddin’s leadership.

When political resolution efforts failed, Aminuddin dissolved the state legislative assembly to allow the people to decide. The subsequent election resulted in a new government formation, which Muhammad Sufian said must now be respected as a legitimate democratic mandate.

His remarks responded to statements from state PKR representatives, who had argued that the protracted constitutional and adat issues contributed to perceptions of dysfunction within the state government. Muhammad Sufian urged all parties to be mindful of their statements and allow the current administration space to manage the inherited crisis through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

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