SEREMBAN – The Undang Luak Rembau, Datuk Sedia Raja Hassan Ab Hamid, has stressed that statements or decisions made by the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (MMK) cannot override the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan (UUTKNS) 1959.
He said an MMK decision could not, by itself, revive or validate a proclamation that had already been declared invalid by the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU).
“The DKU decided on July 31, 2026, and reaffirmed on Sept 13, 2026, that the proclamation dated April 19, 2026, is invalid and that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
“Accordingly, all parties must respect the UUTKNS, the jurisdiction of the DKU and decisions made within its lawful authority,” he said in a statement.
The statement was issued following a media statement on behalf of MMK members concerning the April 19, 2026 proclamation, which was said to concern the position of Tuanku Muhriz.
He added that the Royal Institution and the institution of the Undangs in Negeri Sembilan must be preserved with the utmost decorum and respect, stressing that no individual, administrative body or Exco meeting could place itself above the UUTKNS.
“All parties must uphold peace in Negeri Sembilan and refrain from actions that could cause confusion in state administration or undermine the dignity of the royal and customary institutions of Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
Hassan said a matter of such importance must be addressed with proper decorum and in accordance with the UUTKNS 1959, rather than being determined solely through administrative decisions or media statements.
“The core issue is not simply whether the Four Undangs have the power to elect or remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“Rather, the fundamental question is whether that power was exercised in full compliance with all the conditions and procedures prescribed by the UUTKNS. The existence of such a power does not mean its procedural requirements can be disregarded,” he said.
He said Article 10 of the UUTKNS 1959 sets out the necessary process before any authority relating to abdication can be exercised, raising the question of whether a full investigation was conducted before the April 19, 2026 proclamation.
“The DKU has taken the position that no such investigation was ever conducted, nor was Tuanku Muhriz given notice or an opportunity to be heard. The failure to meet this basic requirement constitutes a fundamental defect in the proclamation,” he said.
Hassan also highlighted that Article 16(3) of the UUTKNS provides that the advice of the DKU on matters of Malay custom is final and cannot be challenged in any court.
“The DKU has ruled the April 19, 2026 Proclamation invalid because three of the four signatories did not hold valid office as Undangs under the customary laws of their respective Undang Luak.
“Therefore, the assertion in the MMK statement that the Proclamation was signed by lawful and acting Undangs directly contradicts the DKU's ruling on the customary standing of those parties,” he said.
He added that the presence of the Menteri Besar's signature on the proclamation raised serious questions, given that the Menteri Besar had previously stated publicly that he signed it involuntarily under duress and that a police report had been lodged over the matter.
“Consequently, the issue cannot be regarded as resolved simply by asserting that the Menteri Besar's signature made the proclamation valid,” he said.