N Sembilan Umno seeks meeting records over chieftain's dismissal row

Negeri Sembilan Umno has echoed calls to clarify details surrounding an April 17 meeting, during which a supposedly unanimous decision was reached to sack the current undang (chieftain) of the Sungai Ujong luak (territory).

In a seven-page explainer published on its Facebook page last night, the party’s state chapter referenced previous contentions surrounding the meeting of the Negeri Sembilan Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang).

“Umno/BN is of the view that this issue requires a more complete official explanation, including the basis for the decision, minutes of the meeting, the attendance list, and the actual form (detailing) the decision,” it stated in the document.

It also demanded an explanation on whether the council meeting had “truly reached a collective and unanimous decision”, adding that if such a decision exists, records should be provided to support the matter.

It further highlighted that as part of a state government administration, every major decision carries an element of collective responsibility.

“However, in this issue, Umno/BN exco members were not informed and were not properly involved in discussions before the crisis became critical.

“Therefore, Umno/BN cannot continue to be seen as part of a decision or action seen as interfering in the customary space,” it added.

As such, it said that it does not want to bear collective responsibility for a decision that it was allegedly not informed of, did not agree to, and is not in line with Umno’s principles to uphold custom, the constitution, and institutional order.

The explainer was published after all 14 Umno state assemblypersons withdrew their support for Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership amid the ongoing dispute linked to the state’s royal and customary law institutions.

READ MORE: Royal rumble: N Sembilan chieftains 'sack' ruler in tit-for-tat

Royal dispute

Previously, Undang Sungai Ujong Mubarak Thahak’s private secretary, Hanafi Ruzlan, told Malaysiakini that the chieftain’s office remained in the dark despite having requested that the state government disclose the records from the meeting.

According to the aide, Mubarak was also never given a chance to address the allegations levelled against him, including purported breaches of Islamic law and customs.

Earlier, in an April 20 letter, the four chieftains known as the Undang Yang Empat, together with another noble, the Tunku Besar Tampin, accused Aminuddin of lying when he said the council had confirmed Mubarak’s dismissal.

They claimed that during the meeting, the council members had not reached any decision.

Former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Rais Yatim also claimed that during the council meeting, the undangs of Johol, Jelebu, and Rembau, as well as the Tunku Besar Tampin, had disagreed with Mubarak’s removal.

Aminuddin, however, had cited Mubarak’s earlier dismissal to deem as invalid the chieftains’ declaration removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as ruler, with the chieftains opting to replace him with Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar.

During the reading of the proclamations, which was livestreamed, the Undang Yang Empat claimed their decision to sack Tuanku Muhriz came after they launched an investigation into the royal on March 5 for alleged transgressions in his royal duties.

They deemed the unspecified transgressions to have been committed deliberately, thus besmirching the royal institution.

Read the explainer here.

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