Court freezes moves against N Sembilan royal council, orders status quo maintained

The Seremban High Court has granted a temporary injunction order to preserve the status quo amid an ongoing royal crisis in Negeri Sembilan.

Judge Roz Mawar Rozain granted the ad interim injunctions sought by the first two defendants, namely the Negeri Sembilan’s Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang) and its secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin. 

The injunctions, which are intended to preserve the status quo until the court can hear and decide the matter, impose restrictions on the plaintiffs - the state’s four territorial chieftains (Undang Luak) along with the tunku besar of Tampin and Sungai Ujong’s datuk syahbandar. 

In particular, the plaintiffs, whether acting by themselves or via a representative, have been restrained from convening meetings, including one scheduled to take place today, making any decision on its affairs, or taking any steps that interfere with the council’s status quo as it stood before May 21.

The plaintiffs have also been ordered not to suspend, remove, or interfere with Raja Norazli’s duties as the council’s secretary.

The order comes after the four Undang Luak suspended Raja Norazli’s service on May 29, following the officer’s failure to abide by an earlier instruction to call a special sitting on that day to discuss the state’s worsening royal dispute.

In a statement today, lawyer Steven Thiru, who represents the council and Raja Norazli, said the order remains in force pending the hearing of the court’s jurisdiction and justiciability issues, as well as the court’s further order.

The first two defendants were also represented by David Dinesh Mathew, Shafrin Halim, Gregory Das, and Gurjeevan Singh.

State legal adviser Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal and Aala’uddin Baharom represented the Negeri Sembilan government as the third defendant. 

The plaintiffs were represented by Awang Armadajaya, Rhiza Ghazi, and Asmawi Ismail.

Taking to the courts

On May 14, Steven raised an issue with the Seremban High Court’s ability to hear the case, arguing that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the originating summons because the council is the highest authority for administering Malay custom in Negeri Sembilan. 

He cited Article 16(3) of the Negeri Sembilan constitution, which stipulates that the council’s advice relating to Malay custom in the state cannot be challenged in court on any ground, including on the succession or removal of any of the state’s chieftains.

The plaintiffs had filed an originating summons on May 5 at the court seeking to compel the state government and the council to release the minutes of an April 17 meeting.

This is in relation to the council’s special sitting, in which a decision was supposedly reached unanimously to approve the sacking of Sungai Ujong chieftain Mubarak Thahak.

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

The April 17 sitting is central to the ongoing royal dispute, which saw the chieftains’ retaliatory sacking of Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir last month.

Earlier today, Tuanku Muhriz’s replacement, Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, was proclaimed as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar during a brief ceremony at a hotel in Alor Gajah, Malacca.

The matter has since thrown the state’s royal and political crises into deeper disarray, with former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Rais Yatim questioning the validity of the state legislative assembly’s dissolution.

Tunku Nadzaruddin proclaimed as N Sembilan ruler, doubts raised on state assembly's dissolution

Commotion in Tampin as cops bar N Sembilan chieftains from attending special meet

SNAPSHOT | N Sembilan assembly's 'hasty' dissolution draws flak; explain curb on portal, MCMC told

Negeri Sembilan legislature dissolved; new 'ruler' Friday?

N Sembilan Harapan reps meet at MB's residence, fuel snap election talks

N Sembilan chieftains suspend council secretary, urge MB to take neutral stance