Ceremony proclaiming Tunku Nadzaruddin as N Sembilan ruler invalid - palace

The ceremony proclaiming Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan is invalid, said state Comptroller of the Royal Household Azizi Mohamad Ali.

In a statement today, Azizi said that the ceremony was not recognised under the state's constitution, law, and customs.

"However, by attempting to receive the invalid title, Tunku Nadzaruddin has relinquished the hereditary title Tunku Panglima Besar Negeri Sembilan, which he had previously held," Azizi stated.

He explained that due to this development, there is no holder of the Tunku Panglima Besar title.

Last Friday, the brief ceremony proclaiming Tunku Nadzaruddin as the state ruler took place at a hotel in Alor Gajah, Malacca, after much commotion between the police and Negeri Sembilan territorial chieftains (undang).

The ceremonial event, which is believed to have initially been scheduled to take place at the tunku besar Tampin’s office, was held at a space in a hotel after police allegedly barred Tunku Nadzaruddin from leaving the premises.

Police were also said to have attempted to bring Tunku Nadzaruddin to Kuala Lumpur before his installation could take place.

During the ceremony, Jelebu Undang Maarof Mat Rashad, who represented the Undang Yang Empat, read out a script proclaiming Tunku Nadzaruddin as Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s replacement, effective immediately.

Later, former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Rais Yatim, who is also a scholar of “adat perpatih” - the Minangkabau customary law - stressed that based on the state constitution, the roles required for the installation had been sufficiently fulfilled.

Royal dispute

In April, the state’s four chieftains had announced Tunku Nadzaruddin as the next ruler, after a dispute over the removal of Mubarak Thahak as the undang of Sungai Ujong.

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

The Undang Yang Empat had also declared their unanimous agreement to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, after they launched an investigation into the latter on March 5 for alleged transgressions in his royal duties.

Caretaker Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun had sided with Tuanku Muhriz against the undangs, leading to the current uncertainty regarding the state’s royal institution.

This resulted in Negeri Sembilan BN withdrawing support from Aminuddin in April.

However, an attempt to form a new government failed, resulting in the PKR vice-president heading a minority government until the state legislature was dissolved on June 4.

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