N Sembilan chieftains order Friday sermons to pray for Tunku Nadzaruddin

The constitutional crisis in Negeri Sembilan over the proclamation of a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar has led its four territorial chieftains (Undang Yang Empat) to direct Friday sermons to include prayers for Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar.

The Undang Yang Empat and the tunku besar of Tampin issued the directive to Negeri Sembilan mufti Faudzinaim Badaruddin dated June 9.

According to the letter sent to the mufti, the directive involves mosques within the territories (luak) of Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau, as well as Tampin.

“Therefore, based on Article 181 (1) of the Federal Constitution and our prerogatives as the head of religion within our luak and territories, we hereby decree for Sahibus Samahah to instruct the kadi in our luak and territories to pray for His Highness Tuanku Nadzaruddin, the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, during the second sermon of Friday prayers, effective immediately.

“We greatly appreciate Sahibus Samahah’s cooperation and attention in this matter and extend our thanks in advance,” the letter read. “Sahibus Samahah” is an honorific referring to the mufti.

The lawyer for the Jelebu undang, Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, confirmed that the letter had been sent to the mufti.

However, he could not confirm whether the directive had been implemented in the affected mosques.

On June 5, Jelebu Undang Maarof Rashad, representing the Undang Yang Empat, proclaimed Tunku Nadzaruddin as the Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar during a brief ceremony held at a resort in Malacca.

However, Comptroller of the Royal Household Azizi Ali later announced that the proclamation ceremony was invalid and unrecognised under the constitution, law, and customs of Negeri Sembilan.

He said Tunku Nadzaruddin’s action meant he had automatically relinquished the hereditary title of Tunku Panglima Besar of Negeri Sembilan, which he previously held.

Not within mufti’s jurisdiction

Faudzinaim confirmed that the letter had been sent to his office, but that matter is not within his jurisdiction.

“The matter is outside the jurisdiction of the mufti’s department. It is under the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department,” he told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini is contacting the state Islamic Religious Department for comment.

The constitutional crisis in Negeri Sembilan began on April 17 when a special meeting of the Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang) at the Seri Menanti Palace recommended that Mubarak Thahak be terminated as the Sungai Ujong undang.

A total of 33 reasons for customs violations were submitted to support the action.

Following this, the Undang Yang Empat announced the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and attempted to install Tunku Nadzaruddin as the replacement.

They also demanded that then-menteri besar Aminuddin Harun resign for allegedly failing to implement the decisions of the Undang Yang Empat.

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