High Court allows contempt bid against N Sembilan nobles over appointment dispute

The Seremban High Court today granted leave to the Negeri Sembilan Council of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Ruling Chiefs (Dewan Keadilan dan Undang) and its secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, to initiate committal proceedings against six individuals for allegedly breaching an interim injunction.

Justice Roz Mawar Rozain granted the application after ruling that the applicants had established a prima facie case to commence committal proceedings, the legal mechanism used to punish contempt of court.

The six individuals are former Undang Luak of Sungai Ujong Mubarak Thahak, Undang Luak of Jelebu Maarof Rashad, Undang Luak of Johol Muhammed Abdullah, Undang Luak of Rembau Abdul Rahim Yasin, Tunku Besar Tampin Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri, and Datuk Syahbandar Sungai Ujong Badarudin Abdul Khalid.

The interim injunction in question was issued in a lawsuit concerning the appointment of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. The six individuals are accused of breaching that court order.

The court also dismissed the six individuals' application for a stay of the committal proceedings pending their appeal against the ruling. As a result, the court set July 28 for the hearing of the committal proceedings.

Lawyer Steven Thiru represented Raja Norazli and the council, while Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud represented the six.

Mubarak’s removal

The legal dispute traces back to May 5, when Mubarak and five others filed an originating summons in the High Court seeking copies of the minutes of a special council sitting held on April 17.

Among other things, the April 17 minutes related to the decision to remove Mubarak as the undang of Sungai Ujong.

On June 5, the High Court granted an interim injunction in that originating summons to preserve the status quo, specifically, to maintain the council’s composition and Raja Norazli's position as its secretary, pending the determination of jurisdictional and justiciability issues, and until further court order.

However, Raja Norazli later alleged that, despite the interim injunction having been issued earlier that day, media reports stated that the plaintiffs, particularly Maarof, had been involved in the purported appointment of a Yang di-Pertuan Besar under Article 11 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959.

He claimed that the appointment was made in disregard of the court order.

This alleged breach led Raja Norazli and the council to seek leave from the High Court to initiate committal proceedings against the six individuals for contempt of court.

- Bernama

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