Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was proclaimed the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan on Friday, a move set to further intensify the ongoing dispute over the state’s royal succession.
The proclamation was made during a ceremony at a resort in Melaka and announced by Undang Luak Jelebu Maarof Mat Rashad on behalf of the Undang Yang Empat.
Maarof said the appointment was made in accordance with Article 11 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution and took immediate effect, in line with a declaration made by the Undang Yang Empat on April 19.
In his acceptance speech, Tunku Nadzaruddin expressed gratitude to the Undang Yang Empat, Tunku Besar Tampin and Datuk Syahbandar Sungai Ujong for selecting and proclaiming him as the state’s ruler.
The latest development comes amid a prolonged dispute involving the Negeri Sembilan royal institution. In April, four undangs, including Mubarak Thahak whose position as Sungai Ujong Undang remains contested, announced the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and named Tunku Nadzaruddin as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
However, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun previously maintained that the move was invalid and not recognised, arguing that Mubarak did not possess the authority to participate in the decision.
Separately, the Seremban High Court has granted a temporary injunction preserving the status quo in a dispute involving the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU). The order restrains the DKU from holding meetings or making decisions, including the removal of its secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, until the court determines jurisdictional and justiciability issues surrounding the case.
The injunction arose from a legal challenge involving Mubarak, three other undangs and Tunku Besar Tampin over access to minutes from an April 17 DKU meeting at which Mubarak was purportedly removed from office.
The relationship between the court proceedings and Friday’s proclamation remains unclear, with the legal dispute over the state’s customary and constitutional processes still before the courts.
