Negeri Sembilan in political turmoil as UMNO pulls support for chief minister over royal row

KUALA LUMPUR: The Negeri Sembilan state government was plunged into leadership turmoil on Monday (Apr 27) after all 14 assemblypersons from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) withdrew their support for chief minister Aminuddin Harun over his handling of a crisis involving the state’s monarchy.    

The exodus means that Aminuddin has lost majority support in the southern Malaysian state, although he has said that he would continue in the role until the issue of political support for him was “clarified”.

Negeri Sembilan UMNO chairperson Jalaluddin Alias had told a press conference in the morning that the decision was made unanimously by all the party’s local lawmakers and that an official letter would be sent to the state assembly speaker and secretary.

“We also want to emphasise that we fully support and defend the customary institutions, the constitution and laws governing the Negeri Sembilan government,”  he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini.

“(We) want a stable government so that it can play the best possible role in the administration of the state while also being able to focus on the objectives of the well-being of the state’s people and economy,” he added.

Aminuddin said at a later press conference on Monday afternoon that ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir wanted him to stay on as the state’s chief minister until the issue of his majority support is “clarified”.

The chief minister added that the state government will continue functioning as usual.

Prior to Jalaluddin’s announcement, the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition - of which UMNO is a dominant party - had formed the state government together with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.    

The Negeri Sembilan state assembly has 36 state assemblypersons comprising 17 from PH, 14 from UMNO and five from the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN).

To form the government in the Negeri Sembilan state, 19 seats are needed. 

Aminuddin is also vice-president of Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat, which is part of PH. 

The separate crisis involving the state’s monarchy is linked to a system unique to the state.

Unlike the eight other Malaysian states with hereditary Malay rulers, Negeri Sembilan adheres to the Adat Perpatih system, which originated from the Minangkabau highlands of West Sumatra, Indonesia.  

Under this unique matrilineal tradition, the ruler - known as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar - is elected by a council of four territorial chiefs (Undangs), rather than inheriting the throne through direct hereditary succession. 

Under Negeri Sembilan’s constitution, the Undangs hold the unique dual power to both elect and depose the Ruler. 

On Apr 19, chieftains from the council of four Undangs - representing the territories of Sungai Ujong, Rembau, Johol, and Jelebu - officially declared that state ruler Tuanku Muhriz had been removed from the throne following allegations of improper conduct. 

The Undangs also named a successor, Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, who is the son of the previous ruler.

However, a day later, Aminuddin the chief minister said that the declaration was invalid, as the Sungai Ujong chieftain Mubarak Dohak had supposedly been dismissed in May of last year in accordance with Sungai Ujong’s customary mechanisms, reported local media platform the Edge.  

Aminuddin then came under fire from Mubarak and the other Undangs, who said that Aminuddin was no longer fit to lead the state administration and should be replaced.  

Referencing the royal tussle, UMNO's Jalaluddin on Monday said party representatives in the state executive council were not informed of prior discussions about the state government and were only aware after the issue escalated and drew national attention.

He also expressed regret over the incident and emphasised that BN respected customary institutions and the constitution and would not interfere in related matters.

“The chief minister should play his role and exercise sound judgment in addressing this crisis. The situation could affect the administration of the Negeri Sembilan government and, indirectly, have a significant impact on its stability,” he said.

Later on Monday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted by local media as saying that the 14 local lawmakers had acted “unilaterally”. 

Zahid, however, said that he had been “informed” by UMNO they would be doing so.

He added that the BN and UMNO leaderships would look into the matter, including its political implications and the next steps to take.

Zahid, who is UMNO president and also Deputy Prime Minister, also said he will meet with Anwar to discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference on Monday, PN said that it is “prepared” to work with all 14 BN state lawmakers.

State opposition leader Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker, who is also Labu state assemblyman, represented all five PN state lawmakers at the press conference in saying so.

“The five Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen from Perikatan Nasional are “bersedia” (prepared) to work together … to ensure the stability of the state government and continuity of the state government’s administration to develop Negeri Sembilan and ensure the well-being of Negeri Sembilan,” Hanifah said.

“The five Perikatan Nasional state assemblymen always place the interests of the state and the people as the agenda of our struggle,” he added.

Hanifah also handed a letter of cooperation to Negeri Sembilan UMNO secretary Mustapha Nagoor, who is also the Palong state assemblyman, reported local media.

Mustapha then said he would hand over the letter to Jalaluddin.

At the federal level, PH and BN are part of the unity government, while PN is in the opposition.