Negeri sembilan: The Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) has declared a document dated April 19, 2026, unconstitutional and in breach of Article X of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution (UUTKNS) 1959. Its secretary, Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, stated that this decision was made at a DKU meeting chaired by the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the meeting was attended by Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong Datuk Klana Petra Muhammad Faris Johari, Undang of Luak Rembau Datuk Sedia Raja Hassan Ab Hamid, and Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, who met the requirements under Clause 20 of the UUTKNS 1959. The DKU has advised and ruled that Datuk Mubarak Thahak, Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, and Abdul Rahim Yasin have ceased to hold, or have never lawfully held, their respective positions.
The Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong and Undang of Luak Jelebu were dismissed in accordance with the customary laws of their respective Luak, while the purported Undang of Luak Rembau was never lawfully appointed under customary law as his appointment was not completed through the Istiadat Menzahirkan Kejadian Undang.
Raja Norazli emphasized that these individuals lacked the legal authority to exercise the powers conferred under Article X of the UUTKNS 1959. At the meeting, the DKU also considered and received a notification from the Ibu Soko and Anak-Anak Waris of Ayer, Luak Sungei Ujong, stating that the holder of the hereditary Datuk Shahbandar, Datuk Seri Badarudin Abdul Khalid, had been removed in accordance with the customary law of Luak Sungei Ujong, effective last Thursday.
He noted that pursuant to Article XV (1) of the UUTKNS 1959, the position of Datuk Shahbandar of Sungei Ujong became automatically vacant. The DKU acknowledged that the process of appointing the new Datuk Shahbandar of Sungei Ujong is still ongoing.
The DKU is also examining a complaint from Luak Jelebu regarding the unanimous decision by Waris, Anak Buah, and Ibu Soko Waris Berundang Perut of Kemin Teriang, Kemin Beringin, and Kemin Bemban to remove Maarof as the 16th Undang of Luak Jelebu, effective May 31, 2023, due to specified customary offences.
As a result, the position of Undang of Luak Jelebu is automatically vacant, rendering any actions taken by Datuk Maarof after May 31, 2023, invalid. Consequently, the Darjah Tertinggi Negeri Sembilan (DTNS) title he held while serving as Undang of Luak Jelebu is also forfeited.
At the same meeting, the DKU recognized that Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong Datuk Klana Petra Muhammad Faris Johari and Undang of Luak Rembau Datuk Sedia Raja Hassan Ab Hamid were lawfully appointed according to the customary laws of their respective Luak.