PETALING JAYA: The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, rebuked menteri besar Ismail Lasim in public, amid the constitutional crisis in the state.
In several videos posted on social media, Tuanku Muhriz is shown as telling a group of people that Ismail had written a letter to the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, informing them he was no longer the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Tuanku Muhriz then questioned why Ismail wanted to meet him.
“Why does he want to see me? Until he retracts what he said earlier, go away,” a clearly irate Tuanku Muhriz said, before turning to Ismail.
“Don’t see me, I don’t want to see you. You understand? I am the Yang Dipertuan Besar but you said I am not.”
Ismail, in response, offered the “angkat sembah” — a traditional gesture used when greeting royalty.
Following the admonishment, worshippers at the mosque were heard shouting “Daulat Tuanku”.
Negeri Sembilan has been embroiled in a royal crisis since April, when four persons claiming to be undangs, or chieftains, announced the purported removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the state’s ruler.
The same disputed undangs also purportedly proclaimed Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the “new” Yang Dipertuan Besar at a five-star hotel in Melaka in June.
Last month, Ismail endorsed a statement issued by his executive council that purportedly affirmed Tuanku Muhriz’s removal as Yang Dipertuan Besar.
Tuanku Muhriz subsequently revoked the appointments of the entire state executive council.
FMT has reached out to Ismail for comment.