Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB, the crisis explained

The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, rebuked Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim in public after Friday prayers in Kuala Pilah on 16 October 2026. Videos of the exchange spread on social media and show that the constitutional crisis that began in April is far from over. Free Malaysia Today (FMT) and Malay Mail reported the incident.

What happened

In the videos, as reported by FMT, Tuanku Muhriz tells a group of people that Ismail wrote to the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal to say he was no longer Yang Dipertuan Besar. He then asks why Ismail wants to see him.

"Why does he want to see me? Until he retracts what he said earlier, go away," a visibly irate Tuanku Muhriz said, according to FMT and Malay Mail. He then turned 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 responded with the angkat sembah, the traditional gesture of greeting royalty. Worshippers were then heard shouting "Daulat Tuanku". FMT said it had reached out to Ismail for comment. In the reports we reviewed, there is no reply from him yet.

How the crisis got here

• April: Four people claiming to be undangs, the traditional territorial chiefs, announced that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed as the state's ruler.
• June: The same disputed undangs proclaimed Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the "new" Yang Dipertuan Besar at a five-star hotel in Melaka.
• September: Ismail endorsed a statement by the state executive council that purportedly affirmed Tuanku Muhriz's removal. The ruler then revoked the appointments of the entire exco.
• 15 October: The State Secretary's Office said, as carried by Bernama, that Tuanku Muhriz conferred the Darjah Tertinggi Negeri Sembilan on three undangs at Istana Besar Seri Menanti.

The Bar Council said the Attorney-General's Chambers had earlier rejected the 19 April proclamation as invalid.

Questions from the Bar and PKR

A day before the mosque incident, Bar Council president Anand Raj questioned on what basis the state government continues to operate after the ruler revoked all exco appointments. He said the state constitution requires a full enquiry by the undangs before they can ask the ruler to withdraw or abdicate. He said no record has been published to show that such an enquiry was held, or that the ruler was given a chance to rebut the allegations.

Anand also asked Ismail to explain his claim that he signed the proclamation under duress, why he lodged a police report only on 8 September, about five weeks later, and why he subsequently endorsed it.

On 17 October, Negeri Sembilan PKR communications director Shariman Che Deris demanded answers from Ismail. He listed three matters: a proclamation letter dated 19 April that Ismail signed on 3 August, a day after taking his oath before Tuanku Muhriz; Ismail's rejection of the ruler's decision to withdraw consent for 10 exco members; and the letter to the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal. He also questioned the postponement of the state assembly meeting that was due to start on 16 October, saying opposition assemblymen were given no proper notice.

What it means for residents

A state government without an exco cannot make decisions that need exco approval in the usual way. That is what DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said, in our earlier report (Loke, No reason to delay new Negeri Sembilan excos). The postponed assembly meeting means elected representatives cannot yet debate in the chamber, PKR said.

The crisis is also feeding into campaigning next door. Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has urged Melaka voters to learn from what happened in Negeri Sembilan (Mat Sabu tells Melaka voters to learn from Negeri Sembilan crisis).

What is still unresolved

The reports we reviewed give no new date for the assembly meeting, do not say whether Ismail has withdrawn his letter, and do not say when new excos will be appointed. We will check again when there is an official statement.

Sources

• Free Malaysia Today, Go away, I don't want to see you, Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB, 16 October 2026
• Malay Mail, 'Until he retracts, go away': Tuanku Muhriz rebukes Negeri Sembilan MB in public, 16 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Bar questions status of Negeri Sembilan govt after exco sackings, 16 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Negeri Sembilan PKR wants answers over assembly delay, royal dispute, 17 October 2026
• Malay Mail / Bernama, Tuanku Muhriz bestows state honours on three Undangs and their consorts, 16 October 2026