Four chiefs have declared that Tuanku Muhriz is no longer the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia’s only state with an elected Malay ruler
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenIman Muttaqin YusofPublished: 3:45pm, 23 Apr 2026The ruler of one of Malaysia’s nine royal states said on Thursday that the government should continue to function “as usual”, using a speech to project calm after four powerful traditional chiefs claimed they had removed him in one of the country’s strangest palace disputes in years.The row began on Sunday, when the four chiefs publicly declared that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, the ruler of Negeri Sembilan, had been deposed over alleged “misconduct”, without providing details for their accusation.They also named Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, son of the late ruler Tuanku Ja’afar, as the 12th ruler of Negeri Sembilan.
The dispute has drawn unusual attention because Negeri Sembilan is Malaysia’s only state with an elected Malay ruler.
Instead of the usual hereditary sultans in other states, Negeri Sembilan’s ruler – known as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar – is chosen by four territorial chiefs, known as the Undang, under adat perpatih, a Minangkabau-derived customary system unique in Malaysia.
Those chiefs represent Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau and, under the state constitution, play a decisive role not only in choosing the ruler but also in any process to suspend or remove him.
