Malaysia’s royal council meeting with Tunku Nadzrulnizam cancelled amid police presence at Balai Undang

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

The meeting between Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister Ismail Lasim, his executive council and several state assembly members with Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was cancelled in the early morning of 23 September 2026, after security advice was received, the organisers said.

The cancellation was announced by a source who spoke to Malaysiakini. “The meeting today was cancelled for security reasons after receiving advice from the authorities,” the source said. The decision came after the organisers received a warning from the police that the venue was under heightened security due to the ongoing dispute over the state’s Yang Di‑Pertuan Besar title and the legitimacy of the state executive council.

Tunku Nadzaruddin’s lawyer, Emirul Sarifudin Nor Azmi, claimed that the Tunku and the state’s Attorney‑General were being held in the Sungai Ujong Attorney‑General’s Office, which had been surrounded by police. “The Attorney‑General and the Tunku are in the Sungai Ujong Attorney‑General’s Office. The office is surrounded by police,” Sarifudin said. A review by Malaysiakini found that the building was tightly guarded and that journalists were not allowed to approach it.

The original agenda for the meeting was a “get‑to‑know” session to strengthen ties between the Chief Minister, his executive council and the Tunku, who has claimed to be the legitimate Yang Di‑Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. The meeting was scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Royal Gallery, and the Chief Minister’s entourage had arrived at about 8 a.m.

The group included the Speaker of the State Assembly, Awaludin Said, and several assembly members from the Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional coalitions. Police officers were seen guarding the main entrance and the courtyard of the gallery.

Other dignitaries present at the gallery included the Jelebu Luak Chief, Maarof Mat Rashad. After the meeting was cancelled, the Chief Minister’s entourage left the gallery and convened at a nearby hotel. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was held during breakfast time.

Earlier that day, a solidarity rally had been scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Royal Gallery to show support for Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. No rally was seen at the venue, and the area remained calm and under control. Around noon, a Rolls‑Royce was seen driving away from the gallery, and media reports indicated that Tunku Nadzaruddin had left the premises.

The cancellation of the meeting came amid a broader crisis over the state’s Yang Di‑Pertuan Besar succession and the validity of the state executive council. Chief Minister Ismail had previously insisted that the ten members of the state executive council remained legitimate and would continue to perform their duties even after Tuanku Muhriz revoked their appointments.

In related developments, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) rejected the state government’s decision to suspend the State Secretary, Mohd Zafir Ibrahim, and the State Attorney‑General’s Adviser, Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal. The AGC said that the appointments and suspensions of those two positions were subject to the jurisdiction of the relevant service commission.

Earlier, the Negeri Sembilan police had announced that security measures in the state were being heightened in response to the current situation to ensure public order and the safety of all parties involved.