Negeri Sembilan royal dispute: State gazette confirms revocation of 10 exco members' appointments
Their removal, according to the Sept 24 state gazette, took effect on Sept 20.
Source: Straits Times Asia · September 24, 2026 at 2:02 PM · AI-assisted report
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NEGERI SEMBILAN, MALAYSIA, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Negeri Sembilan’s 10 Exco Members Officially Removed by Ruler Muhriz Munawir After Alleged Oath Violation
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SEREMBAN — Negeri Sembilan’s state ruler, Tuanku Muhriz Munawir, has formally revoked the appointments of all 10 executive councillors, effective September 20, as confirmed by the state gazette published on September 24. The move follows allegations that the councillors violated their oath of office by participating in a plot to remove Muhriz as ruler, according to a palace statement.
The revocation marks a sharp escalation in the state’s ongoing constitutional crisis, where the exco members had previously declared the installation of a new ruler, Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, in defiance of Muhriz’s authority. The gazette, issued under Muhriz’s order, lists the dismissed councillors as Mohd Faizal Ramli, Zaifulbahri Idris, Mustapha Nagoor, Siow Kong Choon, Siri Nur Umaira Hasim, Mohd Asna Amin, Mohd Razi Mohd Ali, Suhaimizan Bizar, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa, and Razali Abu Samah.
The Negeri Sembilan Palace stated that the decision was made after the councillors were found to have breached their oath of office taken on August 7. In the oath, they pledged allegiance to the ruler and the Royal Institution, agreed to uphold the state constitution, and acknowledged the authority of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU). However, the palace claimed the councillors violated this commitment on September 15 when they allegedly agreed to Muhriz’s removal.
The following day, they issued a press statement claiming an April 19 proclamation under Article 10 of the state laws had been executed, with the signature of Ismail (presumed to be Ismail Ibrahim, a ruling chief) finalizing the transfer of authority to Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar on August 3.
The palace did not disclose immediate next steps but emphasized that the revocation was a legal and constitutional response to the councillors’ actions. The crisis has drawn attention to the delicate balance between state rulers and elected officials in Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy system, where royal authority remains a contentious issue in some states.
The removal of the exco members could trigger further political fallout, particularly as Negeri Sembilan’s government navigates the implications of the constitutional challenge. The state’s opposition-led administration, which includes the Pakatan Harapan coalition, has not yet commented on the gazette’s publication or the potential impact on governance. The case shows the broader tensions between state rulers and elected officials in Malaysia, where similar disputes have occasionally erupted in other states.