KUALA LUMPUR (April 30): The Negeri Sembilan government has ordered the immediate evacuation of a state chieftain’s official residence, in the latest twist in the state’s constitutional crisis.
In a letter dated April 29 circulating on social media, the State Secretary’s Office instructed Sungei Ujong Undang Datuk Mubarak Thahak to vacate the Balai Undang Sungei Ujong in Ampangan.
According to the letter, the decision was made in line with a special sitting of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan held on April 17, which resolved to remove Mubarak as the Undang of Sungei Ujong over 33 alleged breaches of adat and customary laws.
“Accordingly, you are instructed to carry out the immediate evacuation of the official residence and the Balai Undang of Sungei Ujong.
“All state government assets registered at the Balai Undang premises must be maintained in good condition for future inspection,” the letter read.
In response, Ahmad Hanafi Ruzlan, private secretary to the Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong, said in a letter dated April 30 to the Negeri Sembilan state secretary's office obtained by The Edge that they would postpone complying with the eviction order due to a lack of official documentation to support the directive.
The letter stated that the initial notice to vacate the premises was issued on April 27 at 10pm, after working hours. It instructed all staff to report to the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang office at 9.30am on April 28, 2026, the following day.
A meeting was held at 9.30am on April 28, 2026, at the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan office. It was attended by Dewan Keadilan dan Undang secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, and a representative from the Human Resource Management Unit, Syed Muzaffar Syed Mohamad. Staff were informed of their relocation during the meeting.
During the meeting, officials said the move followed the removal of Mubarak as the Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong.
“We therefore requested that the official letter and minutes of the Special Sitting of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang dated April 17, 2026 at Istana Besar Seri Menanti be provided to the Balai Undang Luak Sungei Ujong for verification. However, YM Raja Norazli Raja Nordin informed us that although the documents exist, he declined to provide them to me in my capacity as the private secretary to the Undang of Luak Sungei Ujong,” the letter read.
It went on to say that the instruction to vacate the premises appears to be based on a media statement rather than formal records, as the official letter confirming the removal of the Undang and the minutes of the April 17 Dewan Keadilan dan Undang meeting have not been provided despite repeated requests from the Undang Sungei Ujong and the Undang Yang Empat. The Undang Yang Empat are the four territorial chiefs - Mubarak, Maarof Mat Rashad Undang Jelebu, Muhammad Abdullah Undang Johol and Abdul Rahim Yasin Undang Rembau.
Mubarak, together with three other chieftains, is at the centre of the constitutional crisis in the state following an attempt to declare the removal of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir on April 19.
The move was rejected by the state government, which said the proclamation was invalid as Mubarak had already been removed prior to issuing it, rendering his legal standing questionable.
The developments have also triggered political uncertainty, with 14 Umno assemblymen reportedly withdrawing support for Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, citing loss of confidence amid the constitutional crisis. Aminuddin continues to govern the state, however, as decreed by Tuanku Muhriz, leaving him heading a minority administration.
Negeri Sembilan Barisan Nasional earlier claimed it had a simple majority in the 36-seat state assembly with support from five Perikatan Nasional assemblymen.
However, Umno later issued a statement backing the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government, without giving further details.