KUALA LUMPUR (July 30): The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan has revoked the state honours conferred upon former state menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Rais Yatim with immediate effect. 

The decision was made to “safeguard the dignity, honour and sanctity of the Royal Institution of Negeri Sembilan", according to a statement from title and award registrar Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim on Thursday. 

The honours revoked were Darjah Seri Utama Negeri Sembilan (SPNS) conferred in 2001 that carries the title of Datuk Seri and the Darjah Dato' Setia Negeri Sembilan (DSNS) in 1979 that comes with title of Datuk. 

The move is not without precedent. In 2018, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were stripped of their Datuk Seri titles to safeguard "the honour of the Negeri Sembilan royal institution".

Rais, a former Umno leader, is a central figure in the ongoing Negeri Sembilan royal dispute. 

He has publicly backed an attempt by three Undangs, or state chieftains, and one former Undang to remove the current Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir on April 19 this year.

All 14 Umno assemblymen withdrew their support to force the removal of caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun of PKR, ostensibly over his interference in the royal institution. 

Both moves failed as the state government did not recognise the declaration to remove Tuanku Muhriz, while the ruler decreed for Aminuddin to remain as menteri besar until the end of his term.

Still, tensions between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional in the state boiled over, and some three months later, the state assembly was dissolved. 

Aminuddin announced the dissolution in a near-midnight press conference, a day before the Undangs moved to proclaim Tuanku Muhriz’s 66-year-old cousin, Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The royal dispute has headed to court and remains ongoing.

Negeri Sembilan is set to go to the polls this Saturday (Aug 1). Rais is now party chairman of Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin-led Wawasan, which is contesting in four seats under the Perikatan Nasional banner. 

Rais’ son, Danni Rais, is contesting the Klawang (N.04) state seat.