Negeri Sembilan BN reps told to stay away from royal crisis, says Zahid

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has advised the coalition’s 18 assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan to stay out of matters involving the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and the royal institution, and instead focus on serving the people.

Zahid said elected representatives should fulfil their mandate by addressing the people’s problems, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“Our position is that we must separate legal issues and the royal institution from matters concerning the administration of state government,” the deputy prime minister was quoted as saying after officiating the Road Safety Congress 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.

“That is why my advice to our assemblymen is that they should no longer interfere in DKU matters and the royal institution.”

Negeri Sembilan has been embroiled in a royal crisis since April, when four purported undangs, or chieftains, announced the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state ruler.

Last week, the Malay rulers, who gathered for the 273rd meeting of the Conference of Rulers, warned against outsiders interfering in or politicising the crisis.

They said the crisis must “under no circumstances” be used as a political tool, a means of garnering support, an opportunity to expand influence or a platform for advancing power struggles.

Several videos were later circulated on social media, showing an irate Tuanku Muhriz ticking off menteri besar Ismail Lasim after Friday prayers at a mosque.

In one video, Tuanku Muhriz refused to receive Ismail in audience and alleged that the menteri besar had written to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal in August to state that Tuanku Muhriz was no longer the Yang Dipertuan Besar.