COMMENT | On April 19, four undangs (chieftains) of Negeri Sembilan, through the undang of Sungai Ujung, purportedly issued a “declaration” to remove Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, and to appoint Tuanku Panglima Besar Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new state ruler.

This purported declaration was not recognised by the menteri besar. Today, the Negeri Sembilan state legislative assembly commenced its opening ceremony but had its sitting postponed by the speaker to a date to be decided later.

News reports today indicate the four undangs had boycotted the opening ceremony and continue to insist that the current Yang di-Pertuan Besar abdicate his position.

Hence, we are witnessing a “constitutional incident”, not yet a full-blown constitutional crisis, unfolding at the intersection between constitutional law and the adat, where constitutional law should be placed in context.

To understand the full background, it requires an impartial analysis of...