Rembau - The appointment of Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir as the new Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan on Monday was made unanimously without lobbying by any party, one of the state`s four territorial chieftains said today.
In an exclusive interview with Bernama at his residence here, Undang Luak Rembau, Datuk Muhamad Sharip Othman, denied talk that there were attempts to influence the four Undangs to decide on the appointment, including by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
"According to the state constitution, the absolute power to appoint the Yang Dipertuan Besar rests only with the four Undangs -- Datuk Undang Luak Sungai Ujong, Datuk Undang Luak Jelebu, Datuk Undang Luak Rembau and Datuk Undang Luak Johol, with the Datuk Undang Luak Sungai Ujong as chairman.
"For the information of all, the decision we made was 100 per cent unanimous," he said in clarifying media reports, including by bloggers, on the appointment of Tuanku Muhriz.
Tuanku Muhriz, 60, succeeded his uncle, Tuanku Ja`afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 86, who died on Dec 27 after a reign of 41 years.
"I am most thankful, especially to the menteri besar. He never interfered or influenced the Undangs in making our decision. We have heard such talk and I deny this. He has been very professional," Muhamad Sharip said.
The Undang Luak Rembau was also asked about the factors that he and his brother Undangs had considered in appointing Tuanku Muhriz, the little-known prince who prior to ascending the Negeri Sembilan throne was the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti.
To this, he only replied: "This is a matter of the absolute right of the four Undangs to decide. It is up to us and in accordance with our thinking and wisdom at the given time".
Media speculation about the choice of the new Yang Dipertuan Besar centred on Tuanku Ja`afar`s eldest son, Tunku Naquiyuddin, the high-profile prince widely known especially in the corporate sector.
Asked about his feelings at being personally involved in such an historic event as choosing the Yang Dipertuan Besar or better known as Yam Tuan, Muhamad Sharip said this was something he had never dreamt of doing.
"In life, probably he (Yam Tuan) would outlive us Undangs or we would (outlive) him. It so happened that he preceded us and it is incumbent upon us to carry out this responsibility," he said.
He described the task of choosing the new Ruler for the first time in over four decades as "a very heavy responsibility".
"It is indeed very heavy because in other states, the succession would go from father to son, but not here in Negeri Sembilan. We are unique".
Muhamad Sharip said it was not easy for the four territorial chieftains to decide as they had to consider various aspects before arriving at their decision.
He was also very proud of the fact that the secrecy surrounding the appointment of Tuanku Muhriz was tightly maintained until the proclamation shortly before the late Tuanku Ja`afar was laid to rest at the Royal Mausoleum in Seri Menanti after the Asar prayers on Monday.
The Undang said the decision was not even pre-informed to Tuanku Muhriz or the three other members of the royalty who are in line to the throne.
The three are Tunku Naquiyuddin and his two other brothers, Tunku Imran and Tunku Putera Nadzaruddin.
On the late Tuanku Ja`afar, the Undang said: "We brother Undangs were so close to him and dearly loved him. For us, his death is a big loss to the people of Negeri Sembilan because, as we all know, he was an extraordinary person".
"He was also a compassionate and fair Ruler and someone with a sharp mind and who always made decisions based on consultation."
Muhamad Sharip also agreed that there was keen interest among the people, especially from outside the state, to get to know better the Adat Pepatih, Negeri Sembilan`s unique matrilineal system of governance, following the appointment of the new Ruler.
He said he had taken the initiative to publish an updated book on the Adat Pepatih and matters related to it which would go on sale soon.
The book, entitled "Legasi Ketuanan Rembau" (The Legacy of Rembau Supremacy), will mainly be distributed to schools to disseminate knowledge of the Negeri Sembilan traditions among the younger generation.
"For example, not many people outside of Negeri Sembilan know that the four Undangs are actually co-rulers with the Yang Dipertuan Besar," he said.
Source: http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com (January 4, 2008)
In an exclusive interview with Bernama at his residence here, Undang Luak Rembau, Datuk Muhamad Sharip Othman, denied talk that there were attempts to influence the four Undangs to decide on the appointment, including by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
"According to the state constitution, the absolute power to appoint the Yang Dipertuan Besar rests only with the four Undangs -- Datuk Undang Luak Sungai Ujong, Datuk Undang Luak Jelebu, Datuk Undang Luak Rembau and Datuk Undang Luak Johol, with the Datuk Undang Luak Sungai Ujong as chairman.
"For the information of all, the decision we made was 100 per cent unanimous," he said in clarifying media reports, including by bloggers, on the appointment of Tuanku Muhriz.
Tuanku Muhriz, 60, succeeded his uncle, Tuanku Ja`afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 86, who died on Dec 27 after a reign of 41 years.
"I am most thankful, especially to the menteri besar. He never interfered or influenced the Undangs in making our decision. We have heard such talk and I deny this. He has been very professional," Muhamad Sharip said.
The Undang Luak Rembau was also asked about the factors that he and his brother Undangs had considered in appointing Tuanku Muhriz, the little-known prince who prior to ascending the Negeri Sembilan throne was the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti.
To this, he only replied: "This is a matter of the absolute right of the four Undangs to decide. It is up to us and in accordance with our thinking and wisdom at the given time".
Media speculation about the choice of the new Yang Dipertuan Besar centred on Tuanku Ja`afar`s eldest son, Tunku Naquiyuddin, the high-profile prince widely known especially in the corporate sector.
Asked about his feelings at being personally involved in such an historic event as choosing the Yang Dipertuan Besar or better known as Yam Tuan, Muhamad Sharip said this was something he had never dreamt of doing.
"In life, probably he (Yam Tuan) would outlive us Undangs or we would (outlive) him. It so happened that he preceded us and it is incumbent upon us to carry out this responsibility," he said.
He described the task of choosing the new Ruler for the first time in over four decades as "a very heavy responsibility".
"It is indeed very heavy because in other states, the succession would go from father to son, but not here in Negeri Sembilan. We are unique".
Muhamad Sharip said it was not easy for the four territorial chieftains to decide as they had to consider various aspects before arriving at their decision.
He was also very proud of the fact that the secrecy surrounding the appointment of Tuanku Muhriz was tightly maintained until the proclamation shortly before the late Tuanku Ja`afar was laid to rest at the Royal Mausoleum in Seri Menanti after the Asar prayers on Monday.
The Undang said the decision was not even pre-informed to Tuanku Muhriz or the three other members of the royalty who are in line to the throne.
The three are Tunku Naquiyuddin and his two other brothers, Tunku Imran and Tunku Putera Nadzaruddin.
On the late Tuanku Ja`afar, the Undang said: "We brother Undangs were so close to him and dearly loved him. For us, his death is a big loss to the people of Negeri Sembilan because, as we all know, he was an extraordinary person".
"He was also a compassionate and fair Ruler and someone with a sharp mind and who always made decisions based on consultation."
Muhamad Sharip also agreed that there was keen interest among the people, especially from outside the state, to get to know better the Adat Pepatih, Negeri Sembilan`s unique matrilineal system of governance, following the appointment of the new Ruler.
He said he had taken the initiative to publish an updated book on the Adat Pepatih and matters related to it which would go on sale soon.
The book, entitled "Legasi Ketuanan Rembau" (The Legacy of Rembau Supremacy), will mainly be distributed to schools to disseminate knowledge of the Negeri Sembilan traditions among the younger generation.
"For example, not many people outside of Negeri Sembilan know that the four Undangs are actually co-rulers with the Yang Dipertuan Besar," he said.
Source: http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com (January 4, 2008)
