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Undang: Tuanku Muhriz’s
appointment was unanimous
by Azman Ujang
REMBAU: The appointment of
Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum
Tuanku Munawir (pix), as the Yang
di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan
last Monday was made unanimously
without lobbying by any party, one of
the state’s four territorial chieftains
said yesterday.
In an exclusive interview with
Bernama at his residence here,
Undang Luak Rembau Datuk Mu-
hamad Sharip Othman, denied talk
that there were attempts to influence
the four Undangs to decide on the
appointment, including by Mentri
Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
“According to the state constitu-
tion, the absolute power to appoint
the Yang di-Pertuan 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.
“The decision we made was
100% 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 Al-
marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman,
86, who died on Dec 27 after a reign
of 41 years.
“I am most thankful, especially
to the mentri besar. He never inter-
fered 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 consid-
ered in appointing Tuanku Muhriz,
the little-known prince who, prior to
ascending the state throne, was the
Tunku Besar Seri Menanti.
“It is 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 di-Pertuan
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 be-
ing personally involved in such an
historic event as choosing the Yang
di-Pertuan 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 was in-
cumbent 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
Negri 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 in the
Royal Mausoleum in Seri Menanti.
The Undang said the decision
was not even pre-informed to
Tuanku Muhriz or the three other
members of the royalty who were in
line for the throne.
They are Tunku Naquiyuddin
and his two other brothers, Tunku
Imran and Tunku Putera Nadzarud-
din.
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 Negri Sembilan
because, as we all know, he was an
extraordinary person.
“He was also a compassionate
and fair Ruler and someone with a
very sharp mind and who always
made his decisions based on consul-
tations.”
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, Negri Sembilan’s unique
matrilineal system of governance,
following the appointment of the
new Ruler.
He said he had taken the initia-
tive to publish an updated book on
the Adat Pepatih and matters related
to it. The book will go on sale soon.
The publication, titled “Legasi
Ketuanan Rembau” (The Legacy of
Rembau Supremacy), will mainly be
distributed to schools to disseminate
knowledge of Negri Sembilan tradi-
tions.
“For example, not many people
outside Negri Sembilan know that
the four Undangs are actually co-rul-
ers with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar,”
he said. – Bernama
| MONDAY JANUARY 5 2009
AirAsia appeals to
travellers to use website
PETALING JAYA: Air Asia customers have been
encouraged to use its website AirAsia.com for
inquiries, bookings and transactions while its call
centre migration exercise is being implemented.
There have been numerous complaints of con-
gestion due to the migration exercise.
The airline call centre receives an average
15,000 calls a day. The new call centre will be fully
operational by Feb 15.
Air Asia CEO Datuk Tony Fernandes said in a
statement the company acknowledges the com-
plaints by frustrated travellers trying to reach the
airline’s Call Centre for help.
“Our Call Centre upgrading and world-class
integrated Call Centre in Kuala Lumpur will serve
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Brunei,
Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philip-
pines, Singapore, Vietnam and the UK,” he said.
“As we are presently undergoing migration, our
Call Centre is operating with limitations and thus
you may find the lines to be heavily congested,”
he added.
Cops probe torching of cars
KUALA LUMPUR: Police are still investigating the
motive for the torching of cars, including luxury
makes, in Damansara and Bangsar over the fort-
night.
“We are waiting for reports from the fire de-
partment and the forensic unit to identify those
responsible and determine whether they were
acts of revenge or for other reasons,” Brickfields
OCPD ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Talib said here
yesterday.
Police who received reports of the incident from
two car owners in Bangsar yesterday morning were
looking for eye witnesses.
The two cars torched were a Mercedes Benz
and a BMW. Fire destroyed two cars in Damansara
two weeks ago.
Wan Abdul Bari said police were also investi-
gating whether the two car torching incidents in
Damansara and Bangsar were related. – Bernama