Former New Straits Times chief editor Kalimullah Hassan noted that hundreds of congregants at Masjid Negeri Negeri Sembilan in Seremban, who would normally disperse after prayers, lined up to greet the ruler.

The spontaneous turnout came amid an ongoing crisis involving four chieftains (undangs) seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz from his position.

In a Facebook post, Kalimullah recalled how in 2018, Barisan Nasional, which had governed Malaysia since independence, expected to win the general election despite the 1MDB scandal and the international criticism it drew.

He said BN’s campaign rallies at the time attracted relatively small crowds, while opposition gatherings led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then 92 and seeking to unseat the ruling coalition, saw significantly larger turnouts.

He described one rally in Setiawangsa where, despite heavy rain that drenched attendees and drowned out Mahathir’s speech, tens of thousands of supporters remained until the end, sharing umbrellas and sheltering together, including families with children.

Mahathir’s coalition went on to win the election, marking a historic change in government.

“… that’s political power play. Whenever there’s a political power play, the ultimate judge is the people,” said Kalimullah.

“In the Negri Sembilan crisis where four chieftains are seeking to remove the Yang di Pertuan Besar, it’s a different kind of power play.

“The undangs did not turn up at the opening of the Negri Sembilan legislative assembly (on Thursday). Their empty chairs were a sad indictment of an unprecedented situation.

“But when Tuanku Muhriz attended Friday prayers at the state mosque, hundreds of congregants who’d normally disperse immediately after prayers lined up to shake hands and wish him well.

“It’s not politics; but it does tell you something doesn’t it?”

On Monday, menteri besar Aminuddin Harun said the state government did not recognise the move to depose Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The former undang of Sungai Ujong, Mubarak Dohak, announced the undangs’ intention at a press conference with the three other chieftans last Sunday.

In Negeri Sembilan, the four undangs represent the main traditional districts (luak) – Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau.

They are traditional territorial chiefs who play a central role in electing the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and advising on customary law under the state’s adat perpatih.