Malaysians joke their way through Negeri Sembilan royal row

South China Morning Post Wednesday 23 September 2026, 05:19 UTC By Iman Muttaqin Yusof 1 min read

Key Points

Malaysians joke their way through Negeri Sembilan royal row With two men claiming the throne and no legal exit in sight, commenters suggest nettle-bed endurance tests to end the fight The dispute has left Negeri Sembilan with two men claiming the throne, a state government at odds with the palace and no clear legal route to settle the fight. One social media user suggested reviving adat perpatih – the customary law of Negeri Sembilan – by subjecting ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and rival claimant Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar to the “stone mattress” test: seven days and seven nights on a stone covered with an intensely itchy variety of nettle, with whoever lasts the longest earning the throne. “Whoever can endure it becomes [the ruler],” the user wrote, adding that the idea “may look illogical, but it is a fact”.

Malaysians (ORG) Negeri Sembilan (LOCATION) Tuanku Muhriz (PERSON) Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku (PERSON)

Originally published by South China Morning Post Read original →

NT government commits $13.3 million from Flood Recovery Fund to build Katherine South levee In short: Residents in the regional Northern Territory town of Katherine have welcomed a $13.3 million government promise to build a new levee following recent devastating floods. Road raising works are also planned, with funding to come from both the NT and federal governments. It is not yet clear how long it will take to deliver the 3-kilometre long project, but it is expected to feature 1.6-metre...

ABC Australia 14m ago

Utah postal worker dumped 300 mail ballots in trash during state primary, DOJ says

Utah postal worker dumped 300 mail ballots in trash during state primary, DOJ says Damon Matai Seei, 34, was arrested Tuesday and appeared in federal court in Salt Lake City - Bookmark Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in The Justice Department has arrested a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in Utah who allegedly threw out more than 300 mail ballots that were being sent to voters for the state's June primary. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent...

The Independent World 17m ago

Seth Meyers Prefers Trump Without Audio

“We don’t need to hear what he’s saying,” Meyers said after the president’s first event without the White House press pool. “He’s either bragging or lying, let’s just lose the sound.”

New York Times 21m ago

London buses in decline? Why public transport in global cities is slowing to a crawl – visualised

As experts fear for future of UK capital’s bus network, some commuters are giving up entirely. London is not alone – with worrying implications for the poorest in societyExperts warn that slower buses risk driving passengers away: research cited by Transport for London (TfL) suggests a 10% fall in speed leads to a 6% drop in demand. Passenger journeys in London have already fallen by more than 300m a year, or 16%, since 2013, despite the city’s population growing by almost a million people.

The Guardian Politics 25m ago

Malaysians joke their way through Negeri Sembilan royal row

Related Stories

Katherine promised new $13.3m levee after town's worst flood in 28 years

Utah postal worker dumped 300 mail ballots in trash during state primary, DOJ says

Seth Meyers Prefers Trump Without Audio

London buses in decline? Why public transport in global cities is slowing to a crawl – visualised