The Negeri Sembilan Palace advised political parties not to associate the royal institution with their campaigns and urged candidates to avoid 3R issues during the state election. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin Summary The Negeri Sembilan Palace has issued a statement urging political parties to refrain from associating the royal family with their campaigns, emphasizing the royal institution's political neutrality. The palace clarified that any materials linking the Negeri Sembilan Palace or its members to political parties are inaccurate. Candidates in the 16th state election are advised to avoid politicizing race, religion, and royalty issues, and to conduct campaigns ethically and lawfully. This advisory follows a circulated video suggesting undue influence by a political party over the state government and royal family. By Malay Mail First Published: Monday, 27 Jul 2026 1:29 PM MYT SEREMBAN, July 27 — The Negeri Sembilan Palace today advised political parties against associating the palace or members of the royal family with their campaigns, stressing that the royal institution remains politically neutral.In a statement, the palace said any claim, statement, photograph, video or other material linking the Negeri Sembilan Palace, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan or any member of the royal family to a political party was untrue.“The Royal Institution has always upheld the principle of neutrality and is not involved with any political party or political activity,” it said.The palace also advised all candidates contesting the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election to avoid playing up issues involving the 3Rs — race, religion and royalty — and to campaign responsibly, ethically and in accordance with the law.It said the royal institution should be protected from misinterpretation or exploitation for the interests of any party, while urging the public not to spread or believe unverified information.The statement comes after a video circulated on social media showing a politician claiming that the Negeri Sembilan state government, the menteri besar and the palace were being “held” by a particular political party.