Negeri Sembilan

The name Negeri Sembilan is believed to derive from the nine (sembilan) chiefdoms or Nogoghi in the Negeri Sembilan dialect (now known as luak) settled by the Minangkabau. The size of Negeri Sembilan is now smaller than the original size of Negeri Sembilan.

The original 9 chiefdoms of Negeri Sembilan, at Raja Melewar's accession in 1773

The earliest inhabitants of Negeri Sembilan were the ancestors of the Semelai, Semai, Semang, and Jakun peoples, who lived either as hunter-gatherer nomads or as subsistence farmers.

The Minangkabaus from Sumatra settled in what is today Negeri Sembilan in the 15th century under the protection of the Malacca Sultanate, and later under the protection of its successor, the Sultanate of Johor. They also brought their matrilineal custom, known as Adat Perpatih, with them and made it the local custom.[5][6]The Linggi River was used as one the main trade route since the time of the Malacca Sultanate.

As Johor weakened in the 18th century, attacks by the Bugis forced the Minangkabaus to seek protection from their homeland. The Minangkabau ruler, Sultan Abdul Jalil, obliged by sending his near relative, Raja Melewar. When he arrived, he found that another royal, Raja Khatib had already established himself as ruler. He declared war against Raja Khatib and became the ruler of Negeri Sembilan. The Sultan of Johor confirmed his position by granting the title Yamtuan Seri Menanti (He Who is Highest Lord of the Seri Menanti) in 1773.

Negeri Sembilan, at the time of Raja Melewar's accession, covered a larger area than its modern-day boundaries. Besides the entirety of modern Negeri Sembilan, it also covered parts of what is today Selangor, Melaka, Pahang and Johor. The original nine chiefdoms or domains in 1773 that gave Negeri Sembilan its name are namely Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Rembau, Johol, Jelai, Ulu Pahang, Naning, Segamat and Klang. The latter four chiefdoms were annexed into neighbouring states in the 19th century. Naning was annexed into the Straits Settlement of Melaka in 1832 following the Naning War; Ulu Pahang became Bera region of Pahang, Segamat annexed into Johor and Klang became Kuala Langat region of Selangor.

After Raja Melewar's death, a series of disputes arose over the succession. For a considerable period, the local nobles applied to the Minangkabau ruler in Sumatra for a ruler. However, competing interests supported different candidates, often resulting in instability and civil war.

In 1874, the British intervened militarily in a leadership tussle in Sungai Ujong to preserve British economic interests, and placed the domain under the control of a British Resident. Jelebu followed in 1883 and Rembau in 1887. The formation of modern Negeri Sembilan began in 1889, when the Seri Menanti domain, under the rule of Tuanku Muhammad (son of Yamtuan Antah), combined with the domains of Tampin and Rembau, forming the Seri Menanti Confederation as a single political entity. The domains of Sungai Ujong and Jelebu joined this confederation in 1895, forming the state of Negeri Sembilan in its modern borders.[7] Martin Lister became the new state's first Resident, and Negeri Sembilan became part of the Federated Malay States the same year.

The number of states within Negeri Sembilan has fluctuated over the years, the federation now consists of six states and a number of sub-states under their suzerainty.

Negeri Sembilan endured Japanese occupation in World War II between 1942 and 1945, joined the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and became a state of Malaysia in 1963.

Negeri Sembilan has seven districts.

The state's manufacturing sector contributes almost half of the state's gross domestic product (GDP), followed by services and tourism (40.3%), agriculture (6%), construction (2.2%) and mining (0.3%). Manufacturing activities include electrical supplies and electronics, textiles, furniture, chemicals, machinery, metal works and rubber products. There are three main industrial areas, which includes Senawang, Sungai Gadut, Tuanku Jaafar Industrial Park, Nilai and Tanah Merah in Port Dickson. Coca-Cola was scheduled to operate a 1-billion ringgit bottling plant in Bandar Enstek.

Negeri Sembilan is mainly an agricultural state. However, the establishment of several industrial estates enhanced the manufacturing sector as a significant contributor to the state economy.

The agricultural activity includes rubber and oil palm plantations, livestock, fruit orchards and vegetable farming. About 3,099 square kilometres are used for rubber and oil palm plantations.

The Minangkabau people brought along with them a cultural heritage which is still preserved and practised today as the Adat perpatih, a matrilineal system of inheritance and administration that is unique to the state. It is a system where the husband is the head of the household and inheritance passes from the mother to the daughter. The Minangkabau's divided into twelve suku or tribes and marriage between members of the same tribe or clan is forbidden. The Minangkabau influence in the state can be found in dances and food as well.

Traditional Negeri Sembilan food is hot and spicy, as one of the ingredients used is the chili padi, the hottest of chili peppers. Popular dishes include rendang, (pieces of beef cooked in coconut milk and chillies). One should experience the unique Minangkabau style of cooking, which sees generous portions of 'chili padi' (small and extremely hot chillies) being used. Try the "Masak Lemak Cili Padi - fish, meat, or vegetables cooked in coconut milk blended with turmeric and ground chili padi.The difference of "Masak Lemak Cili Padi" or the people often called it as "Gulai" in Negeri Sembilan with other state is there is no onions nor garlic used in making "Gulai".

Another Negeri Sembilan speciality is "Lemang", glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk in a bamboo stem over an open fire. This is normally served with Rendang, a deliciously thick and dry meat curry.[5]

The popular attractions in Negeri Sembilan are:

• Galeri Diraja Tuanku Ja'afar - is a gallery in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The gallery is about the former Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Ja'afar.
• Port Dickson Beach – A famous weekend retreat for city dwellers, said to have been named after British officer John Frederick Dickson in 1889[11]
• Seri Menanti Royal Museum – Originally a palace for the Negeri Sembilan Royal family until 1992, this five-storey wooden palace was built using no nails or screws. The palace exhibits costumes, weaponry, bed chambers as well as documents on the royal lineage on display in the museum[12]
• Army Museum – exhibits artefacts in regards to the history of the Royal Malaysian Army.[13]
• Mount Datuk - This 884-metre peak provides a good work out and excellent views from the top. It is easily accessible via a day trip from Kuala Lumpur.
• Mount Angsi - Gunung Angsi is one of Malaysia's relatively mountains with a height of 2702 ft or 824m. It ranks 241st on my list of Malaysia's highest mountains and it is the 3rd highest peak in Negeri Sembilan state, after Gunung Datuk and Bukit Bintongan which are both slightly higher. It is even closer to Kuala Lumpur and is a popular climbing spot. It also similar height with Mount Datuk and quite an exhausting walk.
• Mount Telapak Buruk - One of the state's highest peaks though not so popular with day-trippers.
• Lukut Fort and Museum - In Lukut, the tourists can wander among the hilltop remains of a 19th-century fort before visiting the neighbouring Lukut Museum which contains a Lukut Historical Gallery and other interesting artefacts.
• Penarikan Portage - the spot close to Bahau town is Jalan Penarikan where boats were carried over the short gap between eastbound and westbound rivers of the Malay Peninsula allowing movement between both coasts of the peninsular.
• Gemencheh Bridge (Sungai Kelamah) Memorial - This memorial marks the site of a battle at Gemencheh Bridge during World War II where Allied forces ambushed advancing Japanese troops. Many lives were lost here.

Negeri Sembilan has several tertiary education institutions. Most of these education institutions are concentrated in major towns in Negeri Sembilan. The list below represents public and private university based in Negeri Sembilan state:

There are public hospitals and private hospitals in Negeri Sembilan:

Public Hospitals

• Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban
• Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Najihah, Kuala Pilah
• Hospital Port Dickson
• Hospital Tampin
• Hospital Jelebu
• Hospital Jempol
• Hospital Rembau

Private Hospitals

• Nilai Medical Center, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
• Seremban Specialist Hospital
• Columbia Asia Medical Center - Seremban
• Senawang Specialist Hospital
• NSCMH Medical Centre
• Columbia Asia Hospital
• Mawar Medical Centre

• Overseas Minangkabau

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Negeri Sembilan.

• Official site of Negeri Sembilan State Government
• Tourism Malaysia – Negeri Sembilan
• Negeri Sembilan travel guide written and maintained by locals