Negeri Sembilan

Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south.

The name is believed to derive from the nine districts or negara (now known as luak) settled by the Minangkabau, a people originally from West Sumatra. Minangkabau features are still visible today in traditional architecture and the dialect of Malay spoken.

Unlike the hereditary monarchs of the other royal Malays States, the ruler of Negeri Sembilan is known as Yang Dipertuan Besar instead of Sultan. The election of the Ruler is also unique.The capital of Negeri Sembilan is Seremban. The royal capital is Seri Menanti in the district of Kuala Pilah. Other important towns are Port Dickson and Nilai.


CULTURES

• Minangkabau House

Negeri Sembilan is the only state in Malaysia that follows the Adat Perpatih and showcases the unique architectural design of the Minangkabau clan, a group of people that originated from West Sumatra in Indonesia. The Minangkabau way of design highlights sharp edges at the end of the rooflines of buildings, something that would be visible from miles away and is definitely a unique way of designing buildings. Only in Negeri Sembilan would you find buildings with such designs, and this is attributed to the fact that countless Minangkabau people migrated to Negeri Sembilan across the Straits of Malacca centuries ago and brought with them this special art of designing buildings. Some say that the roofs resemble buffalo horns.

• Tarik Upih

It was a traditional games from Negeri Sembilan. The flower-sheath of the betel nut or nibong palm is used in this game of speed. A team consists of a person seated on the upih and another person who pulls it. Whichever team that crosses the designated finishing line first is the winner.

• Caklempong

Caklempong is found in Negeri Sembilan, on the west coast of the Peninsular. It is believed to have originated from Sumatra, being brought to Negeri Sembilan by Minangkabau immigrants. A complete caklempong group is made up of 5 sets of bonang or small tuned knobbed gongs, a rebana as for hadrah and dabus described earlier, a seruling or wooden flute, 2 long drums with either one or both sides with heads, and a 15 inch diameter gongs. Caklempong groups commonly lack some of the above instruments, especially the full complement of bonang.

ATTRACTION PLACES

Istana Seri Menanti

Port Dickson Beach

Ulu Bendul Recreation Park

LOCAL DISHES

Rendang

Masak Lemak Cili Api

Lemang