On every 14th of January every year, the Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan or Yamtuan Besar Negeri Sembilan will celebrate birthday. This year, Yamtuan Besar Tuanku Mukhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir has celebrated his 76th birthday. It is customary for there to be celebrations and customs in conjunction with his greatness at Istana Seri Menanti. Of course, Istana Seri Menanti will be treated with ceremonial ceremonies in conjunction with his birth for seven days, seven nights. In conjunction with the great day of Yamtuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, let us know Negeri Sembilan together as a state.

It is common to know that the monarchy system in Negeri Sembilan is very different from other monarchy states. Negeri Sembilan adheres to the adat perpatih. The system of monarchy is also very different from the adat temenggung which is mainly used by all monarchy states in Malaysia. Yamtuan Besar Negeri Sembilan is selected starting from the very bottom hierarchy.

The men will appoint a Buapak who will be the head of the 13 Suku. Buapak who has been appointed, will select the Lembaga that will guard the district in the Mukim. The Lembaga will appoint a total of four Undang. Undang will lead every mukim in Negeri Sembilan. Undang will be the king of the mukim in their lead. Finally, Undang has the power to appoint the Yamtuan Besar. The hierarchy system in Negeri Sembilan began to be good and taught the community that people in lower are qualified to choose the board leaders.

Negeri Sembilan Customs

Often heard the phrase "jika kono qomat ogahang Nisimilan, tak mati badan mongasai". According to the giving and distribution of the estate, the custom of Negeri Sembilan has a different way compared to the adat temenggung the process of estate distribution. The above expression explains that women are the most fortunate in the customs. This is because, in every estate distribution matter, the female in every family members must come first. Therefore, when the custom of the pepatih was still strong in the past, many people outside Negeri Sembilan were afraid to marry the girl of Negeri Sembilan. This is because, if this happen it can be all the estate would be the full property of the woman in the family. That is the custom of giving and dividing the estate in the adat perpatih.

In addition to the different and unique estate giving system, the marriage customs in adat perpatih are also different. Adat perpatih in marriage customs is concerned with consensus in decision making. For example, the decision in determining the date of the wedding and the division of duties during the wedding ceremony. In addition, the interest lies with the wife's Suku and if the child is born from the couple, then the child will be confirmed in the mother's Suku. For example, the mother of the Seri Melenggang Suku while the father of the Biduanda Suku, then the child born will be on his mother's Suku, Seri Melenggang. To make a new generation in a Suku, it is possible to go through two processes which are birth or adopting a child. However, there are some Luak that do not allow and prohibit this adopting child process because it is not able to make a new generation in Suku and will contaminate the sanctity of the Suku’s lineage. Next, same Suku marriage is haram and if it happens, then the bride's family will have to subvert a buffalo to be treated in the Luak, Perut and Suku.

There are many more customs and beliefs for this adat perpatih. However, among the popular and often heard practices is the custom in the division of estates and marriages. These customs make Negeri Sembilan as a unique country. However, this custom is getting lost and lost. Many of the young generation have not come to terms with the old rules of the adat perpatih. However, there are still many old generations who are still actively living in the Suku trying to maintain the purity of adat perpatih.  As the ancients say, "Biar mati anak, jangan mati adat”. As the young generation try to preserve the custom, as it is unique. Customs are the property of a nation and society.

Date of Input: 15/02/2024 | Updated: 15/02/2024 | norazlinazul