12
speak up!
The Rulers of
Negri Sembilan
THE Linggi River – after which my state
would likely have been named if not for
Adat Perpatih – winds rather majestically
in its final stages. Raja Melewar, having
already sailed across the Straits of Ma-
lacca, would have entered its mouth to
be welcomed by lush greenery. He would
have found a river teeming with fish,
prawns and fearsome-looking but docile
crocodiles, and he must have been
excited at the prospect of ruling
over this lush abundance, more so
as this migration was in response to
an invitation issued by the people of
this new land themselves.
This week I had the opportunity
to retrace the final stages of that fate-
ful journey which took place over
two centuries ago. Dozens of kayak-
ers traversed the Straits of Malacca
– possibly expending more energy
in the process than Raja Melewar’s
rowers did – to re-enact the migration
of the prince who was to become the
first Ruler of a new unified kingdom
of nine states called Negri Sembilan.
The crossing was to be repeated by his
two successors: Yamtuan Hitam and
Yamtuan Lenggang, who reigned at a
time when rivalry between the Bugis,
Dutch and Javanese resulted in convo-
luted political power play and routinely
escalated into armed conflict.
During the reign of Yamtuan Raden,
open war with the British ultimately
resulted in the loss of Naning, and by
the time Yamtuan Imam ascended the
throne the state had fragmented further.
After Yamtuan Antah ascended the throne
there was further violence as the British
made inroads into the Malay Peninsula,
not content with confining their influence
within the Straits Settlements. This was
the War of Bukit Putus of 1875, which
took place between Yamtuan Antah’s
forces at Seri Menanti and the British at
Sungai Ujong. The initial battles went
very well for Yamtuan Antah: he defeated
the British at Terachi and again on Bukit
Putus itself. His soldiers made it right up
to the east bank of the Linggi River, across
from where the British were stationed.
theSun | FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 2009
Installation of
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan
BERNAMAPIX
Unfortunately for my ancestor the British
had received artillery reinforcements
which blasted Yamtuan Antah’s men out
of their camps, leading to a successful Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku
British counterattack (which included the Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz
deployment of Gurkhas) and ultimately inspects the royal regalia to be used
the capture of Seri Menanti. for the installation yesterday.
From the high van-
of smallpox claimed Yamtuan Antah’s
the sights and sounds of those days.
Abiding life, which meant that it was during the
Tuanku Abdul Rahman’s reign
Times reign of his son, Tuanku Muhammad,
saw the British Resident model being
that Negri Sembilan was restored as a
interrupted by World War II and the
by Tunku‘ unified kingdom.
subsequent dismantlement of the British
Abidin Muhriz Tuanku Muhammad enjoyed a good
Empire. He survived both the Japanese
working relationship with the British,
Occupation and a murder attempt by
which facilitated the further development
communists. He vigorously opposed the
of the state. Negri Sembilan, together with
Malayan Union – like his father, keen to
Perak, Selangor and Pahang, formed the
protect the unique institutions of Negri
Federated Malay States, but Tuanku Mu-
Sembilan – and went on to reign as
hammad was always careful that
the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of the
Federation of Malaya after being
I SEMBILAN
ILAN elected by his brother Rul-
ers to that position. Tuanku
COURTESY OF ISTANA NEGRI SEMB
Abdul Rahman passed away
ISTANA NEGR
in the Istana Negara on April
1, 1960. It was the country’s
first state funeral, and his cof-
fin was taken by train from
COURTESY OF
Kuala Lumpur to Seremban
and then by road to Seri Me-
nanti.
Although Tuanku
Munawir’s reign was not
‘banteras’.
mad with his long, he had already served
Tuanku Muham as regent while his father was
serving as Yang di-Pertuan
tage point of the new Agong, and thus had presided
Bukit Putus bypass – opened a few days Tuanku over the state’s post-Merdeka
ago – you can just imagine the movements Munawir development. He had enabled a
and positions of the men, gunpowder with Tunku Tuanku Abdul Rahma new school to open in the Istana
n with Tunku Abdul
smoke further obscuring the limited view Deborah, Putra (left) and Sir Do Rahman Lama itself, and he officiated
nald MacGillivray on
through the dense jungle. There must Tunku Aug 5, 1957. the opening of Tunku Kurshiah
have been numerous men who fell to ig- Maheran, College. He had a reputation
nominious deaths here, and yet it was for the Raja the independence for being close to the rakyat
a battle upon this hill that a Victoria Cross Perempuan of of Negri Sembilan was safeguarded. He – there are pictures of him picnicking
was bestowed upon a British soldier. Perlis Tengku also played a leading role not only in the with his subjects – but he also loved his
Yamtuan Antah did later return to Seri Budriah, Tunku construction of the two official palaces animals, which included a bear and two
Menanti, and his relationship with the Annie Dakhlah, in Seri Menanti still standing – the Istana elephants.
British improved. Both sides recognised Tunku Maharun Lama and the Istana Besar – but also I grew up during the reign of Tuanku
that a win-win solution was possible with and elephant in the establishment of two institutions Ja’afar, during which the state continued to
increased economic opportunities and Zimbo on Aug 19, which continue to shine in Malaysia: the develop drastically: in terms of infrastruc-
political stability. However, an epidemic 1959. Royal Malay Regiment and the Malay ture as well as demographically. Not only
College Kuala Kangsar. does Seremban now sprawl into numerous
My great-uncle Tunku suburbs but many people today commute
Datuk Seri Adnan Tunku to Kuala Lumpur from Seremban on a
Besar Burhanuddin re- daily basis. I met Tuanku Ja’afar every
members how he used Hari Raya Aidilfitri at least: he was a kind
to accompany Tuanku Ruler who cared deeply about the rakyat,
Muhammad to events and the state was rightly in grave mourn-
and games, and regularly ing after his demise last year.
received 20 cents pocket
money. Tunku Adnan was **
five years old when Tu- In the Abiding Times of Nov 14, 2008,
anku Muhammad passed I stated that it was an eventful year for
away in the Istana Besar, democracy. I cited three elections which
but he vividly remembers signalled change in their respective
countries: the election of Barack Obama
as president of the United States, the
COURTESY OF ISTANA NEGRI SEMBILAN
election of Boris Johnson as Mayor of
London and the Malaysian general elec-
tion of March 8. For me there was to be
another: the election of Tuanku Muhriz
as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sem-
bilan on Dec 29, 2008.
I will never forget the events leading
up to the proclamation. One day I may
write about them. But not today. This
week the ceremonies of the Installation
of Tuanku Muhriz will take place in Seri
Menanti. It is a celebration that has not
been seen for 41 years, and I hope that
all communities in Negri Sembilan will
join us in the various events that have
been organised for the public in the field
between the Istana Lama and Istana
Besar. For my part, the books are printed
and the choirs are ready.
Daulat Tuanku!
Tuanku Muhammad (seated far left) Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin is Tuanku
attending a Durbar in the 1930s. Muhriz’s second son. Comments: letters@
thesundaily.com.