Untitled Document

The word negeri is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘country’, ‘town’ or ‘district’. Sembilan mean ‘nine’. Negeri Sembilan is a confederacy of nine states. The original list was Klang, Sungei Ujung, Naning, Rembau, Jelai, Ulu Pahang, Jelebu, Johol, and Segamat. All these places had Minangkabau settlers under a ‘Yam Tuan’. The constituent states today are the four major states of Sungei Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau; and the five minor states of Ulu Muar, Jempol, Terachi, Gunung Pasir and Inas. Negeri Sembilan is now divided into five districts, that is Seremban, Tampin, Port Dickson, Jelebu and Kuala Pilah. The capital town is Seremban whereas the royal town is at Sri Menanti.

The original settlers of Negeri Sembilan were three male chiefs and one woman from the mountains of Skudai which is situated at the south of Selangor who arrived in Johol. The woman elected to remain in Johol while the three men left with their followers. One went to Jelebu, one to Klang, and one to Sungei Ujong. These chiefs assigned various districts either to their relatives or to the lesser chiefs who had accompanied them. These chiefs separated to Naning, Rembau, Jelai in Pahang, Segamat in Johor and Pasir Besar.

Klang was separated from the confederacy when the Toh ‘Engku of Klang complained of the great distance from the palace of Sri Menanti. Segamat and Pasir Besar were also separated from Negeri Sembilan due to disturbances and were brought under the Muar administration of Johore. Jelai, in Pahang, appears to have been quite detached from Negeri Sembilan. It was only because one of the nine Batin or chiefs acquired that river as his district that Jelai has been numbered as one of the nine states.

Districts

	Jelebu
	Kuala Pilah
	Port Dickson
	Rembau
	Seremban
	Tampin

Main Towns

	Gemas
	Kuala Klawang
	Lukut
	Rantau
	Seri Menanti