According to the 2010 census, the population of Negeri Sembilan is 60.3% Muslim, 21.2% Buddhist, 13.4% Hindu, 2.4% Christian, 1.1% of unknown affiliation, 0.8% non-religious, 0.5% Taoist or Chinese religion follower, and 0.3% of followers of other religions.

Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 92.9% of the Chinese population in Negeri Sembilan identify as Buddhists, with significant minority of adherents identifying as Christians (3.6%), practitioners of Chinese folk religions (1.9%) and Muslims (0.8%). The majority of the Indian population are Hindus (89.0%), with a significant minorities of numbers identifying as Christians (5.0%), Muslims (3.2%) and Buddhists (1.4%). The non-Malay Bumiputera community are predominantly Atheists (39.7%), with significant minorities identifying as Christians (28.3%) and Muslims (20.2%). All Malays are Muslims as defined by the Constitution of Malaysia.

Languages

Negeri Sembilan is a multiethnic state in which every ethnic group speak their respective languages and dialects. The Negeri Sembilanese people speak a unique variety of Malay known as Negeri Sembilan Malay or in their native language as Baso Nogoghi. It is not closely related to other varieties of Malay in Peninsular Malaysia but is more closely related with Malay varieties spoken in neighbouring Sumatra especially varieties of Minangkabau. Besides Malays, the Chinese community also speak their languages and dialects. Orang Asli peoples like Temuans speak a language closely related to Malay. Standard Malay is widely used throughout the state.

Tamil (mother tongue to Indian Tamils and Ceylon Tamils) is used as a lingua franca among the other minor Indian communities. Besides, a small number of Telugu, Malayalam and Punjabi exist in the towns of Negeri Sembilan.

Economy

thumb|[[Sime Darby oil palm estate in Port Dickson District]]

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. The main industrial areas in Negeri Sembilan include Senawang, Bandar Sri Sendayan, Sungai Gadut, Bandar Enstek and Nilai in Seremban, Tanah Merah in Port Dickson and Chembong in Rembau. Notable companies also set up plants in Negeri Sembilan, such as Kellogg's, Dutch Lady, Ajinomoto and Coca-Cola in Bandar Enstek, Hino Motors in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Yakult in Seremban 2, Samsung SDI, Onsemi and NXP Semiconductors in Senawang, and Nestlé in Chembong. Nestlé's Chembong plant is also the largest Milo manufacturer in the world, as well as the company's largest global centre of excellence.

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. Two districts in the western half of the state – Seremban and Port Dickson – have been gazetted as part of the Malaysia Vision Valley, a new growth corridor conceived from the joint venture between Sime Darby and both the federal and state governments in 2015 as part of the National Transformation Agenda, the National Physical Plan, the Eleventh Malaysia Plan and the 2045 Negeri Sembilan Structural Plan, in order to evenly balancing the existing development in the neighbouring Klang Valley area, providing ample space for the southern extension of the Greater Kuala Lumpur area, as well as to transform Negeri Sembilan into a developed state by 2045. As of 2024, the MVV is now in its second iteration, and is still undergoing development. Meanwhile, districts east of the MVV – Rembau, Kuala Pilah, Tampin and Jempol – are yet to be developed into an agropolis, to boost foodstuff production in the state and national levels respectively.

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.

Culture

thumb|An [[adat perpatih ceremony in Kuala Pilah.]]

The Minangkabau people brought 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, where the husband is the head of the household and inheritance passes from mother to daughter. The Minangkabaus in Negeri Sembilan are divided into twelve suku (clans). Each of these suku is led by a chief, known as the Lembaga. Each suku is broken down into subunits known as the Perut, where each of them are led by a chief, either known as a Buapak (male) or Ibu Soko (female). Both the Buapak and Ibu Soko play a vital role as people to refer to regarding the adat and religious matters among the subordinates of the Perut, known as Anak Buah. Marriage between members of the same clan is forbidden. The twelve suku are known as the following, of which the names of each suku indicates their area of origin:

  • Biduanda ()
  • Seri Lemak ()
  • Seri Melenggang ()
  • Anak Aceh
  • Anak Melaka ()
  • Tiga Nenek ()
  • Tiga Batu ()
  • Tanah Datar
  • Batu Hampar ()
  • Payakumbuh ()
  • Batu Belang ()
  • Mungkal ()

The Minangkabau influence in the state can be found in dances and food as well.

Traditional buildings in Negeri Sembilan are grouped into two different architectures: one directly Minangkabau with familiar lengkung or gonjong ("curved") buffalo horn motifs, and another featuring flatter or lentik roofs in villages of a "Malay" motif adopted by Minangkabau generations intermarrying with Jakun tribes; the lentik houses were based on traditional houses found in Kampar, Riau where the Minangkabau migrants stopped first.

thumb|A [[Malay houses|kampung house in Rantau exhibiting the Malay lentik roof. Dikir Rebana, Tumbuk Kalang, and Bongai.

The musical instruments used to bear some semblance to Sumatra, the ancestral home of the Minangkabau people. Dances like the tarian lilin (candle dance) and rentak kuda (the beat of the horse) are popular in Negeri Sembilan and the coordinated movements of the dancers in their colorful costumes in the Tarian Piring and the upbeat tempo of Tarian Randai. Each beat, rhythm and movement in these dances combines to form a story, maybe of a bygone myth or simply a reflection of the lifestyles of another era.

They are usually performed at traditional festivities, cultural events and dinner-cum-cultural shows.

Mantai

Mantai is celebrated in Negeri Sembilan on the eves of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Transportation

thumb|Pedas-Linggi interchange, on the [[North-South Expressway (Malaysia)|North-South Expressway near Rembau]]

As in most other Asian cities, driving is the main form of transportation in the state. there are three expressways serving the state, which are the PLUS Highway, LEKAS Highway and Seremban–Port Dickson Highway. There is the Seremban Inner Ring Road that is a multi-lane ring road highway that connects to the expressways. Public transportation covers a variety of transport modes such as bus, rail and taxi.

thumb|left|Free bus in Seremban

For the bus services, it is operated by myBAS in the state. There are also 3 lines of free bus services in the Seremban and Jempol districts funded by the state government, now operated by MARA Liner. MARA Liner also operated 4 rural routes in Rembau and Tampin districts.

Seremban has a main bus station – Terminal One – which connects Seremban with major places in Negeri Sembilan such as Kuala Pilah, Bahau, Rembau and Malaysia such as Alor Setar, Ipoh and Melaka. All bus companies that provide bus services are based here.

thumb|[[Keretapi Tanah Melayu|KTMB's Seremban railway station]]

For the rail services, Seremban Railway Station is the main station to the state capital. Seremban and part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System, while Gemas Railway Station in Tampin District is the interchange between West Coast and East Coast Line. The KTM Komuter, a commuter rail service, was introduced in 1995 as the first rail transit system to provide local rail services from Negeri Sembilan to Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley suburban areas. KTM Komuter's 175 km (109 mi) network in the Central Sector has 53 stations. It consists of two cross-city routes, namely the Port Klang Line (Tanjung Malim to Port Klang) and Seremban Line (Batu Caves to Pulau Sebang/Tampin).

There are no civil airports in the state, while the nearest airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, Selangor can be accessed via shuttle bus between Nilai Komuter station to the airport.

Cuisine

thumb|Traditional Negri fare at a restaurant in [[Terachi.]]

thumb|Masak lemak lada api is an iconic dish from the state.

Traditional Negri food is generally very hot and spicy, as one of the ingredients used is the cili padi, one of the hottest types of chili peppers. Masak lemak lada api, a type of gulai made with turmeric and cili padi-infused coconut milk (santan), is a trademark dish in the state's cuisine. The Negeri Sembilanese are also known for their penchant for smoked foods (known as salai in Malay), with examples include sembilang salai (smoked catfish) and ayam salai (smoked chicken) and these can also be cooked masak lemak lada api-style.

thumb|left|Rendang

thumb|upright|[[Apam Johol]]

thumb|left|[[Janda pulang (drink)|Jando Pulang]]

Rendang, which is a rich dish of dry braised meat with herbs, spices and coconut milk, is also well known in Negeri Sembilan, and there are variations of it according to the districts where the rendang originated, such as rendang maman from Gemencheh in Tampin District, made with maman leaves. 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. Port Dickson is known for its high-end hotel establishments, army bases, pristine beaches facing the Strait of Malacca.

  • Seri Menanti Royal Museum – Originally a palace for Negeri Sembilan's 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
  • Army Museum – Located in the Port Dickson suburb of Sirusa, it is the largest military museum in Malaysia. The Army Museum (Malay: Muzium Tentera Darat) exhibits artefacts relating to the history of the Malaysian Army.
  • Mount Datuk – Located in Rembau, this 884-metre peak provides a good work out and excellent views from the top, which also include the Strait of Malacca, visible from the peak on a clear day. It is easily accessible via a day trip from Kuala Lumpur.
  • Mount Angsi – A peak, located on the border between Seremban and Kuala Pilah Districts which is a popular climbing spot .
  • Lukut Fort and Museum – A museum which contains a Lukut Historical Gallery and other 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 peninsula. It is described as the first east–west land route in Malaysian history.
  • Teratak Za'aba – A museum dedicated to Zainal Abidin Ahmad, a Malay scholar and linguist who contributed a lot in shaping the modern Malay language. It is located at his birthplace in Kampung Bukit Kerdas, Batu Kikir near Bahau.
  • Megalithic sites – Negeri Sembilan is home to a number of megalithic sites of historical significance, such as in Terachi in Kuala Pilah District, Repah in Tampin District and the Pengkalan Kempas Historical Complex in Port Dickson District.
  • Gemencheh Bridge (Sungai Kelamah) Memorial – A memorial to the site of the Battle of Gemas of World War II where Allied forces ambushed advancing Japanese troops.
  • Gemas Railway Museum – Gemas, Tampin District is a town known for being located on the junction between the east coast and west coast lines of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad's (KTMB) railway network. Previously, the museum's building was the former Gemas railway station, which ceased operations in 2013 after 91 years of service, coincident to the completion of the new station building, as part of the electrification and double tracking of the Seremban-Gemas section of the West Coast Line.
  • Pasoh Caves – Located in Pasoh Forest Reserve, Jelebu, the Pasoh Caves complex holds the distinction of being the southernmost karst cave in Peninsular Malaysia as well as the first Paleolithic site discovered in the southern region, following the discovery of some artefacts as old as 14,000 years, in an excavation conducted by the Science University of Malaysia (USM).
  • Batu Maloi Cave – Located in Johol, Kuala Pilah District, the Batu Maloi Cave is a 2.4-kilometre long talus cave made up of fallen boulders of granite with a river flowing through it. Said to be the longest granite cave in Malaysia, and is popular among cavers.
  • Kenaboi State Park – Located in Jelebu, Kenaboi State Park is nestled in the Titiwangsa Mountains. The nature reserve is the main entry point to the tallest mountain in Negeri Sembilan, Mount Besar Hantu () and natural landmarks such as Lata Kijang, Lata Dinding and Lata Berungut.
  • Mount Tampin – Located in Tampin in the southern corner of the state, Mount Tampin is the geographical southern terminus of the Titiwangsa Mountains, at an elevation of .

Education

thumb|[[Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai]]

thumb|[[UiTM, Rembau campus]]

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:

Public universities

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; margin-right:60px"

|-

!Name

!Acronym

!Foundation

!Location

|-

|align=left|Islamic Science University of Malaysia

|align=center|USIM

|align=center|1998

|align=center|Nilai

|-

|align=left|Universiti Teknologi MARA

|align=center|UiTM

|align=center|1999

|align=center|Kuala Pilah, Seremban & Rembau

|-

|align=left|Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Pendidikan Teknik

|align=center|IPG KPT

|align=center|2013

|align=center|Bandar Enstek, Nilai

|}

Private universities and university colleges

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; margin-right:60px"

|-

!Name

!Acronym

!Foundation

!Location

!Ref

|-

|align=left|INTI International University

|align=center|INTI-IU

|align=center|1998

|align=center|Nilai

|align=center|

|-

|align=left|Manipal International University

|align=center|MIU

|align=center|2011

|align=center|Nilai

|align=center|

|-

|align=left|Nilai University

|align=center|NU

|align=center|1997

|align=center|Nilai

|align=center|

|-

|align=left|Linton University College

|align=center|UCL

|align=center|1995

|align=center|Mantin

|align=center|

|-

|align=left|Malaysia Theological Seminary

|align=center|STM

|align=center|1979

|align=center|Seremban

|align=center|

|-

|align=left|UCSI University and International School

|align=center|UCSI

|align=center|1986

|align=center|Bandar Springhill

|align=center|

|}

Health care

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 Centre
  • Seremban Specialist Hospital
  • Columbia Asia Medical Centre - Seremban
  • Senawang Specialist Hospital
  • NSCMH Medical Centre
  • Columbia Asia Hospital
  • Mawar Medical Centre

Notable people

<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->

<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->

  • Zaquan Adha, professional footballer
  • Nabil Ahmad, comedian, actor and television personality
  • Zainal Abidin Ahmad, better known by his pen name Za'aba, Malay linguist and writer
  • Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin, known mononymously as Aishah, singer, actress, and politician
  • Abdul Ghafar Baba, 6th Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
  • Azam Baki, head of MACC
  • Shamsiah Fakeh, feminist and nationalist, one of the prominent figures of Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS).
  • Mohamad Hasan, deputy leader of both the United Malays National Organisation and the Barisan Nasional, 10th Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan and current Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Shah Indrawan Ismail, also known by his stage name Tomok, singer and actor
  • Khairy Jamaluddin, politician and radio personality
  • Fish Leong, singer
  • Julian Leow Beng Kim, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
  • Anthony Loke, Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party and current Minister of Transport
  • Rosmah Mansor, wife of 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak
  • Abdul Ghani Minhat, former professional footballer
  • Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, eighth Yamtuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
  • Siti Nordiana, singer and actress
  • Mazlan Othman, astrophysicist
  • Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 10th Yamtuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, as well as the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
  • Sinnayah Sabapathy, former track and field athlete
  • Dol Said, nationalist and rebel leader, known for his involvement in the Naning War.
  • Yong Nyuk Lin, Singaporean politician
  • Rais Yatim, 8th Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan and 18th president of the Dewan Negara
  • Abdul Malek Yusuf, 2nd Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca
  • Aidil Zafuan, professional footballer
  • Peter van Huizen, professional hockey player

See also

  • Overseas Minangkabau

References

  • Official site of Negeri Sembilan State Government
  • Tourism Malaysia – Negeri Sembilan