The era was the late 60's or 1967 to be exact. The Beatles was about to launch their most acclaimed album, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band, America was involved in the Vietnam war, the first automatic teller machine was put into service in Barclays Bank in London, the first Boeing 737 took its maiden flight, and colour television set was becoming a popular household item.

In Malaysia, the year 1967 was not without excitement either. That year, millions of Malaysians anticipated the installation of Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman as the 10th Negeri Sembilan ruler known as Yang Dipertuan Besar, a reign which lasted for more than 40 years.

Come October 2009, 42 years after that installation ceremony, Negeri Sembilan will once again put on its pomp and pageantry for the installation of the state's 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar following the death of the late Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

For the first time in over four decades, the Throne Room of Istana Besar Seri Menanti will bear witness to the rich royal traditions and customs of the installation ceremony which originated from the Minangkabau people of the West Sumatera. In a ceremony steeped in royal tradition, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir will officially ascend the throne as the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan on 26 October 2009.

The installation ceremony is the culmination of an almost year-long process beginning with the proclamation of Tuanku Muhriz as the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan on 29 December 2008 following the demise of Tuanku Ja'afar two days earlier.

In accordance with the unique royal traditions of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz was elected to the position by the Undang Yang Empat - the Ruling Chiefs of Sungei Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau.
Due to the rarity of the occasion and the unique royal proceedings, the installation of the Negeri Sembilan ruler promises to be an event of the year - even Discovery Channel has asked for permission to document this historic event.

Local television station, Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) will also have a live broadcast of the installation ceremony over the TV1 channel.

INSTALLATION PERIOD

The installation began on 22 October with the ceremony of placing the Royal Regalia in the forecourt of Istana Besar Seri Menanti. This function was carried out by the Ninety Nine Ceremonial Guards led by Datuk Seri Amar Diraja and witnessed by the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti.

Items in the Negeri Sembilan Royal Regalia are eight yellow-fringed
umbrella, eight tassled lances, eight long sabres and eight 'tonggol' bearing
the state's royal colours of yellow, black and red.

The Royal Regalia will be at the palace's forecourt for seven days until the ceremony is over. A two-gun salute will be fired to mark this event.

This event will be followed by the Istiadat Bersiram (Royal Bathing
Ceremony) on 25 October, involving Tuanku Muhriz and Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud.

Their Royal Highnesses will be carried from Istana Besar Seri Menanti on the Royal Carriage to the Ceremonial Dais where an eight-gun salute will be fired.

The ceremony will be carried out by Orang Empat Istana (Senior Ceremonial Officers). Their Royal Highnesses will then be escorted back to the Istana Besar Seri Menanti where another eight-gun salute will be fired.

INSTALLATION CEREMONY

The ceremony begins on the morning of 26 October with the arrival of the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) and Tunku Besar Tampin at the palace's forecourt.

After spending the previous night at their respective transitory homes in Seri Menanti, each of the Undang Yang Empat (The Four Ruling Chiefs) will arrive at the palace's compound and spend a short period in a specially constructed pavillion before moving on foot into the palace accompanied by the respective officials as a 15-gun salute is fired.

Of the Four Ruling Chiefs, Undang Luak Sungai Ujong will move from Balai Melintang; Undang Luak Jelebu from Balai Serong; Undang Luak Johol from Balai Bertingkat; and Undang Luak Rembau from Balai Panjang.

At this juncture, the other senior guests will arrive at the palace including either the Raja Muda or Tengku Mahkota reprsentatives of the Malay Rulers as well as the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Pulau Pinang, Melaka, Sabah as well as the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

GUARD OF HONOUR

Once everyone has taken their seats at the forecourt of Istana Besar Seri Menanti, the Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, escorted by Orang Empat Istana will inspect the guard-of-honour.

After this, the guests will take their respective seats in the Throne Room. Then, the Royal Highnesses Yang Dipertuan Besar and Tunku Ampuan Besar will enter the room accompanied by the Orang Empat Istana and Putera Yang Empat (Four Senior Princes) and take their respective places on the throne.
At this juncture, the Datuk Bentara Kanan will request the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan for the ceremony to begin. The former then calls on the Datuk Undang Luak Sungai Ujong, who speaks on behalf of the Undang Yang Empat, to rise and proclaim the installation of the Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.

This will be followed by the shouts "Daulat Tuanku, Daulat Tuanku, Daulat Tuanku".

The Datuk Bentara Kanan will then proclaim that the installation ceremony is completed, and this will be greeted with three more "Daulat Tuanku" calls from those in attendance. The state anthem will then be played and a 32-gun salute fired.

The next segment is the paying of homage by the Undang Yang Empat, followed by the other officials like Datuk Shahbandar Sungai Ujong, Penghulu Luak Tanah Mengandung and Datuk Lembaga Tiang Balai.

The Menteri Besar then makes a congratulatory statement and affirms his loyalty to the Negeri Sembilan Ruler.

Tuanku Muhriz will then deliver his official address after which the State Mufti will recite the doa. Finally Datuk Seri Amar Diraja will make a statement concluding the installation ceremony.

PRECEDED BY A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES

The installation ceremony is preceded by a number of important events, some unique to Negeri Sembilan royal customs and traditions and others common to the Malay Royal Households.

Among them is the requesting of the presence of Undang Yang Empat at the palace, done in person by the Orang Empat Istana. The Malay Rulers including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan of Brunei and Governors of Pulau Pinang, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak are also formally invited.

The invitations are carried out in person by special envoys led by the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti and also involve Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, Tunku Alang Tunku Datuk Seri Iskandar, Tunku Panglima Besar Tunku Abdullah and Tunku Imam Tunku Datuk Seri Mahmud Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, accompanied by the State Secretary, Exco members and Secretary of Dewan Keadilan and Undang Negeri Sembilan.

The installation ceremony of the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan is among the three significant events in the state this year.

Last April 14, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud was formally installed as Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.

On Feb 22, Tunku Besar Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, the most senior of Putera Yang Empat was installed, taking over his father's position.

PROGRAMMES TO MARK THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW YANG DIPERTUAN BESAR OF NEGERI SEMBILAN

Various programmes will be organized in the royal town of Seri Menanti for seven nights beginning 22 until 28 October, to mark the installation of the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.

Among them are the Raja Kita (Our Ruler) exhibition and launch of first day covers of the installation of the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan at Istana Lama, Seri Menanti (24 Oct), a two-day cultural event at Seri Menanti public field (25 - 26 Oct), the Menjunjung Kasih concert at Seri Menanti public field (26 Oct) and Santapan Diraja (royal dinner) at Dewan Banquet, Istana Besar Seri Menanti (27 Oct)

A jamuan rakyat (people's feast) will be held at noon at Sekolah Tuanku Laksamana Nasir, Seri Menanti (28 Oct) followed by the Santapan bersama rakyat (Dinner with the people) at the Kuala Pilah District Council field. Other activities include the cultural carnival and firework display at the Seremban Municipal Council field (30 Oct).

DIRECT DESCENDANT

Tuanku Muhriz was born on 14 January, 1945, and is the only son of Tuanku Munawir Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Tunku Ampuan Durah Tuanku Besar Burhanuddin.

Tuanku Muhriz was named Tunku Laksamana (second in rank amongst the Putera Yang Empat) in 1960 and became Tunku Besar Seri Menanti (the most senior of the Putera Yang Empat) in 1961, a title he held for 47 years.

Brought up in Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz received his education at Sekolah Tuanku Muhammad in Kuala Pilah and Sekolah Tunku Besar Tampin as well as Sekolah Menengah King George V in Seremban.

Tuanku Muhriz attended Aldenham School in the United Kingdom where he completed his O Levels and A Levels. He then studied law at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth where he graduated with the LLB in 1970.

After returning to Malaysia, Tuanku Muhriz began his diverse career which included working in the banking, financial services and advertising sectors.

His Royal Highness has contributed to a variety of charitable causes with particular interest in expanding educational opportunities through membership of the Board of Trustees of the Tinggi Foundation. Tuanku Muhriz was also appointed to the board of a Malaysian-based public company and several companies with foreign interest operating in Malaysia.

Prior to being proclaimed as the 11th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz sat on the board of a regional bank.

Tuanku Muhriz married Tuanku Aishah Rohani on 25 April, 1974 with ceremonies held at Istana Maziah Kuala Terengganu, Istana Lama Seri Menanti and a reception held at Istana Munarah in Seremban.

The royal couple has three princes - Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin, Tunku Zain Al-Abidin and Tunku Alif Hussein Saifuddin Al-Amin.

Credit to BERNAMA for the details of the installation ceremony

NEGERI SEMBILAN

Negeri Sembilan is one of the 13 states that constitutes the Federation of Malaysia and is located on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Originally, the state had nine districts, hence the name Negeri Sembilan or Nine States. Today, however, there are only seven districts comprising Seremban, Port Dickson, Jelebu, Rembau, Tampin, Kuala Pilah and Jempol. Seremban is the capital city of Negeri Sembilan while the royal capital is Seri Menanti in Kuala Pilah.

The aborigines from the Sakai, Semang and Jakun tribes were the original community in Negeri Sembilan before the arrival of the Minangkabau people from West Sumatera in 14th century.
Unlike the monarchs of the other royal Malay states, the ruler of Negeri Sembilan is known as Yang Dipertuan Besar instead of Sultan. The election of the Ruler is also unique whereby he is selected by the council of Undangs who lead the four biggest districts of Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau, making it one of the more democratic monarchies.

Negeri Sembilan is the only state, which practices the tradition of Adat Perpatih - a traditional matrilineal practice and customary law observed among the descendants of the Minangkabau community in Negeri Sembilan.

There are various tourist attractions and places of interests in Negeri Sembilan that appeal to different people. It has one of the most accessible beaches closest to Kuala Lumpur, known as Port Dickson, which is popular with weekenders. From history, food and adventure to nature, there is a little bit of everything for everyone to explore in this state.

GETTING THERE

The capital of the state, Seremban, is only 40km away from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Taxis, buses and car rental services are available from the airport to designated destinations in Negeri Sembilan. Buses and Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Komuter trains also leave frequently from Kuala Lumpur to the town of Seremban.

Useful Contacts
Seremban Immigration Office Tel: 606-762 0000
KLIA Information Tel: 603-8776 2000
KTM Railway Services Tel: 603-2267 1200
Recreational
Forest
For more information, please contact:

Tourism Malaysia Negeri Sembilan,
Tingkat 1, Seremban Plaza, Jalan Dato' Muda Linggi,
70100 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Tel : +606-762 4488
Fax : +606-763 8428
Email : mtpb.negerisembilan@tourism.gov.my