Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia

The state of Kelantan is known as the ‘cradle of Malay culture’ for having an overwhelming population of Malays (93 percent) and the rest made up of Chinese, Indians and Thai. The Kelantanese have preserved their customs, traditions and cultures well over the years. Some of their most memorable activities are flying giant ‘Wau’ kites and playing ‘Gasing’, a game of spinning tops.

History dates the origin of Kelantan from the ascension of a Thai prince Long Yunus to the throne. The state then went through Thai and British influences before becoming part of Malaysia in 1957. The name ‘Kelantan’ means ‘Land of Lightning’ evident by the many thunderstorms that rock the state each year.

While the economy of Kelantan is based on agriculture such as rice, rubber and tobacco, the state is much more famous for their Malay handicrafts which include ‘Batik’, a silky garment woven with intricate patterns, ‘kain songket’, a cloth made from gold and silver thread, mats, silverware, paintings and wood carvings.

Tourism is a growing industry as more and more people flock to see the rich Malay culture that is inherent in the lifestyles of Kelantan’s people. A trip here will surely absorb you into the knowledge of Malay culture and traditions in Malaysia.

Town & Districts

Negeri Sembilan is divided into five districts; Seremban, Tampin, Port Dickson, Jelebu and Kuala Pilah. The capital town is Seremban while the royal town is Sri Menanti. Major towns include Gemas, Kuala Klawang, Lukut and Rantau.

Geography & Climate

Negeri Sembilan covers a 6,645 sq. km area with some lovely flat plains and valleys in between. Towards the west, the plains taper off to gradually become rubber and oil palm plantations.

The state offers bright sunny days and cool nights the whole year through with occasional showers. Temperatures vary from 23 to 33 degrees Celsius, and humidity is normally above 82.3 percent. As in most equatorial countries, expect rain throughout the year, but do take note that the months of September through November tend to be the wettest.

Economy

Negeri Sembilan is an agricultural state, whose products include oil palm and rubber, livestock, fruit orchards and vegetable farming. About 309,850 hectares of the state's land are oil palm and rubber plantations.

With the establishment of several industrial estates, the manufacturing industry has become a major economic contributor to Negeri Sembilan. Manufacturing activities concentrate on electrical items, machinery, metalworks, textiles, chemicals and rubber industries.The main industrial areas are Senawang, Tuanku Jaafar Industrial Park, Nilai, Sungai Gadut and Tanah Merah in Port Dickson. Negeri Sembilan's industrial areas cover a total of 2015 hectares.