Negri Sembilan's power crisis puts the spotlight on its forgotten women
FOR months, Negri Sembilan had been embroiled in an extraordinary constitutional and adat crisis, pitting the palace, state government and customary chiefs against one another over questions of authority.
Negri Sembilan has been in the midst of a complex constitutional and adat crisis for months. This dispute involves the palace, state government, and customary chiefs, and it center around the Adat Perpatih system, a matrilineal tradition that traces descent through the mother's line and passes ancestral property to women. The crisis has introduced many unfamiliar terms to Malaysians, but one title has received less attention: Ibu Soko.
Despite the focus on male figures in the crisis, the Ibu Soko represents an important role for women in Adat Perpatih, where they have traditionally held influential positions. International Day of the Girl Child serves as a reminder of the contributions women make to families and communities, and the Ibu Soko exemplifies this. Traditionally, the Ibu Soko is a senior woman who knows the genealogy, relationships, and customs of her suku (clan).
Her knowledge helps determine who has the standing to lead within her community. While men occupy many customary leadership positions, the Ibu Soko's role in identifying, supporting, or rejecting candidates is crucial to the lineage that grants customary office. However, the Ibu Soko's role is becoming less understood, as fewer people recognize its importance.
This highlights the often unrecognized work women do in families and communities, which forms the foundation of knowledge and tradition.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
