{
  "id": 1841739,
  "title": "Negeri Sembilan: Apabila periuk mengata kuali hitam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/negeri-sembilan-apabila-periuk-mengata-kuali-hitam-1841739",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/pandangan/2026/08/19/negeri-sembilan-apabila-periuk-mengata-kuali-hitam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The discussion surrounding Negeri Sembilan often sparks romantic declarations about our unique heritage, with some claiming it to be among the oldest democracies in the world. However, upon deeper examination of how everyday life and political stability have been tested recently, one must pause and ask a crucial question: how can we claim to champion democracy when the fate of the entire state can be trapped in episodes of outrage caused by a small minority of the population? To understand the true reality on the ground, we must first confront our real identity. Demographics: Reality contrasts sharply with the elite myth that only 20% of Negeri Sembilan's population belongs to the elite T20 class. Even the largest percentage of our people belong to the B40 and M40 communities—the ordinary working individuals focused on managing living expenses, ensuring quality education for their families, and achieving stable economic progress. In contrast, a small circle of elite within our own people, including some relatives, enjoy a completely different reality. Certain individuals within this group, despite being our own children, live in a bubble of special privileges—luxury vehicles, five-digit salaries, 24-hour security, and government-funded homes—leading entirely separate lives from the daily struggles of other children. However, whenever these privileged children of Negeri Sembilan create political turmoil or challenge institutional boundaries, the entire nation risks being undermined. For common Negeri Sembilan children, it often feels like they are merely small insects being pestered from above, while those considered leaders of this elite act as if they are immune to the law. The loyalty test Under the principles of our Adat Perpatih, Negeri Sembilan has a rich adat structure rooted in the traditions of 12 traditional tribes. The majority of common Negeri Sembilan children belong to these traditional tribes. While the chief adat institution originates specifically from certain descendants in the Biduanda tribe, it is essential to note that not all Biduanda act like rulers of the heavens. In fact, the majority of Biduanda display deep consideration, unwavering loyalty to the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar, and respect for public security. This is clearly demonstrated by the Sungai Ujong, Rembau, and Jelebu Biduanda who have maintained state stability by preserving the constitutional framework. Only the Biduanda of Johol seem to still act in doubt of their loyalty to the Malay Sultan, making their placement in this sensitive balancing act still a mystery. However, a small faction within this lineage appears to persistently defy the Malay Sultan, openly opposing the authorities, and causing prolonged institutional shifts. The true Adat preserves stability The core of Adat Perpatih is not meant to be used as a tool for division or personal gain. Rather, it was created to maintain harmony, consensus, and collective prosperity among the community. True Adat functions like the historical Bukit Putus pathway—providing a safe and enduring route connecting our regions while withstanding the tests of time and weather. If respected properly, it unites the nation. If misused by a small faction for short-term political theater, it becomes an obstacle to the progress of our children. Democracy or hypocritical oligarchy? This brings us back to the main issue. When the fate of an entire state is routinely disturbed by those representing less than 3%—let alone a small minority—of the population, can we honestly classify it as a functioning modern democracy? Furthermore, the hypocrisy evident in the situation raises doubts. Certain veterans, acting in classic, saccharine campaigns, often criticize external intervention while arrogantly claiming to be the exclusive guardians of Adat Perpatih in Jelebu. However, do Negeri Sembilan children know that their own descendants directly originated from the Indonesian exodus around the 1920s before being absorbed into one tribe through an adat process? Where does the legitimacy of the local historical narrative stand in challenging external parties within Adat Perpatih? Therefore, the fatwa issued by a small faction of this lineage claiming to uphold Adat Perpatih seems to have only gained legitimacy from the assimilation process of the 20th generation. No wonder such fatwas lead to various controversies, such as the sudden emergence of a \"jadian\" sultan in Jelebu during modern times, or the Sultans of Malacca trial in Famosa, both openly challenging the elected Malay rulers while the federal authorities merely cowered without taking firm action. Is public administration completely broken? Moving forward: Negeri Sembilan belongs to all of us To whatever praise we give to tradition and heritage, we must manage the future pragmatically. Respecting adat does not mean undermining the desires and interests of the majority of the people. The time has come for us, the children of Negeri Sembilan, to carefully examine the practical elements of this tradition to ensure its modern governance remains harmonious and balanced. Adat Perpatih belongs to all twelve tribes, not just a select few. Negeri Sembilan is not the personal fiefdom of the chief adat; it belongs to all of us.",
  "summary": "Setinggi mana pun penghargaan kepada tradisi dan warisan, kita mesti menguruskan masa depan secara pragmatik.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Negeri Sembilan: Apabila periuk mengata kuali hitam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/negeri-sembilan-apabila-periuk-mengata-kuali-hitam",
        "published": "2026-08-19T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}