"Loghat" Negeri Sembilan

"Loghat" or dialec that people in Negeri Sembilan is comes from Sumatera. It is because the origin of the dialec is from Minangkabau. The way people in Negeri Sembilan speaks is same with the way people in Minagkabau speaks. No one knows when the "Loghat" or dialec has existed but it is maybe have come from many generation. The "Loghat" is not hard to understand for the outsiders, but tehre are certain words that are hard to understand and it being used by the old people that lived in Negeri Sembilan.

Majlis Kodim

"Majlis Kodim" or known as "Kodim" is ritual to welcome a person that doesnt have any "suku" into a "suku". As we all now, "Adat Perpatih" prioritize women to inherited the heirloom. Unfortunately, there are some family that does not have any child, does not have daughter, and some of the family just have sons. So, they welcomed a person that is woman into a "suku" so that she can inherited the heirloom. 

The Hierachi in "Adat Perpatih"

"Perut" or "Anak Buah"
The smallest socio-politic unit in "Adat Perpatih". Comes from the same bloodlines. They usually lives in the same area and their connections are very close.

 "Buapak"
The leader for each "Perut". Has been elected by the "Perut"

"Lembaga"
Leader for each "suku". Every "suku" will elected one "Lembaga" that called Dato' Lembaga for solving problems regarding customs.

 "Undang"
"Luak" is the distribution of ruling area. There are 4 "Luak Besar" in Negeri Sembilan which is Luak Rembau, Sungai Ujong, Johol and Jelebu. This 4 area is ruled by one "Undang" which was elected by "Lembaga" in their own 'Luak".

Although the 4 "Luak" is the main area, there are the fifth "Luak" which is referred as "Luak Tanah Mengandung" consisting of small "Luak" named as Ulu Muar, Terachi, Inas, Gunung Pasir and Jempol. "Luak Chief" is the one controlling this smaller "Luak" but he does not involved in the process of electing "Yang Dipertuan Besar".

"Yang Dipertuan Besar'
Negeri Sembilan ruler decendant of "Raja Pagar Ruyung". Elected by 4 "Undang" from Rembau, Sungai Ujong, Johol, Jelebu after this committee reach an agreement.

The Bloodlines

Malay society in Negeri Sembilan is classified according to clan or "suku" that are inherited from their ancestors. There are 12 "suku" including Biduanda, Batu Hampar, Mungkal, Sri Lemak, Paya Kumboh, Tiga Nenek, Sri Melenggang, Batu Belang, Tanah Datar, Anak Acheh, Anak Melaka, and Tiga Batu. All of these "suku" were passed down from the mother's side which is the reason that "suku" is also referred as "perut". For example, the man from "suku Sri Lemak", and married with outsider such as Kuala Lumpur and has no connection with "suku", the child of the marriage will end the "suku". This child can marry any women even within his dad's "suku".

The Concept of "Adat Perpatih"

The concept of "Adat Perpatih" is give more priority to the women. The priority for women in "Adat Perpatih" was more likely to inherited their heirloom and bloodline. It is different from other customs that all of the property and bloodlines were inherited by the men. According to "Adat Perpatih", women that pregnant and gave birth their child, so the women will bring the bloodlines to their heirs that is their child. From the aspect of the property, only the heirloom including land and main house inherited by the women. The purpose of the concept is the women will not be ignored when they are divorce with their husband. For example, if the man divorced with her wife, the man must left the house because the house and the land belongs to his wife. However, the properties of the husband and wife is belongs to them and will be divided according to Islamic principal. The positive outcome from the experience o "Adat Perpatih" is the land will not be pawned to other people or sell. In a village, normally consists of relatives because the inherited land was divided from the first generation. On the other word, in a village normally consist of family that comes from one bloodline.

The Origins of "Adat Perpatih"

"Adat Perpatih" comes from the land of Minangkabau, Sumatera, that was founded by the leader in Minang named Sutan Balun that called Dato' Perpatih Nan Sebatang. This customs was the routine and the rule of life that has been fixed for the Minangkabau society that works as farmers. According to Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan, "Adat Perpatih" has existed in Peninsular Malaysia since the 14th Century. It was inherited by Minangkabau. This customs approximately has existed for 3000-4000 years based on the customs similarity with the Polysenia, Microsenia and Melanesia that migrated and bring their customs along with them. For example, Palau peoples, one of the ethnic  that speaks Melayu-Polinesia still inherited all of their property to their daughter and has been protected by their sons, leader of "suku" and their king. In Malaysia, "Adat Perpatih" still exist and it is still praticed by the Melayu society in Negeri Sembilan and part of Melaka especially in Masjid Tanah. The majority of them comes from the generation of Melayu Minangkabau. There is a popular quote saying that "biar mati anak, jangan mati emak" and has been the belief by the Minangkabau.