Sembilan

Sembilan is the Malay and Indonesian word for the number nine. It is used in everyday counting and in phrases such as sembilan belas for nineteen. In Malay, numerals are commonly combined with particles or prefixes to form ordinals and other number-related expressions, and sembilan functions as the base cardinal for the digit nine. The term is widely understood across Malay-speaking communities and appears in calendars, measurements, and numerical names.

Negeri Sembilan, meaning “Nine States,” is a state in Malaysia located on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The name is traditionally linked to a historical association of nine districts or luak formed by Minangkabau settlers, though exact origins are a matter of historical interpretation. The state borders Selangor, Melaka, and Pahang and has a coastline along the Strait of Malacca. The capital is Seremban, and the head of state holds the title Yang di-Pertuan Besar within Malaysia’s constitutional framework. Negeri Sembilan is noted for its cultural heritage, including the Minangkabau-influenced adat Pepatih customary law exercised in parts of the state, alongside Adat Perpatih traditions in other areas. The governance and social structure reflect a blend of Malay customary practices and modern parliamentary democracy.

Economically, the state relies on agriculture, industry, and services, with coastal areas such as Port Dickson developing as tourism and resort destinations. The population is predominantly Malay, with significant Chinese and Indian minorities, and languages include Malay and various Chinese dialects, alongside widespread religious practice of Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.