Negri Sembilan assembly meeting awaits royal nod

 

Heritage on show: Ismail (centre) officiating at Perpatih Fest 2026 in Seremban. The three-day festival features demonstrations of traditional luak customs, traditional games, museum and ethnic exhibitions, heritage cuisine and cultural performances. — Bernama

SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government is seeking the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir for the proposed dates of the next State Legislative Assembly meeting.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim said it was scheduled to take place over five days from Nov 26, subject to royal consent.

“We are working to obtain consent, but the plan remains as previously announced, which is to hold a five-day sitting.

“We will see how it goes,” he told reporters after officiating at Perpatih Fest 2026, themed Adat Dijaga, Warisan Terpelihara, here yesterday.

On claims that the state assembly could automatically dissolve if it did not convene by February next year, Ismail said the matter required careful examination of the relevant provisions under the state constitution.

On a separate matter, Ismail said the state’s Adat Perpatih, a matrilineal customary system practised in Negri Sembilan, must be preserved.

He said the customary laws should be systematically documented and preserved through digital technology, academic publications and heritage education to ensure the state’s cultural traditions are passed on to future generations.

He added that safeguarding this heritage was not solely the responsibility of customary institutions and museums, but also required the involvement of communities, educational institutions and government agencies.

“Knowledge of the customs, oral histories and traditional practices must be documented for future generations and made more accessible through interactive exhibitions to help the public better understand this heritage.

“Adat Perpatih is more than a set of inherited customs, as it embodies a philosophy of life that emphasises consensus, consultation, justice and shared responsibility,” he said, Bernama reported.

Ismail said the customary laws and cultural traditions of other communities could also boost the state’s economy by drawing tourists through traditional cuisine, performing arts, handicrafts and local history.

He said the state aimed to strengthen its cultural heritage as a tourism product to attract visitors while creating economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs in conjunction with Visit Negri Sembilan Year 2026. - Star