An Undang is a ruling chief or territorial chief who still play an important role in the state of

Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

. The name is believed to be derived from the

Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...

word ''undang-undang'' meaning "law". The

Minangkabau Minangkabau may refer to: * Minangkabau culture, culture of the Minangkabau people * Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center * Minangkabau Express, an airport rail link service serving Minangkabau International Airport (''see belo ...

who settled at

, in present-day

at the end of the 17th century ruled by a ''"penghulu"'' or headman who was chosen from the noble families of Sakai and Jakun called Biduanda. These ''"penghulus"'', notably that of Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau became powerful enough to exalt themselves above other ''"penghulus"''. These penghulus later acknowledged by the Sultan of the old Johor Empire as a sovereign in their own territory. By the early part of the 18th Century, the leaders of these four territories started calling themselves "Undang". Malaysia's modern day constitution confirms the status of the Undang under Article 71, 160, 181 and Eight Schedule of Federal Constitution as

Malay Ruler The Conference of Rulers (also Council of Rulers or Durbar, ms, Majlis Raja-Raja; Jawi: ) in Malaysia is a council comprising the nine rulers of the Malay states, and the governors or ''Yang di-Pertua Negeri'' of the other four states. It was ...

within the Federation. Undangs are still chosen from amongst certain noble families in the state, the succession being both matrilineal and elective following the ''Adat Purbakala''.

Inheritance and titles

The Ruling Chief are selected among the nobility in each Luak (district), following

matrilineal Matrilineality is the tracing of kinship through the female line. It may also correlate with a social system in which each person is identified with their matriline – their mother's Lineage (anthropology), lineage – and which can in ...

inheritance, part of the state's ''

adat perpatih Adat Perpatih (also known as Lareh Bodi Caniago) are customary laws which originated from the Minangkabau Highlands in Sumatra, Indonesia. It was founded by a Minangkabau leader named Sutan Balun or more famously known as Dato Perpatih Nan Sebata ...

'' customs. :* The Undang of Sungai Ujong is chosen among the Waris Hulu and Waris Hilir families from the noble House of Klana and inherits the title ''Dato' Klana Petra''. :* The Undang of Jelebu is elected among the three noble houses, Waris Ulu Jelebu, Waris Sarin and Waris Kemin. :* Undangs of Johol are a succession of members of two families in the female line which are Perut Gemencheh and Perut Johol. The son of the eldest sister of the incumbent is usually the heir. :* The Undang of Rembau alternates between the two major noble houses in the Luak, namely the Waris Jakun (who inherit the title ''Dato' Lela Maharaja'') and the Waris Jawa (''Dato' Sedia di-Raja''). As with the Undang of Johol, the son of the eldest sister of the incumbent is the heir in the family. The senior wife of an Undang has the honorific title of ''"To' Puan".''

Duties

The Undangs carry out duties such as co-head of state, co-head of Islam as state religion, upholding and safeguarding Bumiputera special position in Negeri Sembilan, attending the state opening of the legislative assembly and electing the

Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Yamtuan, also known officially as Yang di-Pertuan Besar and unofficially as Grand Ruler, is the royal title of the ruler of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. The Grand Ruler of Negeri Sembilan is elected by a council of ruling chiefs in the ...

, who is also the co-head of state of Negeri Sembilan. The Undangs themselves cannot stand for election and their choice of ruler is limited to a male

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

who is Malay and also a "lawfully begotten descendant of Raja Radin ibni Raja Lenggang".

References

{{reflist Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan