The Undang Yang Empat (
Negeri Sembilan Malay
Negeri Sembilan Malay ( or ; ; Jawi: بهاس ملايو نڬري سمبيلن) is an Austronesian language spoken mainly in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, including parts of Hulu Langat District in southeastern Selangor, Alor Gajah ...
: ''Undang Nan Ompek'';
Jawi: أوندڠ يڠ امڤت) are the ruling chiefs or territorial chiefs who play an important role in the election of a new
Yang di-Pertuan Besar
In Malay, Yang di-Pertuan Besar or Yamtuan Besar literally ''"He Who Is Made Chief Ruler"'', is a title given to the head of state in parts of the Malay Archipelago.
In Malaysia
* Also known as Yamtuan Besar, it is the title of the elected mon ...
of
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan''), historically spelled as Negri Sembilan, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia which lies on the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, wes ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
. The name is believed to be derived from the
Malay word ''undang-undang'' meaning "law".
The
Minangkabau who settled at
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan''), historically spelled as Negri Sembilan, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia which lies on the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, wes ...
, in present-day
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
at the end of the 17th century ruled by a ''"
penghulu"'' or headman who was chosen from the noble families of Sakai and Jakun belonging to the Biduanda clan. These ''"penghulus"'', notably that of
Sungai Ujong
Seremban (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Somban'') is a city in the Seremban District and the capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. The city's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council, Seremban City Council. ...
,
Jelebu,
Johol
Johol (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Joho'') is a town, a mukim and a state assembly constituency in Kuala Pilah District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is roughly halfway between Tampin and Kuala Pilah, along .
Features
Johol town houses one of th ...
and
Rembau became powerful enough to exalt themselves above the other ''"penghulus"''. These penghulus later acknowledged by the sultan of the old
Johor Empire
The Johor Sultanate ( or ; also called the Sultanate of Johor, Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga, or the Johor Empire) was founded by Sultan of Malacca Mahmud Shah's son, Alauddin Riayat Shah II in 1528.
Prior to being a sultanate of its own righ ...
as a sovereign in their own territory. By the early part of the 18th century, the leaders of these four territories started using the title "Undang" to distinguish themselves from other ''penghulu luak''.
Malaysia's modern day constitution confirms the status of the Undang under Article 71, 160, 181 and the Eight Schedule of Federal Constitution as
Malay Ruler 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''.
History
According to
Ernest Woodford Birch, the Undang Yang Empat trace their history and rank back to the four Batins (Sakai Chiefs) of Johol, Sungei Ujong, Jelebu and Klang, with Rembau later taking the position left vacant by Klang.
Inheritance and titles
The ruling chiefs are selected among the nobility in each ''luak'' (district), following
matrilineal
Matrilineality, at times called matriliny, is the tracing of kinship through the female line. It may also correlate with a social system in which people identify with their matriline, their mother's lineage, and which can involve the inheritan ...
inheritance, part of the state's ''
adat perpatih'' customs.
* The Undang of
Sungai Ujong
Seremban (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Somban'') is a city in the Seremban District and the capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. The city's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council, Seremban City Council. ...
is chosen among the Waris Klana di-Hulu and Waris Klana di-Hilir families of the noble House of Waris Klana and inherits the title ''Dato' Klana Petra''.
* The Undang of
Jelebu is elected among the three noble houses of Waris Ulu Jelebu, Waris Sarin and Waris Kemin, and inherits the title ''Dato' Mendika Menteri Akhirul Zaman''.
* Undangs of
Johol
Johol (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Joho'') is a town, a mukim and a state assembly constituency in Kuala Pilah District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is roughly halfway between Tampin and Kuala Pilah, along .
Features
Johol town houses one of th ...
() are a succession of members of two families in the female line of either Perut Gemencheh or Perut Johol.
The son of the eldest sister of the incumbent is usually the heir. He inherits the title ''Dato' Johan Pahlawan Lela Perkasa Setiawan''.
* The Undang of
Rembau alternates between the two major noble houses in the Luak, namely the Waris Jakun (who on accession inherits the title ''Dato' Lela Maharaja'') and the Waris Jawa (''Dato' Sedia Raja'').
As with the Undang of Johol, the son of the eldest sister of the incumbent is the heir in the family.
Current ruling chiefs
The senior wife of an Undang has the honorific title of ''"To' Puan"'' or ''"Toh Puan".''
Duties
The Undangs carry out duties such as co-head of state, co-head of Islam as state religion, upholding and safeguarding the special position of
Bumiputera in Negeri Sembilan, attending the state opening of the legislative assembly and electing the
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
The Yamtuan Besar (Jawi script, Jawi: ), officially Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan (lit. "He Who Is Made a Great Lord", Jawi: ), is the royal title of the ruler of the states and federal territories of Malaysia, Malaysian state of N ...
, 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 among the princes of Seri Menanti royal family who are:
*
Muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
male
* Malay
* a "lawfully begotten descendant of ".
References
{{reflist
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan