Undang Luak Rembau

REMBAU

BRIEF HISTORY

Rembau, one of the component states of the Negeri Sembilan federation, dates from 1540. Two Minangkabau chiefs, Dato' Laut Dalam and Dato' Lela Balang founded the state. They agreed a pact whereby the headship of the state would alternate between their descendants in the female line. The former was invested with the family title of Dato' Setia Raja, and the latter with that of Dato' Lela Maharaja by the Sultan of Johor. The ruler is styled the Undang Luak, he is selected by the great noble title-holders within the state. An attempt to establish a superior hereditary ruler (Yang di-Pertuan Muda) proved a failure. The northern districts, centred on Tampin, became a new principality, ruled by the family of the Yang di-Pertuan Muda. The southern districts continued under the traditional form of elective head of state and retained the original name of Rembau.

 

STYLES AND TITLES:

The ruler: Yang Teramat Mulia Undang Luak Rembau, i.e. the Undang of Rembau.

Wife of the ruler: Toh Puan.

 

RULES OF SUCCESSION:

The Undang may be selected from one of two great families known as the Waris Jakun (who hold the hereditary title of Dato' Lela Maharaja) and the Waris Jawa (who hold the hereditary title of Dato' Sedia di-Raja). Although officially elected by the great nobles of the state, the office of Undang alternates between the heads of the two houses. Succession to the titles of Dato' Lela Maharaja and Dato' Sedia di-Raja is through the female line. Generally, the son of the eldest sister of the deceased title-holder, succeeds him.

ORDERS AND DECORATIONS:
None, see Negri Sembilan.

GLOSSARY:
See under Malaysia, main page.

SOURCES:Ensiklopedia Sejarah dan Kebudayaan Melayu, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 1995.
R J Wilkinson, Papers on Malay Subjects, Malay History, Part V, Notes on the Negri Sembilan, FMS Government Press, Kuala Lumpur, 1911.

SPECIAL SCKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Dato' Hj. Zulkipli bin Hj. Shamsudin.

 

The Waris Jakun

Datuk Lela Balang, 1^st Dato'Lela Maharaja. m. Datuk Bungkal binti Batin Sekudai. They had issue:

• 1) Datuk Pundong, who left descendants at Kampong Kota ->
• 2) Datuk Makraman, who left descendants at Kampong Chengkau ->
• 3) Datuk Siti, who left descendants at Kampong Gadong ->
• 4) Datuk Lijah, who left descendants at Kampong Tebat Chembong ->
• 5) Dato' Sri Rama, 2^nd Dato'Lela Maharaja - see below.

 

The Waris Jawa

Datuk Laut Dalam, 1^st Dato' Sedia di-Raja, by his wife, Jawa. They had issue:

• 1) Datuk Malidi, who left descendants at Kampong Bukit ->
• 2) Datuk Norimah, who left descendants at Kampong Pulau ->
• 3) Datuk Shamsiah, who left descendants at Kampong Tengah ->
• 4) Siti Hawa. m. Dato' Sri Rama bin Datuk Lela Balang, 2^nd Dato' Lela Maharaja (d. 1555), son of Datuk Lela Balang, 1^st Dato' Lela Maharaja, by his wife, Datuk Bungkal binti Batin Sekudai. She had issue - see below.

 

The Rulers

1540 - 1555 Dato' Sri Rama bin Datuk Lela Balang (Waris Jakun), 2^nd Dato' Lela Maharaja. b. ca. 1516, son of Datuk Lela Balang, 1^st Dato' Lela Maharaja, by his wife, Datuk Bungkal binti Batin Sekudai. m. Siti Hawa binti Datuk Laut Dalam, daughter of Datuk Laut Dalam, 1^st Dato' Sedia di-Raja, by his wife, Jawa. He d. 1555, having had issue:

• 1) Dato' Ombo [Amba] bin Dato Lela Maharaja Si Rama, 2^nd Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 3^rd Dato' Lela Maharaja (s/o Siti Hawa) - see below.
• 2) Other left descendants at Kampong Tanjong ->

 

1555 - 1605 Dato' Ombo [Amba] bin Dato Lela Maharaja Si Rama, 2^nd Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 3^rd Dato' Lela Maharaja, son of Dato' Sri Rama bin Datuk Lela Balang (Waris Jakun), 2^nd Dato' Lela Maharaja, by his wife, Siti Hawa binti Datuk Laut Dalam. Styled 3^rd Dato' Lela Maharaja 1540-1553 and 2^nd Dato' Sedia di-Raja from 1555. He d. 1605.

 

1605 - 1620 Dato' Lenggang [Genggang] (Waris Jakun), Dato' Lela Maharaja. b. ca. 1540.

 

1620 - 1645 Dato' Pandak (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja. He d. February 1645.

 

1645 - 1660 Dato' Uban [Putih Kepala] (Waris Jakun), Dato' Lela Maharaja.

 

1660 - 1690 Dato' Sagah (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja. He d. 1660.

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1690 - 1725 Dato' Kurup (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja.

 

1725 - 1750 Dato' Sabat [Sobok] (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja.

 

1750 - 1790 Dato' Lulinsoh ['Uban] (Waris Jakun), Dato' Lela Maharaja and Undang Luak of Rembau. m. at Malacca, 1757, a Portuguese lady, and had issue:

• 1) Y.A.M. Dato' Kusil bin Dato' Lela Maharaja Uban, Dato' Lela Maharaja and Undang Luak of Rembau - see below.

 

1790 - 1795 Dato' Pekak (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja and Undang Luak of Rembau.

 

1795 - 1812 Y.A.M. Dato' Kusil bin Dato' Lela Maharaja Uban (Waris Jakun), Dato' Lela Maharaja and Undang Luak of Rembau, son of Dato' Uban, Dato' Lela Maharaja and Undang Luak of Rembau.

 

1812 - 1819 Y.A.M. Dato' Bogok [Bahago] (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 12^th Undang of Luak Rembau. He d. 1819 (bur. Kampung Relong, Sekudai).

 

1819 - 1838 Y.A.M. Dato' Nganit [Reneh] (Waris Jakun), Dato' Lela Maharaja.

 

1838 - 1871 Y.A.M. Dato' Akhir (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 15th Undang Luak of Rembau.

 

1871 - 1883 Y.A.M. Dato' Haji Sahil (Waris Jakun), Dato' Lela Maharaja.

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1883 - 1905 Y.A.M. Dato' Sarun bin Saidin (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 16^th Undang Luak of Rembau. He d. 1905 (bur. Kampung Cengkau).

 

1905 - 1922 Y.A.M. Dato' Haji Sulung bin Miah (Waris Jakun), 9^th Dato' Lela Maharaja and 17^th Undang Luak ofRembau. He d. at Kampung Seberang, 1922.

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1922 - 1938 Y.A.M. Dato' Abdu'llah bin Haji Dahan (Waris Jawa), Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 18^th Undang Luak of Rembau, CBE (c 3.6.1933), educ. Malay Coll., Kuala Kangsar. Joined Co-Op. Dept. Mbr. Federal Cncl. 1930-1938. Rcvd: Silver Jubilee (1935) and Coron. (1937) medals. He d. at Rembau, 1938, having had issue, including a son:

• 1) Y.A.M. Dato' Haji Ipap bin 'Abdu'llah, 10^th Dato' Lela Maharaja, 19^th Datuk Undang Luak Rembau - see below.

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1938 - 1962 Y.A.M. Dato' Haji Ipap bin 'Abdu'llah (Waris Jakun), 10^th Dato' Lela Maharaja and 19^th Undang Luak of Rembau, son of Y.A.M. Dato' Abdullah bin Haji Dahan, Dato' Sedia di-Raja (Waris Jawa) and 18^th Undang Luak of Rembau, CBE, educ. Malay Coll., Kuala Kangsar. Elected and installed as the 19^th Undang Luak ofRembau, on the death of his father, 1938. Rcvd: Coron. medal (1953). He d. at Kampung Legong, December 1962.

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1962 - 1998 Y.T.M. Dato' Haji Adnan bin Haji Ma'ah (Waris Jawa), 11^th Dato' Sedia di-Raja and 20^th Undang of Luak Rembau. b. at Kampong Semin, Lubok China, Rembau, 24^th August 1931, educ. Malay Sch., Lubuk China, and the Sultan Idris Teachers Training Coll., Tanjong Malim. Professional school teacher 1951-1962. Elected and installed as the 11^th Dato' Sedia Raja and 20^th Undang of Luak Rembau, 19^th January 1963. Rcvd: DTNS (24.5.1979). m. 25^th August 1955, To' Puan Hajah Rahimah binti Haji Alias. He d. at Kampung Senama, Rembau, 21^stSeptember 1998, having had issue, seven children.

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1999 Y.T.M. Haji Muhamad bin Sharif Othman, Dato' Lela Maharaja, 21^st Undang Luak of Rembau. b. at Kampung Waris Tebat, Chembong Kecil, Rembau, 14^thAugust 1941, only son of Sharif Haji Othman bin Ibrahim, by his wife, Puan Terinah binti Ma'arof, educ. Separi Primary Sch., and Undang Secondary Sch., Rembau. A descendent of the Dato' Lela Maharaja Suku Biduanda, of the waris Nan Dua Carak (Perut Tebat). Employed as Public Technical Ofcr. with the JKR, served at Kuala Kubu Bahru, Rawang, Kuala Selangor, Seremban and Rembau, rtd. 1991, thereafter entered business life becoming Mngr. of various companies including Syarikat Seleksi (M) Sdn. Bhd., Fajar Baru (Rembau) Sdn. Bhd., Panaromic Sdn.Bhd., D.J. Water Sdn. Bhd. and Syarikat Qalam Dinar. Elected as Dato' Shahbandar. Elected and installed as the 21^st Undang Luak of Rembau, 21^st November 1998. Chair. Belia 4B Sepri, Remabau, Farmer's Development Brd., Sepri Unit, and of PKNS Labour Union; Dir. Rembau District Co-op Dvpt. Brd.; Dep. Chair. PIBG Sedia Raja Secondary Sch. and of Khairat Kematian Kampung Sepri; Sec. Tanah Pinggir Sungai Beringin Pedas (RISDA), and of Ulu Sepri Mosque. Rcvd: DTNS (1999). m. To' Puan Hajah Siti Ramalah binti Haji Yunus. He has issue, five sons, and five grandchildren.

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