Port Dickson or PD

Port Dickson or PD to locals is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. It takes just over an hour by car to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson along the North-South Expressway.

History
This small town used to produce charcoal, but it was later developed as a small port by the British during the Strait Settlement period. Port Dickson was also known as Tanjung. In Malay language that means 'cape'. The oldest shophouses were the four situated presently at Jalan Lama. There was also a carbon mine at the first mile of the coast road (Jalan Pantai), and therefore Port Dickson was also called 'Arang' (charcoal) in the Malay language.

Tin ore was plentiful in Lukut, an area within the Port Dickson district, during the 1820's, and it attracted Chinese immigrant miners. The British considered the area to have great potential as a harbour. It was intended to supersede the port in Pengkalan Kempas. The in-charge officer's name was Dickson, and thereafter the town was named Port Dickson. Others claim that Sir John Frederick Dickson founded Port Dickson and Pulau Arang in 1889.

Port Dickson evolved into a busy trading centre. Railways were constructed to facilitate the growth and development of Port Dickson. Although Port Dickson experienced rapid development, the beautiful beaches are fairly well preserved. Now, Port Dickson has become not only a beautiful tourist destination, but a large municipality with about 89,000 residents.

Recent developments
The 18 km extent of beach from Tanjung Gemuk to Tanjung Tuan is a popular holiday destination for visitors coming as far as those from Kuala Lumpur itself. Many Singaporeans have invested in holiday homes in and around Port Dickson.

Back in the late 1990s, Port Dickson went through a boom of hotels and resorts. Some of these projects never took off the ground and the unfinished construction projects can still be seen along the tourist town. However, today, with the economy improving and tourism booming in Malaysia, the projects are being revived.

Tourism
Port Dickson are among either tourist attraction in Negeri Sembilan. Key factor of this coast visited by many tourists and local people because this is the only beach in Negeri Sembilan. Furthermore, close ranges between Port Dickson and states vicinity such as Malacca and Selangor also contribute to the city development.

Web References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Dickson

نڬري سمبيلن دار الخصوص
Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus

Negeri Sembilan نڬري سمبيلن

Negeri Sembilan (also Negri Sembilan, Jawi: نڬري سمبيلن), meaning 'state of nine' in Malay, is one of the 13 states that consitute the Federation of Malaysia. It is located on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and is bordered in the north by Selangor, in the east by Pahang and in the south by Malacca and Johor.

The name is believed to derive from the nine districts or nagari (now known as luak) settled by the Minangkabau, a people originally from West Sumatra (present-day Indonesia). Minangkabau features are still visible today in traditional architecture and the dialect of Malay spoken.

Unlike the hereditary monarchs of the other royal Malay states, the ruler of Negeri Sembilan is known as Yang di-Pertuan Besar instead of Sultan. The election of the Ruler is also unique whereby he is selected by the council of Undangs who lead the four biggest districts of Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau, making it one of the more democratic monarchy.

The capital of Negeri Sembilan is Seremban. The royal capital is Seri Menanti in Kuala Pilah district. Other important towns are Port Dickson and Nilai.

The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Khusus ('the Special Abode').

The ethnic composition in 2005 was: Minangkabau Malay (497,896 or 54.96%), Chinese (220,141 or 24.3%), Indian (137,588 or 15.18%), Other (50,267 or 5.54%).

History
The Minangkabau from Sumatra settled in Negeri Sembilan in the 15th century under the protection of the Melaka Sultanate, and later under the protection of its successor, the Sultanate of Johor. As Johor weakened in the 18th century, attacks by the Bugis forced the Minangkabaus to seek protection from a prince of their homeland. The Minangkabau ruler, Sultan Abdul Jalil, obliged by sending his near relative, Raja Melewar. Arriving to find that a certain Raja Khatib had already established himself as ruler, Melewar was forced to compromise with the lesser chiefs in order to secure his position. He defeated Raja Khatib with their help, receiving Seri Menanti as his personal domain. The Sultan of Johor, confirmed his position by granting the title Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan (He Who is Highest Lord of the Nine States) in 1773. After Raja Melewar's death, a series of disputes arose over the succession. For a considerable period, the local nobles applied to the Minangkabau ruler in Sumatra for a ruler. However, competing interests supported different candidates, often resulting in instability and civil war.

In 1873, the British intervened militarily in a civil war in Sungai Ujong to preserve British economic interests, and placed the country under the control of a British Resident. Jelebu followed in 1886, and the remaining states in 1895. In 1897, when the Federated Malay States (FMS) was established, Sungai Ujong and Jelebu were reunited to the confederation of small states and the whole, under the old name of the Negeri Sembilan, was placed under a single Resident and became a member of the FMS.

The number of states within Negeri Sembilan has fluctuated over the years, the federation now consists of six states and a number of sub-states under their suzerainty. The former state of Naning was annexed by Malacca, Kelang by Selangor, and Segamat by Johor.

Negeri Sembilan endured Japanese occupation in World War II between 1941 and 1945, and joined the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and became a state of Malaysia in 1963.

Government and Politics

Constitution
The Constitution of Negeri Sembilan came into force on 26 March 1959. It is divided into two sections. The constitution establishes that the state's form of government is constitutional monarchy.

The Ruler
Istana Seri Menanti

The official constitutional title of the Ruler of the state is Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan and he holds office for life. The state's constitution proclaims the Yang di-Pertuan Besar is vested with the Executive Power of the state, is the Head of the Religion of Islam in the state and is the fountain of all honour and dignity for the state. The current Yang di-Pertuan Besar is His Royal Highness Tunku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir. His Royal Highness replaces Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman who passed away on 27 December 2008.

Unlike Malaysia's eight other Royal Malay states, the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan is elected to his office by the territorial chiefs of the state. These chiefs are titled Undang. Only four of the Undangs have the right to vote in the election for the Ruler of the State. They are:

* The Undang of Sungei Ujong
* The Undang of Jelebu
* The Undang of Johol
* The Undang of Rembau

The Undangs themselves cannot stand for election and their choice of ruler is limited to a male Muslim who is Malay and also a 'lawfully begotten descendant of Raja Radin ibni Raja Lenggang'.

State Executive Council / Assembly

* Breakdown of State Seats Representatives elected 2008

The State Executive Council is established by the 1959 constitution. It consists of the Menteri Besar, who is its Chairman, and ten other members. The Menteri Besar and the other members of the council are appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar from the members of the State Assembly. The current Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of the state is YAB Dato' Seri Utama Mohamad Haji Hassan.

Economy
Negeri Sembilan is mainly an agricultural state. However, the establishment of several industrial estates enhanced the manufacturing sector as a major contributor towards the state economy.

Agricultural activity includes rubber and oil palm plantations, livestock, fruit orchards and vegetable farming. About 3,099 square kilometres are used for rubber and oil palm plantations.

Manufacturing activity includes electrical and electronics, textiles, furniture, chemicals, machinery, metalworks and rubber products. The main industrial areas are Senawang, Sungai Gadut, Tuanku Jaafar Industrial Park, Nilai and Tanah Merah in Port Dickson.

Current states and sub-states of Negeri Sembilan
* Jelai (Inas)
* Jelebu
o Jempol
* Johol
o Ulu Muar
* Rembau
o Gunung Pasir
* Sungai Ujong (Sungei Ujong)
o Teraci
* Tampin

Original states of Negeri Sembilan
* Jelai (Inas)
* Jelebu
* Johol
* Kelang (Klang) (now Selangor State)
* Nanaing (Naning) (now mostly in Malacca State)
* Rembau
* Segamat and Pasir Besar (Segamat is now in Johor State and Pasir Besar is in Tampin)
* Sungai Ujong (Sungei Ujong)
* Ulu Pahan (now divided between Jelebu and Pahang State)

Current administrative districts of Negeri Sembilan
* Jelebu
* Jempol
* Kuala Pilah
* Port Dickson
* Rembau
* Seremban
* Tampin

Web References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negeri_Sembilan
http://www.ns.gov.my/