Sungai Ujong’s History

Seremban, originally known as Sungai Ujong. Sungai Ujong had existed since the 14th century. In the era of Portuguese rule in Melaka, Sungai Ujong has been under the jurisdiction of Sultan Johor rule in 1760. Sungei Ujong acquired its name from the cutting of a Merbau Tua tree incident in Rembau. It was told that the Merbau Tua tree was as big as a village and it took a month for them to cut it down. After the tree was cut down, the treetop fell in a river and it was turned into population area at the area where the treetop was found. That is how Sungai Ujong acquired its name. In its rule before the British came, Sungai Ujong was the biggest and oldest administrative district – spanning of Beranang, Pantai, Rantau, Kelawang, Paroi, Labu, Mantin, Mendun and Linggi. All these districs was administrated by Datuk Kelana Putera Sungai Ujong

 

Sungai Ujong in The ERA of British Rule 

Sungai Ujong, which is known now as Seremban, appeared in the 1870s as do other similar city in this country, and was believed to begin in Rasah and its neighbouring area which was found abundant in resources (tin ore). At the time there were a lot of population migration consisting of Chinese, Arabs and Malays from other areas. Seremban had become not only a tin mining area, but also business centre. People that venture into businesses at that time utilised Sungai Linggi as their main logistic method. Local Malay population in this area was mainly farmers.

In the age of British rule, the English colonizer took the opportunity to interfere with the flames of war, which was kindled by the dispute between Dato’ Kelana and Dato’ Shahbandar on tin ore mining areas. This gave the English chance to place its power within the system by appointing Captain Murray as the first Residence. His residence was built in Jalan Channer (Jalan Dato’ Siamang Gagap). Consequently, a lot of Rasah residences built their home around Jalan Channer area because they felt confident in living within a place which have English rules and regulations, as they saw it as offering confidence and safe.

Subsequently after the incident, a lot of shops being built along Jalan Murray (Jalan Kapitan Tam Yeong), Jalan Pasar and main roads such as Jalan Paul (Jalan Yam Tuan) and Jalan Birch (Jalan Dato’ Bandar Tunggal) in which all these road names were taken from the names of all British Residences at that time.

 

Local Authorities of Seremban

Before the Japanese occupation, the purpose of Unit Penguasa Tempatan Seremban (known as Lembaga Kesihatan - (1897) which was initiated under the Residence’s administration via Warta Kerajaan No. 285 dated 15 September 1899) still limited in the preparation of basic needs only. However, after the 2nd World War, Seremban city have developed vigorously where a lot of changes happen which forced the Lembaga Kesihatan which had limited activity be converted to Lembaga Bandaran via Warta Kerajaan No. 143 dated 12 January 1946 until 1953 when it became upgraded to Majlis Bandaran Seremban. The chairman of Lembaga Bandaran Seremban after the war was an English, LHN Davis whereas the District Officer of Seremban, also cum the Secretary of Lembaga Perbandaran was YM Raja Azman Bin Raja Sir Chulan.

After Negeri Sembilan joined in the Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu in the year 1896, Seremban automatically became administration, business and agriculture centre for Negeri Sembilan. Seremban was estimated at that time (1916) to be populated by as many as 20,000 people – as a lot of shops being built along Jalan Paul, Jalan Birch, Jalan Cameron (Jalan Dato` Lee Fong Yee) and Jalan Setul (Jalan Tun Dr. Ismail).

On 1953, Perlembagaan Lembaga Perbandaran Seremban had been deemed as null by the Kings via Warta Kerajaan No. 262 dated 14 April 1953. Abiding to Section 51 (1) of the Ordinan Pilihanraya Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan 1950, the first Local Government Election had been held in 22 August 1953. The administration of Majlis Perbandaran Seremban at that time were always interchanged in accordance to the political climate in the Seremban city. Seremban city had been divided into 4 election areas, which are the area of Temiang, Lake, Rahang and Lobak. These are the list of the Chairman/President of Majlis Perbandaran Seremban starting from the year 1953 - 22 July 1965. On the 23 July 1965, the administration of Majlis Perbandaran Seremban had been taken over by YAB. Dato' Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan.

 

Seremban and Nilai in The New Era

Seremban and Nilai now has been embarking in a huge evolution via the development of industry, housing, transport and tourism. Effective policies that were initiated by the State Government causes these two cities to continuously develop in accordance to the motto of the government, which is ‘Bersih, Muafakat dan Sejahtera’.

On 1 Januari 2020 will officially combine Majlis Perbandaran Seremban and Majlis Perbandaran Nilai to form a single entity which is Majlis Bandaraya Seremban. This merge and the status upgrade signify a transformation of Seremban to a Metropolis City that is important in the economic development of Malaysia. This upgrade have shown that Seremban now can compete among all cities globally towards a sustainable development.

The merge and upgrade efforts has begun since 2008, which was a brainchild of YB Dato’ Seri Mohamad bin Hj Hasan , the Ex- Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, and the baton was handed to YAB Dato Seri Aminuddin Harun, the current Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan.

On 12 November 2008, State Government have approved the proposal to merge MPS and MPN as one entity and upgraded itself to Majlis Bandaraya Seremban (MBS).

Apart from that, on 2 February 2009, the MBS upgrade initiative has been approved by the Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia and the Ministers meeting on 20 April 2012 also approved it as such.

This merge and upgrade have been approved and blessed by DYMM Yang Di Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir and on 1 Januari 2020 Seremban has officially become Majlis Bandaraya Seremban.

This glorious history surely will be a good starting point for Seremban’s continuous development by offering the best services to all its populations. Seremban district will also be the focus of investors and visitors from all over the world, shoulder to shoulder with other cities globally.