Negeri Sembilan Eyes Global Edu-tourism Hub Status

SEREMBAN, April 15 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan government is optimistic about elevating the edu-tourism sector as a new driver of the state’s economy and identity in line with Visit Negeri Sembilan 2026.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the state should not be known solely for the scenic beaches of Port Dickson or the popularity of its traditional cuisine, but must boldly rise as a globally respected intellectual hub for Syariah law and Adat Perpatih.

He said the state possesses a unique distinction through the practice of Adat Perpatih, which is harmoniously observed alongside Syariah law in the daily lives of its people.

“We want the state to become a key reference destination for scholars, students and researchers from within and outside the country. Imagine this state as a ‘living laboratory’, where adat (customs) and Syariah are not merely discussed but practised comprehensively in everyday life,” he said.

He was speaking at the National Syariah Judiciary and Legal Convention (KOPKES 2026) themed “Understanding Adat Perpatih: The Privileged Position of Women in Property Ownership”.

He said this strength is a key advantage for the state and holds significant potential to be developed as a knowledge-based tourism product.

Meanwhile, he noted that the organisation of conventions and academic programmes is seen as capable of strengthening Negeri Sembilan’s position as an intellectual reference centre rooted in tradition while keeping pace with modern developments.

He said that as part of efforts to reinforce this aspiration, the state government welcomed the publication of the Jurnal Al-Taqrir, the result of a strategic collaboration between the Negeri Sembilan Syariah Judiciary Department and :Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

“This initiative is a progressive step in documenting the wealth of legal knowledge and Syariah judgments for reference within the academic community,” he said.

He added that the publication demonstrates that the state is not only rich in tradition but also capable of contributing to the advancement of knowledge through contemporary ijtihad approaches.

Meanwhile, Aminuddin said the convention theme, “Understanding Adat Perpatih: The Privileged Position of Women in Property Ownership”, is both significant and timely.

He said the topic not only opens up space for academic discourse but also strengthens public understanding of the unique and distinctive Adat Perpatih social system in the state.

“In the context of property ownership, Adat Perpatih places women as trustees of inherited assets. This is not merely a privilege, but a major responsibility in ensuring the continuity of family institutions and social stability.

“Women in this adat are not only protected, but elevated as the pillar safeguarding the continuity of heritage,” he said.

Aminuddin said from the perspective of Islamic law, Adat Perpatih has never been in conflict with Syariah, but instead complements it in a noble spirit.

He said this principle forms the foundation of harmony between custom and religion, which has long been the strength of Negeri Sembilan.

-- BERNAMA