Seremban: Near but plenty to offer
Go to your nearest Chinese coffee shop and it will probably sell Seremban Siew Pau. But is it really from Seremban? Either way, the thought of it sure sounds good —perhaps you have not tried the original. But enough about moutwatering pastry that is crusty on the outside and gelatinous meat that is rich in flavour on the inside. Let’s talk about Seremban and what it has to offer.
Seremban is supposed to be declared as a capital state on 9 September 2009, however it did not materialise due to irregular rules—what a shame because it has all the infrastructure, amenities, modern transportation, advanced systems for sanitisation, utilities and housing. In many ways, it is just like KL without the skyscrapers, conglomerates and iconic shopping malls. But it is still a cool town nonetheless.
Like many major towns in peninsular Malaysia, Seremban came into existence with the discovery of tin ore. And that brought in Arab, Chinese and Malay immigrants to work on the mines and trade. Initially known as Sungai Ujong, its mining area flourished which also saw many businesses boomed. Revenue increased dramatically due to the introduction of tax system.
So how did the British invasion came about?
The British intervened when there was a dispute between ‘Pembesar’ Dato’ Kelana and Dato’ Shahbandar of Sungai Ujong. Both men wanted to assert influence and authority with the intention to own the rights to collect taxes and monopolise the revenue from the mines. To gain an upperhand, Dato’ Kelana enlisted the help of the Brits with an official invitation.
Inevitably, Dato’ Kelana defeated the forces of Dato’ Bandar who was later sent into exile to Singapore. And to pay back the favour of the Brits, Dato’ Kelana had no choice but to accept a British Resident (Captain Murray) who acted as an adviser to all matters except the Malay customs. In actuality, Captain Murray was the one who secretly controls Seremban and slowly but surely, the Brits colonised Malaysia by using this method primarily.
Seremban has certainly changed a lot these days, especially the nightlife where you could easily find well-decorated clubs and pubs playing the latest dance and hip-hop hits. But its essence remains in the traditional architectures, temples, parks, etc.
Places to visit:
Rumah Minangkabau
The word Minangkabau is derived from the word ‘kerbau’, meaning buffalo. And influence of the buffalo horns can be seen in the architecture with the roof structure being curved upward and multi-tiered. The houses are long and mainly made of wood with floral motifs similar to those of the Minangkabau woven songket textiles.
Jelita Ostrich Farm
Before anything else, ostriches can’t fly. They are a true dinosaur though, as their fossils have been found to date back over 160 million years. Some parts of them are used to produce one of the strongest commercially available leathers in the world. Jelita Ostrich Farm is located only 9km away from Seremban town. And their eggs are delicious.
Jeram Toi Waterfalls
Discovered by the Brits in 1895, Jeram Toi Waterfalls are located about halfway between Seremban and Kuala Kelawang. A little walk is required, but there are stairways and a cemented walkway leading to the 4 waterfalls. They might be crowded during the weekends, but on weekdays, they are secluded. The higher the waterfall lies, the stronger the current is, which makes it unswimmable but provides a great photo op.
Seremban Lake Garden
One of the most picturesque gardens in Malaysia, Seremban Lake Garden is perfect for leisure and recreational activities. Joggers especially will love this place, as the jogging trek is surrounded by indigenous trees and plants. Children too will have a good time, as there are playgrounds available while adults can lounge in the ample benches. The best part is that it is only a stone’s throw away from town.