Five-day installation ceremony of 16th Undang Luak of Jelebu gets underway

JELEBU, Aug 21 -- The installation ceremony of Datuk Mendika Menteri Akhirulzaman Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad as the 16th Undang Luak of Jelebu officially commenced today.

The ceremony, which will last for five days, began with a ceremonial bath at Telapak Kampung Kemin, near here today, symbolising the physical and spiritual cleansing of Maarof as the new Undang Luak.

After the ceremony, he was accompanied by the 'Datuk Lembaga Delapan', 'Buapak-Buapak', 'Ibu Soko' dan 'Anak Waris' to carry out the buffalo slaughtering ritual.

Maarof, 62, and wife Tok Puan Mahawa Mohd Som, 61, were then taken around to meet the locals in a special vehicle within a radius of  four kilometres, which included Kampung Kemin and archway of the Balai Undang Luak Jelebu.

Upon arriving at the archway, Maarof and Mahawa were carried down from the special vehicle and thereafter walked for 100 metres to the Balai Undang Luak Jelebu, where they were welcomed by a 'Dikir Arak' musical group, as well as lion dance and Indian traditional dance performances.

Next, they were welcomed by students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Undang Luak Jelebu who lined up on both sides of the road  from the archway to the entrance of the Balai Undang Luak Jelebu.

The ceremony was continued with the 'Haluan Sembah Datuk Lembaga Delapan, Buapak-Buapak, Ibu Soko dan Anak Waris' ceremony led by Datuk Menteri Sah Mangku Alam Raja Sari Ismail Mohd Zin at 11am.

Maarof, in his address at the ceremony, expressed gratitude over his appointment as the 16th Undang Luak of Jelebu, and pledged to carry out his duties with great responsibility and integrity, guided by the Quran, Hadith and the Undang Luak Jelebu customs, as well as the Negeri Sembilan constitution.

The morning ceremony, which ended with a luncheon, was attended by about 500 Jelebu residents.

The afternoon ceremony began with a visit to the tombs of Moyang Salleh, the first Undang Luak of Jelebu, Undang Musa (15th Undang Luak of Jelebu) in Kampung Peradong, Undang Syed Ali  Al-Jufri (11th Undang Luak of Jelebu) and Undang Abu Bakar (14th Undang Luak of Jelebu) in Chenor, as well as Undang Abu Bakar (12th Undang Luak of Jelebu) in Bandar Tinggi, here.

Various events have been planned in conjunction with the installation ceremony, including cultural performances, traditional cooking competitions, beauty pageant, 'ayam serama' show, sports carnival, friendly football match, banquet, and feast.

The installation will end with the lowering of the ceremonial instruments on Aug 25.

Born on Aug 21, 1957, Maarof, the fifth of six siblings, is a former teacher and education officer at the Jelebu District Education Office.

He received his education at the Raja Melewar Teachers' College in Seremban and Open University Malaysia.

Maarof was declared as the 16th Undang Luak of Jelebu at Telapak Kampung Kemin, Kuala Klawang here, on June 26, 2018, witnessed by Datuk-Datuk Lembaga Delapan Luak Jelebu, Buapak, Ibu Soko dan Anak Waris.

The proclamation of Maarof as the 16th Undang Luak of Jelebu was ratified by the Negeri Sembilan Court of Justice and Law on Feb 18 and on April 4, the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir completed the declaration ceremony at Istana Besar Seri Menanti in Kuala Pilah.

Maarof succeeds the 15th Undang Luak of Jelebu Datuk Musa Abdul Wahab, who died on Sept 11, 2014.

Under the Negeri Sembilan royal institution structure, the Four Undang Luaks, namely the Undang Luak of Sungai Ujong, Undang Luak of Jelebu, Undang Luak of Johol and Undang Luak of Rembau as well as the Tunku Besar Tampin have absolute ruling functions in their respective territories.

-- BERNAMA