Getting to know you: Haslihelmy (left) chatting with a resident in Kampung Felda Chemomoi in Pelangai, Bentong. — Bernama
BENTONG: It may seem a bit unusual, but some locals in Pahang prefer conversing in the Negri Sembilan dialect due to the proximity of their villages to that state.
Villagers in the Pelangai state constituency here also have a strong fondness for dishes like masak lemak cili api, which is synonymous with Negri Sembilan.
Kampung Manchis, Kampung Hayat, Kampung Shafie, Kampung Baris, Kampung Bukit Gajah and Kampung Jawi-Jawi are among the villages a stone’s throw from the Simpang Durian area in Negri Sembilan.
“We are separated only by a state border marker and most traditional villages in Pelangai are just about 10km away from Negri Sembilan. So, most of us are more exposed to their culture, lifestyle and dialect,” said Sufian Mokhtar from Kampung Shafie.
Sufian, 36, said it’s common during celebrations or festive seasons for outsiders to wonder if they are in Pahang or Negri Sembilan.
“How can they not get confused? On the map, (Pelangai is) in Pahang, but the people here use a strong Negri Sembilan dialect, and the dishes are also spicy.
“However, we don’t practise their ‘perpatih’ customs and traditions here. Like myself, I naturally speak in the Negri Sembilan dialect, so whenever I go to another state, people always think I am from Negri Sembilan, even though I have 06 (the state code for Pahang) on my identity card,” he said.
Government pensioner Malik Yob, 60, said that the cultural assimilation started when people from Negri Sembilan migrated to Malay villages here.
“When they moved here, they brought along their culture and dialect, which continued to develop among the children and grandchildren born and raised in Pelangai.
“This is what makes Pelangai special. Some Pahangites speak just like people from Negri Sembilan. And now people converging in Pelangai for the by-election are amazed by this uniqueness,” he said.
The Pelangai constituency has become a focal point for many with the upcoming state by-election.
The poll is being held following the death of former assemblyman Datuk Seri Johari Harun of Barisan Nasional, who was killed in a plane crash in Shah Alam, Selangor, on Aug 17.
The by-election on Oct 7 will see a three-cornered fight between Barisan’s Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, Kasim Samat of Perikatan Nasional, and Independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.
Meanwhile, the Penghulu of Mukim Pelangai Mohamad Firdaus Mat Radzuan said the situation was different in the three Felda settlements in Pelangai, namely Chemomoi, Sungai Kemahal and Sungai Kemasul.
He said these settlements, established in 1971, housed residents or settlers originating from Kedah, Selangor, Melaka and Pahang.
“When they were established, Felda Chemomoi housed people from Melaka, Felda Kemasul brought together settlers from Kedah, and Kemahal is a mix of people from Pahang and Selangor.
“So, while there are Pahang natives who practise the Negri Sembilan culture in the surrounding traditional villages, a majority of Felda residents, like those in Kemasul, including their children born here, still speak in the Kedah dialect, and anything synonymous with the rice bowl state will be available in Kemasul,” he said.
Based on the electoral roll data from the Election Commission, the three Felda settlements have 7,983 voters, constituting 48.5% of the total 16,456 voters in the Pelangai state constituency. — Bernama
