They came from all walks of life — teachers, Grab drivers, art educators, wellness advisers, social media influencers, journalists, insurance consultants, salesman, retirees, and students of tour guiding.
But they all gathered for one common purpose: to rediscover the soul of Seremban and promote the capital of Negeri Sembilan.
The Seremban Heritage Trail Walking Workshop, conducted by HRD Corp accredited trainer Jasmine Leow last weekend, drew a diverse and passionate crowd.
Organised by the Negeri Sembilan Tourism Board and TAC@N9 (Tourism, Arts & Culture @ Negeri Sembilan), the workshop aimed to turn participants into avid storytellers and heritage interpreters — ambassadors who can bring Seremban’s culture, heritage, and history to life.
Naturally, the tour guides came. But what stood out was how people from so many different backgrounds shared the same curiosity and pride for the city’s past and stories.
Among the first to arrive on Saturday morning was experienced tour guide Danny Ng, who grew up, studied and married in Seremban but now lives in Kuala Lumpur. He showed up almost an hour before the 9.00am start — in true hometown spirit. Initially planning to stay for just half a day, Danny ended up staying for two full days, drawn in by the energy and camaraderie of the group.
“You can call me, Danny boy,” this youthful senior citizen, spotting a head full of white hair, said with an affectionate grin — displaying his enthusiasm, jovialness and generous spirit of sharing that he carried throughout the event.
Then there was Ames Tan, who brought along his elderly parents — Allan and Jenna, both sportingly keeping up with the younger participants. Their presence added warmth and meaning to the workshop — a reminder that heritage is something to be shared across generations.
Such was the enthusiasm that YB Nicole Tan Lee Koon, the ADUN of Bukit Kepayang and head of the Negeri Sembilan Tourism Committee, made a mighty effort to appear at the Bangunan White House to present Certificates of Recognition to all 28 participants at the workshop closing. Despite juggling her jam-packed weekend schedule — including addressing a local water shortage — Nicole made time to celebrate the group’s effort and spirit.
One participant quipped, “She must have heard us loudly shouting ‘Moh Seremban!’ and ‘Moh Negeri Sembilan!’ as we walked down Lorong Seni, the city’s cultural and heritage hub famous for its colourful murals.”
Others joked that perhaps that Nicole could somehow have heard their impromptu sing-along that caught her attention.
The participants broke into “Apa Nak DiKato”, the iconic 1979 hit by Blues Gang that has come to symbolise the humour and identity of Negeri Sembilan.
“That’s one of my favourite songs,” declared tour guide Shamsul Bujang, who, together with Derrick Yong and Jasmine, formed a lively trio to lead the chorus and celebration at Lorong Seni.
Workshop coordinator Jasmine said: “I feel so happy to see everyone so engaged – like one big family going for an outing. And I have to really thank YB Nicole Tan, the Negeri Sembilan Tourism Board and TAC@N9 for their full support. And also, a note of thanks to Syafiq, who gave us all his assistance. The participants were really happy to attend the workshop in such a histroric building as the Bangunan White House.
“I wanted this workshop to be interactive, and it was heartening to watch participants sharing stories, exchanging insights, and learning from one another. My heartfelt thanks to everyone and the five teams — Seremban Voice, Bunga Lado, Raja Melewar, Cili Api, and Luak Minang — for all their energy and teamwork.”
The first day was held indoors at the Bangunan White House, where participants learned techniques in storytelling, presentation, and heritage interpretation.
On the second day, they hit the streets for the Seremban Heritage Trail, covering 15 key landmarks including Istana Hinggap, Wisma Negeri, Lake Garden, Pasar Besar Seremban, Masjid Jamek, Church of Visitation, and Little India.
Team Raja Melewar emerged as best team presenter, while Charles Ooi (best male presenter), Raja Ilya (best female Presenter), and Shamsul Bujang (best joget) received individual awards. The prizes were presented by Juliana Yoong, managing director of Hybrid Holidays Sdn Bhd. Each team took turns presenting with passion, humour, and creativity.
The post-event feedback echoed the sentiment of everyone being a winner. Out of 24 participants, 19 cited these as their key takeaways:
- Learned new skills and techniques as tourist guides and tourism ambassadors.
- Discovered fresh insights about Seremban’s history, culture, and heritage.
- Gained new perspectives on the Seremban Heritage Trail.
- Built networks and friendships within the tourism community.
And the statistics tell the story:
✅ 100% said they would like to join future trails and workshops.
✅ 23 out of 24 said they would definitely recommend the programme to others.
✅ 14 participants reported improved public speaking and storytelling confidence.
In short, the Seremban Heritage Trail Walking Workshop — held on October 11 and 12 — was a resounding success. Participants didn’t just explore Seremban’s heritage; they became part of it.
As the event concluded, one message stood clear: this shouldn’t stop here. The success of Seremban’s workshop has sparked calls for similar programmes across Negeri Sembilan — in Port Dickson, Kuala Pilah, Rembau, Tampin, Jempol, and Jelebu — to help more people discover the stories, pride, and beauty of their own backyard.
After all, as the participants proved with their spirit — when we say “Moh Seremban” and “Moh of Negeri Sembilan”, it’s not just an invitation. It’s a celebration of who we are.
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