SEREMBAN, July 30 -- Over the past decade, Aina Mohamed, 33, has watched Negeri Sembilan evolve, with new public facilities, businesses and housing developments changing parts of the state that once felt much quieter.

The Negeri Sembilan native, who lives in Ampangan, said the changes were easy to spot, from the opening of the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) and new commercial areas to the transformation of towns across the state.

"Areas that used to feel neglected are cleaner now. There are more businesses, more facilities and more opportunities," she said.

She pointed to Port Dickson as another example of how much the state has changed.

"There are countless cafes there now, and the waterfront looks so much better than it used to. ...