Kota Solok

Logo Pemerintah Kota Solok

Kota Solok Merupakan salah satu kota yang berada di Sumatera Barat,Indonesia. Lokasi kota Solok sangat strategis, karena terletak pada persimpangan jalan antar provinsi dan antar kabupaten/kota. Dari arah Selatan jalur lintas dari Provinsi Lampung, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan dan ProvinsiJambi, kota ini merupakan titik persimpangan untuk menuju Kota Padangsebagai ibu kota Provinsi Sumatera Barat yang jaraknya hanya sekitar 64 Km saja. Bila ke arah utara akan menuju Kota Bukittinggi yang berjarak sekitar 71 Km untuk menuju kawasan Sumatera Bagian Utara. Dulunya Kota ini merupakan Ibu kota Kabupaten Solok.

Geografis Kota Solok

Kota Solok terletak pada posisi 0º32" LU - 1º45" LS, 100º27" BT - 101º41" BT dengan luas 57,64 km² (0,14% dari luas Provinsi Sumatera Barat). Wilayah administrasi Kota Solok berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Solok dan Kota Padang. Kota Solok memiliki peran sentral di dalam menunjang perekonomian masyarakat Kota Solok dan Kabupaten Solok pada umumnya. Topografi Kota Solok bervariasi antara dataran dan berbukit dengan ketinggian 390 dpl serta curah hujan rata-rata 184,31 mm kubik per tahun. Terdapat tiga anak sungai yang melintasi Kota Solok, yaitu Sungai Batang Lembang, Sungai Batang Gawan dan Sungai Batang Air Binguang. Suhu udara berkisar dari 26,1 °C sampai 28,9 °C. Dilihat dari jenis tanah, 21,76% tanah di Kota Solok merupakan tanah sawah dan sisanya 78,24% berupa tanah kering.

Batas wilayah

Utara	Kecamatan Nagari Tanjuang Bingkuang, Aripan dan Kuncir Kabupaten Solok
Selatan	Kecamatan Nagari Gaung, Panyakalan, Koto Baru, Selayo Kabupaten Solok, Nagari Muaro Paneh dan Kota Padang
Barat	Kecamatan Nagari Selayo, Koto Sani Kabupaten Solok
Timur	Kecamatan Nagari Saok Laweh, Guguk Sarai dan Kecamatan Gaung Kabupaten Solok

Sejarah

Kota Solok dibentuk berdasarkan Undang-undang Nomor 8 Tahun 1956 tentang Pembentukan Daerah Otonom Kota Kecil dilingkungan Daerah Sumatera Tengah junto Peraturan Menteri Dalam Negeri Nomor 8 Tahun 1970 tentang Pelaksanaan Pemerintah Kotamadya Solok dan Kotamadya Payakumbuh. Kota Solok diresmikan tanggal 16 Desember 1970 oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri yang pada saat itu dijabat oleh Amir Mahmud. Dengan terbentuknya Kotamadya Dati. II Solok maka dikeluarkanlah Surat Keputusan Menteri Dalam Negeri Nomor Pemda 7/9–10-313 tanggal 23 November 1970 mengangkat Drs. Hasan Basri sebagai Pejabat Kepala Daerah yang pertama.

Pelayanan publik Pemerintah Kota Solok mulai secara resmi dibuka pada tanggal 21 Desember 1970 di Kantor Balaikota Solok dan mulai saat itu Pemerintah Kotamadya Solok secara bertahap melaksanakan peningkatan kuantitas dan kualitas sumber daya manusia (SDM) aparatur, bagi kelancaran penyelenggaraan pemerintahan.

Wilayah Kota Solok berasal dari salah satu wilayah adat yaitu Nagari Solok berdasarkan Peraturan Menteri Dalam Negeri Nomor 2 Tahun 1966, ditambah Jorong Laing dari bagian Nagari Guguk Sarai di wilayah Kabupaten Daerah Tingkat II Solok. Dalam usaha penyempurnaan dan kelancaran pelayanan publik di Pemerintahan Daerah Tk. II Kotamadya Solok, maka dikeluarkanlah Surat Keputusan Nomor 21/Desth/Wako/71 tanggal 10 Maret 1971 tentang Pembentukan 13 Resort Administrasi yaitu :

1. Resort Tanah Garam
2. Resort Enam Suku
3. Resort Sinapa Piliang
4. Resort IX Korong
5. Resort Kampai Tabu Karambie (KTK)
6. Resort Aro IV Korong
7. Resort Simpang Rumbio
8. Resort Koto Panjang
9. Resort Pasar Pandan Airmati
10. Resort Laing
11. Resort Tanjung Paku
12. Resort Nan Balimo
13. Resort Kampung Jawa

Berdasarkan Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 13 Tahun 1982 tentang Pembentukan Kecamatan Padang Panjang Timur, Kecamatan Padang Panjang Barat di Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Padang Panjang, Kecamatan Sawahlunto Utara, Kecamatan Sawahlunto Selatan di Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Sawahlunto, Kecamatan Lubuk Sikarah, Kecamatan Tanjung Harapan di Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Solok, Kecamatan Payakumbuh Utara, Kecamatan Payakumbuh Barat dan Kecamatan Payakumbuh Timur di Kotamadya Daerah Tingkat II Payakumbuh Dalam Wilayah Provinsi Daerah Tingkat I Sumatera Barat, maka seluruh Resort Administrasi tersebut menjadi Kelurahan.

@http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Solok

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Agama Sejati

Tahukah Anda apa agama itu? Agama bukan di dalam mengaji, ia bukan di dalam puja, atau ritual apa pun, ia bukan di dalam pemujaan terhadap Tuhan perunggu atau arca batu, ia bukan di dalam kuil-kuil atau gereja-gereja [tempat ibadah], ia bukan di dalam membaca Bhagavad-Gita atau Alkitab [kitab suci], ia bukan di dalam pengulangan sebuah kata keramat atau di dalam mengikuti takhyul lain yang dibuat manusia. Semua itu bukan agama.

Agama adalah rasa kebaikan, cinta yang bagaikan sungai, hidup, bergerak sepanjang zaman. Dalam keadaan itu Anda akan menemukan bahwa akan datang suatu saat yang di situ tidak ada lagi pencarian sama sekali; dan berakhirnya pencarian ini adalah awal dari sesuatu yang sama sekali lain. Mencari Tuhan, kebenaran, rasa baik sepenuhnya — bukan memupuk kebaikan, kerendahan hati, melainkan mencari sesuatu yang berada di luar buatan atau tipuan pikiran, melainkan merasakan adanya sesuatu itu, hidup di dalamnya, menjadi dia — itulah agama sejati. Tetapi Anda hanya dapat melakukannya apabila Anda meninggalkan genangan kolam yang telah Anda gali untuk diri Anda, lalu terjun ke dalam sungai kehidupan. Maka kehidupan mempunyai cara yang mencengangkan untuk memelihara Anda, oleh karena di situ Anda tidak memelihara diri Anda sendiri. Kehidupan membawa Anda ke mana ia suka, karena Anda adalah bagian darinya; maka tidak ada lagi masalah keamanan, masalah apa yang dikatakan atau tidak dikatakan orang, dan itulah keindahan kehidupan.

J Krishnamurti - The Book of Life, 

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Perantau Minang di Malaysia

Tokoh-tokoh Minang dalam pecahan mata uang Dollar, Ringgit, dan Rupiah

Abdul Aziz Ishak, pada tahun 1983 pernah menulis buku berjudul : “Mencari Bako”. Konon buku ini ia tulis karena kebanggaannya sebagai orang keturunan Minang yang banyak mencipta peradaban di kedua belah negeri, Indonesia dan Malaysia. Walau menurut adat Minangkabau yang matrilineal itu, Aziz tak “benar-benar sebagai orang Minang”, namun kegalauannya mencari keluarga ayah (bako dalam istilah Minangkabau), mendorongnya untuk menulis buku setebal 155 halaman. Dalam buku itu diterangkan, bahwa Aziz merupakan generasi kelima keturunan Datuk Jannaton, anggota keluarga Kerajaan Pagaruyung yang meneroka Pulau Pinang di awal abad ke-18. Walau jauh sudah pertautan Aziz dengan ranah Minang, namun rasa keminangannya itu masih perlu ia nukilkan. Dari catatan ini, terungkap pula nama Jamaluddin atau Che Din Kelang, seorang kaya Minangkabau asal Kelang Selangor, yang menikahi emak tua-nya Aishah. Kini keturunan Datuk Jannaton telah menyebar ke serata dunia, dan banyak dari mereka yang “menjadi orang”. Selain Aziz Ishak yang pernah menjabat menteri pertanian Malaysia, saudara tertuanya Yusof Ishak sukses menjadi Presiden Republik Singapura yang pertama.

Kisah lainnya datang dari Rais Yatim, yang saat ini menjabat sebagai menteri komunikasi, informasi, dan kebudayaan Malaysia. Rais lahir dari pasangan Mohammad Yatim dan Siandam asal Palupuh, luhak Agam. Orang tuanya yang berprofesi sebagai pedagang, telah merantau ke Malaysia sejak tahun 1920-an. Dalam sebuah autobiografinya, Rais menulis seluk beluk memasak rendang, masakan Minangkabau yang telah mendunia. Rais mencatat, ada tiga kunci memasak rendang agar terasa nikmat : pertama cukup kelapa dan ramuan, kedua mesti dikacau berterusan, dan ketiga apinya jangan besar. Komentar Rais mengenai rendang, melengkapi pengamatannya tentang adat perpatih yang berhulu di Minangkabau. Ternyata kecintaan Rais akan budaya Minang, bukan sebatas masakannya saja. Gaya rumah yang dibangunnya-pun, mengikuti arsitektur Minang beratapkan gonjong. Seperti banyak perantau Minang lainnya yang sukses berkarya di seantero jagad, Rais juga memiliki sifat demokratis dan egaliter. Selain itu karakter Minang yang melekat pada dirinya adalah, ia orang yang berprinsip, mudah bergaul, tahu dengan ereng dan gendeng, serta alur dan patut.

Keluarga kerajaan Negeri Sembilan, yang berketurunan raja-raja Pagaruyung, banyak pula yang tampil ke muka. Pada tahun 1957, pasca lepasnya negeri-negeri Semenanjung dan Borneo Utara dari penjajahan Inggris, Tuanku Abdul Rahman terpilih sebagai Yang Dipertuan Agung Malaysia pertama. Tidak seperti halnya Rais Yatim dan juga Ishak bersaudara yang mencuat di panggung politik berkat profesionalitas ataupun keilmuannya, pengangkatan Abdul Rahman sebagai ketua Kerajaan Malaysia, lebih dikarenakan kewibawaannya di tengah raja-raja yang lain. Tahta ini merupakan jabatan bergilir, yang diberikan kepada semua raja yang masuk ke dalam persekutuan Malaysia. Setelah Abdul Rahman, Jafar-lah orang Negeri Sembilan berikutnya yang menjabat posisi tesebut. Seperti halnya gambar Mohammad Hatta dalam salah satu pecahan rupiah, dan Yusof Ishak dalam pecahan dollar Singapura, diabadikannya Abdul Rahman pada salah satu pecahan mata uang ringgit, menjadi kebanggaan tersendiri bagi orang-orang Minang. Satu lagi yang mencuat dari keluarga kerajaan Negeri Sembilan adalah Tuanku Tan Sri Abdullah, yang merupakan putra Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Keberhasilannya membangun serikat niaga Melewar Corporation, telah mengantarkannya sebagai salah satu miliarder Malaysia terkemuka.

Rais Yatim menyambut Minangkabau Food Festival di Kuala Lumpur

Muszaphar Shukor, contoh suskes ilmuwan Minang di Malaysia. Angkasawan pertama negeri jiran ini, dalam suatu kunjungannya ke Indonesia mengaku berasal dari Payakumbuh, Sumatera Barat. Walau Payakumbuh merupakan kampung neneknya, namun Muszaphar masih menganggap ranah Minang sebagai asal usulnya. Profesi Muszaphar, sebenarnya adalah seorang dokter ortopedi. Namun perjalanan karirnya, telah mengantarkan ia lepas landas ke luar angkasa. Perjalanannya ke dunia luar itu, masih berkait erat dengan dunia kedokteran yang selama ini ia geluti. Dia bereksperimen mengenai karakteristik dan perkembangan sel-sel kanker hati dan leukimia, serta kristalisasi berbagai protein dan mikroba pada gravitasi rendah. Kepergiannya ke luar angkasa pada Oktober 2007 lalu, tidak hanya membanggakan masyarakat Minangkabau dan Malaysia, namun juga mengangkat harkat dan martabat bangsa Melayu secara keseluruhan.

Perantau lainnya adalah Tahir Jalaluddin. Salah satu dari banyak ulama Minangkabau yang sukses berkarya di Malaysia. Ulama tamatan Al Azhar Kairo ini, merupakan sosok pekerja keras kelahiran Ampek Angkek, Agam. Usahanya dalam menyebarkan paham modernisme kepada masyarakat Islam semenanjung, telah banyak melahirkan ulama-ulama Melayu puritan yang revolusioner. Majalah Al-Iman, merupakan bentuk nyata kontribusi Syeikh Tahir dalam membangun keislaman di Malaysia. Walau cikal bakal kemunculan majalah tersebut ada di Singapura, namun tingginya mobilitas para pembaca Al-Iman, juga turut mempengaruhi proses pembaharuan di Malaysia. Kerasnya Tahir Jalaluddin dalam mendidik, melahirkan seorang lagi politisi Minang yang sukses di Malaysia. Dia adalah Tun Hamdan Syeikh Tahir, yang merupakan putra kandung Syeikh Tahir sendiri. Dalam perjalanannya Hamdan muncul sebagai pendidik Malaysia yang kesohor, dan menjadi pejabat gubernur Pulau Pinang (1989-2001). Kontribusi Hamdan membangun peradaban Malaysia, telah menempatkannya sebagai salah seorang yang sedikit mendapatkan gelar Tun.

Satu lagi nama yang mencuat di Malaysia adalah Ibrahim Anon. Hobi menggambar dan profesinya yang pelukis, telah mengantarkan Ibrahim sebagai kartunis Malaysia kelas wahid. Melalui majalah humor Gila-gila, Ibrahim menciptakan tokoh Ujang. Watak Ujang yang coba disampaikannya dalam visual humor itu, merupakan karakter yang mencerminkan kehidupan sehari-hari masyarakat Malaysia. Ketokohan Ujang, membuat namanya lekat di hati. Walau nama Ibrahim tinggi menjulang, namun ia tak pernah lupa dengan asal usulnya di Minangkabau. Drama televisi “Aku Budak Minang, Atuk dan Aca”, merupakan wujud ketaklupaan Ibrahim kepada ranah tumpah darahnya.

Keluarga Saidi, Adnan beserta adik-adiknya Ahmad dan Amarullah, merupakan keluarga pejuang Malaysia yang selalu dikenang. Dibanding kedua saudaranya, Adnan merupakan prajurit Minang yang cemerlang. Pada tahun 1933 ketika berusia 18 tahun, ia bergabung dalam Resimen Melayu. Setahun kemudian, dia terpilih sebagai anggota terbaik. Dalam pertempuran di Bukit Candu, karir militer Adnan berakhir tragis. Serangan besar-besaran tentara Jepang, telah menewaskannya dan banyak tentara Melayu lainnya. Keberanian Adnan Saidi bersama batalion pertama dan kedua Resimen Melayu dalam mempertahankan Pasir Panjang, menjadi salah satu episode yang kekal dalam lipatan sejarah Malaysia.

Selain nama-nama di atas, masih banyak lagi sosok yang menorehkan tinta emasnya di gelanggang kehidupan jiran Malaysia. Zulhasril Nasir dalam bukunya “Tan Malaka dan Gerakan Kiri Minangkabau” mencatat, setidaknya ada puluhan perantau Minang yang menjadi tokoh pergerakan di Malaysia. Mereka antara lain Ahmad Boestamam, Rashid Maidin, Sutan Jenain, dan Shamsiah Fakeh. Selain itu masih ada nama-nama yang duduk di kursi kementerian seperti Abdul Samad Idris dan Amirsham Abdul Aziz, serta Tan Sri Norma Abbas wanita pertama yang menjabat hakim besar Malaysia. Aznil Nawawi, Azmyl Yunor, dan Aishah yang kesemuanya berprofesi sebagai artis, menambah panjang deretan nama perantau Minang yang sukses di Malaysia.

@http://afandriadya.com/

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Sumatra, Dalam Pandangan Orang Malaysia

Karuan saja bunyi posting Mohd. Am, salah seorang netter asal Malaysia, dalam sebuah forum dunia maya : www.topix.com. Dalam tulisannya, dia mengklaim bahwa Sumatra merupakan bagian dari Malaysia. Pernyataan ini didasarkan atas teritori Kesultanan Johor di abad ke-18, yang meliputi daratan Riau di Sumatra. Dalam konteks Riau pernah menjadi bagian Johor, memang tak ada yang salah. Namun dari judul yang diangkat : Sumatra itu Milik Malaysia, jelas merupakan bentuk provokasi yang jauh dari nilai-nilai ilmiah. Aksi ini tentu memancing banyak komentar dari para netter lainnya. Hingga tulisan ini diturunkan, telah ada 12.921 respons yang masuk ke dalam page diskusi ini. Sepanjang pengamatan saya — yang cukup sering mengunjungi website ini — mungkin posting Mohd. Am inilah yang paling banyak mendapatkan balasan.

Bukan kali pertama situs ini membuat geger masyarakat Indonesia. Sebelumnya seorang netter Malaysia lain, mengubah syair lagu Indonesia Raya dengan nada merendahkan. Merasa terhina, aksi tersebut spontan dibalas netter Indonesia, yang mengacak-acak syair lagu kebangsaan Malaysia : Negaraku. Tidak hanya itu, puluhan demonstran yang tergabung dalam kelompok Bendera, juga melempari Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Jakarta dengan plastik berisi kotoran manusia. Menurut koordinator aksi Adrian Napitupulu, tindakan tersebut perlu dilakukan sebagai bentuk balasan atas klaim dan penghinaan yang dilakukan oleh bangsa Malaysia selama ini.

Mohd. Am sebenarnya bukanlah orang Malaysia pertama yang mendambakan bergabungnya Sumatra dengan Malaysia. Sebelumnya, sudah banyak pula rakyat Malaysia yang menginginkan hal tersebut. Cita-cita itu bahkan tak hanya di kalangan rakyat berderai, namun juga sampai ke tingkat elit pemerintahan Malaysia. Adanya rumor pembangunan jembatan Selat Malaka yang menghubungkan Sumatra dengan Semenanjung, menjadi salah satu bukti keinginan tersebut. Bagi sebagian besar rakyat Malaysia, Sumatra merupakan bagian yang tak bisa dipisahkan. Seperti halnya orang-orang Taiwan menganggap mainland China sebagai induk mereka, begitu pula masyarakat Malaysia memandang Sumatra. Pulau yang dijuluki dengan sebutan Suwarnadwipa itu, merupakan asal nenek moyang bagi 70% warga Melayu-Malaysia.

Rumah khas Minangkabau di Negeri Sembilan

Besarnya frekuensi penerbangan Kuala Lumpur-Padang di awal milenium ini, mencerminkan tingginya gairah warga Malaysia untuk mengunjungi sanak saudara mereka di seberang selat. Tanah Minangkabau, yang menurut penelitian Thomas Stamford Raffles sebagai sumber kearifan dunia Melayu, merupakan salah satu tempat yang paling sering dikunjungi oleh wisatawan Malaysia saat ini. Sebuah biro perjalanan lokal mencatat, sebanyak 3.500 turis asal Malaysia datang mengunjungi Sumatra Barat (Sumbar) setiap minggunya. Roslina, sebut saja begitu, adalah salah seorang warga Malaysia yang acap menyambangi Sumbar. Walau tergolong renta, namun hal itu tak menghalanginya untuk kembali datang ke luhak nan tigo — sebutan untuk dataran tinggi Minangkabau yang menjadi tempat asal sebagian orang Malaysia. Menurutnya, kunjungan kali ini bertujuan untuk mencari sanak keluarga yang telah terpisah sejak puluhan tahun lampau. Hampir setiap bulan, ada puluhan Roslina lainnya yang datang mengunjungi Sumbar untuk mencari belahan famili mereka.

Minangkabau dan Malaysia memang memiliki keterikatan yang cukup kuat. Selain faktor sejarah dan politik, budaya nasional Malaysia-pun banyak menyerap unsur-unsur Minangkabau. Seperti sistem adat perpatih, seni bela diri pencak silat, hingga cara pengolahan kuliner. Kuatnya keterikatan Malaysia dengan Sumatra Barat, bisa terlihat dari besarnya bantuan pemerintah Malaysia kepada Pemda Sumbar. Mulai dari pembangunan infrastruktur, bantuan gempa 2009, hingga pemugaran Istana Basa Pagaruyung. Bahkan Rais Yatim, Menteri Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan Malaysia yang urang awak itu, menyokong diadakannya event tahunan Minangkabau Food Festival di Kuala Lumpur.

Sejarah Malaysia dan Sumatra

Di tilik secara historis, antara Sumatra dan Semenanjung memiliki kebersamaan politik yang cukup panjang. Pada abad ke-8 hingga 12, keduanya berada di bawah kekuasaan Sriwijaya yang berpusat di Palembang. Ketika itu, kekuatan politik-ekonomi Sumatra menguasai hampir seluruh daratan Asia Tenggara, mulai dari Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Kamboja, Thai, Vietnam, hingga Semenanjung Melayu. Dominasi Sriwijaya juga turut berperan dalam menyebarkan kebudayaan dan Bahasa Melayu ke seluruh Nusantara. Di penghujung abad ke-14, imperium ini mendapatkan serangan dari pasukan Majapahit. Putra mahkota kerajaan : Parameswara, berhasil melarikan diri ke Tumasik sebelum akhirnya berlabuh di kampung Malaka. Disini, atas bantuan Orang Laut, sang pangeran mendirikan Kerajaan Malaka. Berdirinya Malaka, mendorong terjadinya eksodus orang-orang Palembang ke Semenanjung. Disana mereka beranak-pinak, dan membawa kebudayaan serta kebiasaan hidup yang telah berlangsung lama.

Runtuhnya Imperium Sriwijaya, dilanjutkan oleh Kerajaan Pagaruyung yang berpusat di Minangkabau. Pada abad pertengahan, Pagaruyung merupakan salah satu kerajaan makmur di Nusantara. Kekayaannya disokong oleh hasil alam serta jaringan perdagangan yang cukup luas. Sejak abad ke-11, para saudagar Minang telah membangun koloni dagang mereka di sepanjang pantai barat Sumatra dan kedua belah sisi selat. Terbentuknya Negeri Sembilan, merupakan kerja besar para perantau Minang yang meneruka dan berniaga di wilayah tersebut. Tidak hanya itu, mereka juga berkontribusi dalam pembukaan Pulau Pinang serta beberapa areal hutan di wilayah Selangor. Kesultanan Johor-pun sempat dipimpin oleh seorang pengelana Minang, sebelum akhirnya diambil alih orang-orang Bugis-Makassar.

Pada masa pembentukan negara Malaysia modern, orang Minangkabau kembali memainkan peran. Yakni dengan diangkatnya Tuanku Abdul Rahman, salah seorang keturunan raja Pagaruyung, sebagai Yang Dipertuan Agung pertama Malaysia. Konon kabarnya, beliau pernah meminjam emas kepada ahli waris Pagaruyung, untuk mengisi pundi-pundi negara yang baru itu. Menurut berita yang dilansir koran Kontan, pinjaman tersebut bernilai cukup besar. Jika dikonversi dengan kurs saat ini, mungkin setara dengan Rp 350 triliun. Entah benar entah tidak, sampai hari ini belum ada pernyataan resmi dari kedua belah pihak terkait dengan isu tersebut.

Selain orang-orang Palembang dan Minangkabau, etnis Aceh-pun dianggap sebagai nenek moyang bangsa Malaysia. Menurut La Grand Encyclopedie, pada abad ke-16 Aceh telah meluaskan pengaruhnya ke seluruh utara Sumatra dan Semenanjung. Politik ekspansif ini, juga diikuti dengan perpindahan penduduk Aceh ke pantai barat Sumatra serta Semenanjung Malaysia. Kedah dan Perak, dua negara bagian di utara Malaysia, merupakan tempat dimana banyak dijumpai masyarakat keturunan Aceh. Selama masa pemerintahan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636), kontribusi Aceh atas negeri-negeri Melayu cukuplah besar. Berkat jasa beliau dan anak keturunannya, kebudayaan Melayu dipelihara dan dikembangkan. Kini warisan budaya yang dirawat bangsa Aceh sejak abad ke-17 itu, hendak diminta “paksa” oleh pemerintah Malaysia. Hal ini demi mewujudkan visi Malaysia 2020, sebagai pusat peradaban Melayu sedunia.

Bukan seperti yang diteriakkan oleh Mohd. Am beserta kroni-kroninya, fakta sejarah di atas jelas memperlihatkan betapa besarnya pengaruh Sumatra atas keberadaan Malaysia saat ini. Dan berkaca dari realita tersebut, perlu pula dipertimbangkan untuk membuat slogan Malaysia yang baru : “Malaysia is replica of Sumatra“. Hal ini mungkin sebagai langkah awal, untuk mewujudkan Sumatra-Malaysia bersatu.

Sumber peta : http://www.wikipedia.org

@http://afandriadya.com/ 

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Suporter Malaysia Hina Indonesia, Masyarakat Minang Geram

Lembaga Kerapatan Adat Alam Minangkabau (LKAAM) Sumatera Barat mengecam terhadap ulah suporter Malaysia dalam piala AFF yang telah menghina nama Indonesia.

Ketua LKAAM Sumbar Sayuti Dt Rajo Pangulu di Padang, Jumat menyatakan, tindakan suporter Malaysia yang menghina Indonesia tersebut harus diusut, dan pihak pemerintah harus menyurati pemerintah Malaysia untuk melakukan pengusutan tersebut.

"Kita dari LKAAM melihat video tersebut, dan mengecam atas tindakan yang dilakukan suporter itu, namun kita juga yakin tindakan tersebut ada yang menyusupi, sebab itu harus ada tindak lanjut dari pemerintah kita, untuk meminta pihak pemerintah Malaysia melakukan pengusutan kasusu itu," kata Sayuti.

Dia menambahkan, masyarakat Malaysia dan Minangkabau itu sebenarnya bersaudara, namun dengan penghinaan terhadap negara ini, yang dilakukan oleh sekelompok orang dapat memperuncing hubungan saudara antara masyarakat Minangkangkabau dan Indonsesia secara umum dengan Malaysia.

Hal tersebut dinyatakan ketua LKAAM Sumbar tersebut terkait video yang ada di jejaring sosial Youtube, dimana terlihat adanya suporter menyanyikan lagu yang menghina nama Indonesia, yang diunduh pada 27 November 2012, berdurasi satu menit 48 detik, dan video tersebut hingga saat ini telah dilihat oleh 104,530 orang.

"Sikap tersebut sepatutnya tidak perlu dilakukan, sebab sebagai bangsa serumpun dan tetangga seharusnya saling menghargai," ujarnya.

Ia menjelaskan, sebagai bangsa kita patut tersinggung atas peristiwa penghinaan ini, sebab itu pemerintah Indonesia perlu membuat nota protes terhadapa pemerintah Malaysia atas penghinaan tersebut.

Terkait penghinaan tersebut, Sayuti juga menjelaskan, seharusnya ivent olahraga yang menjunjung tinggi sportivitas, tidak dirusak dengan hal yang mencederai semangat kebersamaan dan persatuan.

Sehubungan dengan itu, terkait akan adanya pertemuan antara tim sepakbola Inonesia menghadapi Malaysia di penyisihan grup Piala AFF, ia juga mengimbau agar suporter Indonesia memiliki semangat anti kekerasan dan anti rasisme.

"Pendukung timnas Indonesia di Malaysia, semoga tetap tenang dan jangan terpancing karena kasus ini, WNI harus tetap menjaga nama baik bangsa dan negara di mana pun mereka berada, kita serahkan sepenuhnya pada pihak yang berwenang di negara itu, untuk pengusutannya, untuk menjaga hubungan baik kita bertetangga," jelasnya.

@http://www.republika.co.id/

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All About Minangkabau

Minangkabau
Baso Minangkabau باسو مينڠكاباو
Spoken natively in	Indonesia, Malaysia
Region	West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, North Sumatra, Aceh (Indonesia), Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia)
Native speakers	8.5 million  (2011)
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Nuclear Malayo-Polynesian Malayic Malayan Minangkabau
Language codes
ISO 639-2	min
ISO 639-3	Either: min – Minangkabau zmi – Negeri Sembilan Malay

The Minangkabau language (autonym: Baso Minang(kabau); Indonesian: Bahasa Minangkabau) is an Austronesian language, spoken by the Minangkabau of West Sumatra, the western part of Riau, South Aceh Regency, the northern part of Bengkulu and Jambi, also in several cities throughout Indonesia by migrated Minangkabau, who often trade or have a restaurant. The language is also a lingua franca along the western coastal region of the province of North Sumatra, and is even used in parts of Aceh, where the language is called Aneuk Jamee. It is also spoken in some parts of Malaysia, especially Negeri Sembilan.
Due to great grammatical similarities between the Minangkabau language and Malay, there is some controversy regarding the relationship between the two. Some see Minangkabau as a dialect of Malay, while others think of Minangkabau as a proper (Malay) language.

Minangkabau language in Arabic script on Minangkabau royal seal from the 19th century

 

Malaysia

Besides Indonesia, Minangkabau is also spoken in Malaysia, by some descendants of migrants from the Minang-speaking region in Sumatra (Tanah Minang, or Land of the Minang). Significant numbers of the early migrants settled in what is now the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan; this Negeri Sembilan Malay is known as Bahaso Nogori / Baso Nogoghi. More recent immigrants are known as Minang.

Dialects

The Minangkabau language has several dialects, sometimes differing between nearby villages (e.g. separated by a river). The dialects are Rao Mapat Tunggul, Muaro Sungai Lolo, Payakumbuh, Pangkalan-Lubuk Alai, Agam-Tanah Datar, Pancungsoal, Kotobaru, Sungai Bendung Air, and Karanganyar.^[2] In everyday communication between Minangkabau people of different regions, the Agam-Tanah Datar dialect (Baso Padang or Baso Urang Awak "our (people's) language") is often used and has become a kind of standard.

Example sentences

Baso Minangkabau:	Ba'a kaba?
Indonesian/Malay:	Apa kabar? or Bagaimana kabar anda?
English:	How are you?.
Baso Minangkabau:	Lai elok-elok se nyo. Sanak ba'a?
Indonesian/Malay:	Saya baik-baik saja. Bagaimana dengan anda?
English:	I'm very well. How about you?
Baso Minangkabau:	Sia namo sanak?
Indonesian/Malay:	Siapa nama anda?
English:	What is your name?.
Baso Minangkabau:	Namo ambo John
Indonesian/Malay:	Nama saya John
English:	My name is John.
Baso Minangkabau:	Tarimo Kasih
Indonesian/Malay:	Terima Kasih
English:	Thank you.
Baso Minangkabau:	Sadang kayu di rimbo ndak samo tinggi, kok kunun manusia (expression)
Indonesian/Malay:	Sedangkan pohon di hutan tidak sama tinggi, apalagi manusia
English:	Even the trees in the jungle are not all of the same height, let alone the people.
Baso Minangkabau:	Co a koncek baranang co itu inyo (expression)
Indonesian/Malay:	Bagaimana katak berenang seperti itulah dia.
English:	The way a frog swims, the way he does. (doing something without having a goal)
Baso Minangkabau:	Indak buliah mambuang sarok disiko!
Indonesian/Malay:	Tidak boleh membuang sampah di sini!
English:	Do not dump rubbish here!
Baso Minangkabau:	Ijan di pacik! Beko tangan ang kanai api.
Indonesian/Malay:	Jangan disentuh! Nanti tangan kamu terbakar.
English:	Do not touch it! Your hand will be burnt later.

numbers:

Baso Minangkabau:	ciek
Indonesian/Malay:	satu
English:	one.
Baso Minangkabau:	duo
Indonesian/Malay:	dua
English:	two.
Baso Minangkabau:	tigo
Indonesian/Malay:	tiga
English:	three.
Baso Minangkabau:	ampek
Indonesian/Malay:	empat
English:	four.
Baso Minangkabau:	limo
Indonesian/Malay:	lima
English:	five.
Baso Minangkabau:	anam
Indonesian/Malay:	enam
English:	six.
Baso Minangkabau:	tujuah
Indonesian/Malay:	tujuh
English:	seven.
Baso Minangkabau:	salapan
Indonesian/Malay:	delapan
English:	eight.
Baso Minangkabau:	sambilan
Indonesian/Malay:	sembilan
English:	nine.
Baso Minangkabau:	sapuluah
Indonesian/Malay:	sepuluh
English:	ten.
Baso Minangkabau:	sabaleh
Indonesian/Malay:	sebelas
English:	eleven.
Baso Minangkabau:	duo baleh
Indonesian/Malay:	dua belas
English:	twelve.
Baso Minangkabau:	salapan baleh
Indonesian/Malay:	delapan belas
English:	eighteen.
Baso Minangkabau:	duo puluah
Indonesian/Malay:	dua puluh
English:	twenty.
Baso Minangkabau:	saratuih
Indonesian/Malay:	seratus
English:	one hundred.
Baso Minangkabau:	duo ratuih
Indonesian/Malay:	dua ratus
English:	two hundreds.
Baso Minangkabau:	saribu
Indonesian/Malay:	seribu
English:	one thousand.
Baso Minangkabau:	limo ribu
Indonesian/Malay:	lima ribu
English:	five thousands.

Minangkabau

Notable Minangkabau people; from top to bottom: Top row: Adityawarman, Rohana Kudus, Imam Bonjol, Rasuna Said, Haji Agus Salim. Bottom row: Sutan Syahrir, Abdul Muis, Mohammad Hatta, Tan Malaka, Chairil Anwar.
Total population
circa 6 million
Regions with significant populations
Indonesia (2000 census) 5,475,000         West Sumatra 3,747,000         Riau 535,000         North Sumatra 307,000         Jakarta 265,000         West Java 169,000         Jambi 132,000 Malaysia (1981 est.) 300,000
Languages
Minangkabau, Indonesian and Malay.
Religion
Sunni Islam

The Minangkabau ethnic group, also known as Minang (Urang Minang in Minangkabau language), is indigenous to the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra, in Indonesia. Their culture is matrilineal, with property and land passing down from mother to daughter, while religious and political affairs are the responsibility of men (although some women also play important roles in these areas). Today 4 million Minangs live in West Sumatra, while about 3 million more are scattered throughout many Indonesian and Malay peninsular cities and towns.
The Minangkabau are strongly Islamic, but also follow their ethnic traditions, or adat. The Minangkabau adat was derived from animist beliefs before the arrival of Islam, and remnants of animist beliefs still exist even among some practicing Muslims. The present relationship between Islam and adat is described in the saying "tradition [adat] founded upon Islamic law, Islamic law founded upon the Qur'an" (adat basandi syara', syara' basandi Kitabullah).
Their West Sumatran homelands were the location of the Padri War from 1821 to 1837.

Etymology

Main article: Minangkabau (legend)

The name Minangkabau is thought to be a conjunction of two words, minang ("victorious") and kabau ("buffalo"). There is a legend that the name is derived from a territorial dispute between the Minangkabau and a neighbouring prince. To avoid a battle, the local people proposed a fight to the death between two water buffalo to settle the dispute. The prince agreed and produced the largest, meanest, most aggressive buffalo. The Minangkabau produced a hungry baby buffalo with its small horns ground to be as sharp as knives. Seeing the adult buffalo across the field, the baby ran forward, hoping for milk. The big buffalo saw no threat in the baby buffalo and paid no attention to it, looking around for a worthy opponent. But when the baby thrust his head under the big bull's belly, looking for an udder, the sharpened horns punctured and killed the bull, and the Minangkabau won the contest and the dispute.
The roofline of traditional houses in West Sumatra, called Rumah Gadang (Minangkabau, "big house"), curve upward from the middle and end in points, in imitation of the water buffalo's upward-curving horns.
The first mention of the name Minangkabau as Minangkabwa, is in the 1365 Majapahit court poem, the Desawarnana (or Nagarakrtagama) composed by Mpu Prapanca.

 

History

A statue believed to be Adityawarman, founder of a Minangkabau kingdom.

People who spoke Austronesian languages first arrived in Sumatra around 500 BC, as part of the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan to Southeast Asia. The Minangkabau language is a member of the Austronesian language family, and is closest to the Malay language, though when the two languages split from a common ancestor and the precise historical relationship between Malay and Minangkabau culture is not known. Until the 20th century the majority of the Sumatran population lived in the highlands. The highlands are well suited for human habitation, with plentiful fresh water, fertile soil, a cool climate, and valuable commodities such as gold and ivory. It is probable that wet rice cultivation evolved in the Minangkabau Highlands long before it appeared in other parts of Sumatra, and predates significant foreign contact.

Flag or marawa of Minangkabau

Adityawarman, a follower of Tantric Buddhism with ties to the Singhasari and Majapahit kingdoms of Java, is believed to have founded a kingdom in the Minangkabau highlands at Pagaruyung and ruled between 1347 and 1375, most likely to control the local gold trade. The establishment of a royal system seems to have involved conflict and violence, eventually leading to a division of villages into one of two systems of tradition, Bodi Caniago and Koto Piliang, the later having overt allegiances to royalty.By the 16th century, the time of the next report after the reign of Adityawarman, royal power had been split into three recognized reigning kings. They were the King of the World (Raja Alam), the King of Adat (Raja Adat), and the King of Religion (Raja Ibadat), and collectively they were known as the Kings of the Three Seats (Rajo Tigo Selo). The Minangkabau kings were charismatic or magical figures who received a percentage of gold mining and trading profits, but did not have much authority over the conduct of village affairs

Tuanku Imam Bonjol, a leader in the Padri War.

In the mid-16th century, the Aceh Sultanate invaded the Minangkabau coast, occupying port outlets in order to acquire gold. It was also around the 16th century that Islam started to be adopted by the Minangkabau. The first contact between the Minangkabau and western nations occurred with the 1529 voyage of Jean Parmentier to Sumatra. The Dutch East India Company first acquired gold at Pariaman in 1651, but later moved south to Padang to avoid interference from the Acehnese occupiers. In 1663 the Dutch agreed to protect and liberate local villages from the Acehnese in return for a trading monopoly, and as a result setup trading posts at Painan and Padang. Until early in the 19th century the Dutch remained content with their coastal trade of gold and produce, and made no attempt to visit the Minangkabau highlands. As a result of conflict in Europe, the British occupied Padang from 1781 to 1784 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, and again from 1795 to 1819 during the Napoleonic Wars.
Late in the 18th century the gold supply which provided the economic base for Minangkabau royalty began to be exhausted. Around the same time other parts of the Minangkabau economy had a period of unparalleled expansion as new opportunities for the export of agricultural commodities arose, particularly with coffee which was in very high demand. A civil war started in 1803 with the Padri fundamentalist Islamic group in conflict with the traditional syncretic groups, elite families and Pagaruyung royals. A large part of the Minangkabau royal family were killed by the Padri in 1815. As a result of a treaty with a number of penghulu and representatives of the murdered Minangkabau royal family, Dutch forces made their first attack on a Padri village in April 1821 The first phase of the war ended in 1825 when the Dutch signed an agreement with the Padri leader Tuanku Imam Bonjol to halt hostilities, allowing them to redeploy their forces to fight the Java War. When fighting resumed in 1832, the reinforced Dutch troops were able to more effectively attack the Padri. The main center of resistance was captured in 1837, Tuanku Imam Bonjol was captured and exiled soon after, and by the end of the next year the war was effectively over.

Minangkabau chiefs, picture taken between 1910 and 1930

With the Minangkabau territories now under the control of the Dutch, transportation systems were improved and economic exploitation was intensified. New forms of education were introduced, allowing some Minangkabau to take advantage of a modern education system. The 20th century marked a rise and cultural and political nationalism, culminating in the demand for Indonesian independence. Later rebellions against the Dutch occupation occurred such as the 1908 Anti-Tax Rebellion and the 1927 Communist Uprising. During World War II the Minangkabau territories were occupied by the Japanese, and when the Japanese surrendered in August 1945 Indonesia proclaimed independence. The Dutch attempts to regain control of the area were ultimately unsuccessful and in 1949 the Minangkabau territories became part of Indonesia as the province of Central Sumatra.
In February 1958, dissatisfaction with the centralist and communist-leaning policies of the Sukarno administration triggered a revolt which was centered in the Minangkabau region of Sumatra, with rebels proclaiming the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) in Bukittinggi. The Indonesian military invaded West Sumatra in April 1958 and had recaptured major towns within the next month. A period of guerrilla warfare ensued, but most rebels had surrendered by August 1961. In the years following, West Sumatra was like an occupied territory with Javanese officials occupying most senior civilian, military and police positions The policies of centralization continued under the Suharto regime. The national government legislated to apply the Javanese desa village system throughout Indonesia, and in 1983 the traditional Minangkabau nagari village units were split into smaller jorong units, thereby destroying the traditional village social and cultural institutions. In the years following the downfall of the Suharto regime decentralization policies were implemented, giving more autonomy to provinces, thereby allowing West Sumatra to reinstitute the nagari system.

 

Historiography

The village of Pariangan, located on the slopes of Mount Marapi, is in folklore said to be the first Minangkabau village.

The traditional historiography or tambo of the Minangkabau tells of the development of the Minangkabau World (alam Minangkabau) and its adat. These stories are derived from an oral history which was transmitted between generations before the Minangkabau had a written language. The first Minangkabau are said to have arrived by ship and landed on Mount Marapi when it was no bigger than the size of an egg, which protruded from a surrounding body of water. After the waters receded the Minangkabau proliferated and dispersed to the slopes and valleys surrounding the volcano, a region called the darek. The darek is composed of three luhak - Limapuluh Koto, Tanah Datar and Agam. The tambo claims the ship was sailed by a descendant of Alexander the Great (Iskandar Zulkarnain).
A division in Minangkabau adat into two systems is said to be the result of conflict between two half-brothers Datuk Ketemanggungan and Datuk Perpatih nan Sabatang, who were the leaders who formulated the foundations of Minangkabau adat. The former accepted Adityawarman, a prince from Majapahit, as a king while the latter considered him a minister, and a civil war ensued. The Bodi Caniago system formulated by Datuk Perpatih nan Sabatang is based upon egalitarian principles with all panghulu (clan chiefs) being equal while the Koto Piliang system is more autocratic with there being a hierarchy of panghulu. Each village (nagari) in the darek was an autonomous "republic", and governed independently of the Minangkabau kings using one of the two adat systems. After the darek was settled, new outside settlements were created and ruled using the Koto Piliang system by rajas who were representatives of the king.

 

Culture

Minangkabau people in traditional Minang costumes

 

 

Girls clad in traditional Minang costumes

 

 

Minangkabau have large corporate descent groups, but they traditionally reckon descent matrilineally. A young boy, for instance, has his primary responsibility to his mother's and sisters' clans. It is considered "customary" and ideal for married sisters to remain in their parental home, with their husbands having a sort of visiting status. Not everyone lives up to this ideal, however. In the 1990s, anthropologist Evelyn Blackwood studied a relatively conservative village in Sumatera Barat where only about 22 percent of the households were "matrihouses", consisting of a mother and a married daughter or daughters. Nonetheless, there is a shared ideal among Minangkabau in which sisters and unmarried lineage members try to live close to one another or even in the same house
Landholding is one of the crucial functions of the suku (female lineage unit). Because Minangkabau men, like Acehnese men, often migrate to seek experience, wealth, and commercial success, the women's kin group is responsible for maintaining the continuity of the family and the distribution and cultivation of the land.These family groups, however, are typically led by a penghulu (headman), elected by groups of lineage leaders.With the agrarian base of the Minangkabau economy in decline, the suku—as a landholding unit—has also been declining somewhat in importance, especially in urban areas.Indeed, the position of penghulu is not always filled after the death of the incumbent, particularly if lineage members are not willing to bear the expense of the ceremony required to install a new penghulu.
The Minangs are the world's largest matrilineal society; properties such as land and houses are inherited through female lineage. Some scholars argue that this might have caused the diaspora (Minangkabau, "merantau") of Minangkabau males throughout the Maritime Southeast Asia to become scholars or to seek fortune as merchants. As early as the age of 7, boys traditionally leave their homes and live in a surau (a prayer house and community centre) to learn religious and cultural (adat) teachings. When they are teenagers, they are encouraged to leave their hometown to learn from schools or from experiences out of their hometown so that when they are adults they can return home wise and 'useful' for the society and can contribute their thinking and experience to run the family or nagari (hometown) when they sit as the member of 'council of uncles'. This tradition has created Minang communities in many Indonesian cities and towns, which nevertheless are still tied closely to their homeland; a state in Malaysia named Negeri Sembilan is heavily influenced by Minang culture because Negeri Sembilan was originally Minangkabau's territory.^{[citation needed]}
The traditions of sharia—in which inheritance laws favor males— and indigenous female-oriented adat are often depicted as conflicting forces in Minangkabau society. The male-oriented sharia appears to offer young men something of a balance against the dominance of law in local villages, which forces a young man to wait passively for a marriage proposal from some young woman's family. By acquiring property and education through merantau experience, a young man can attempt to influence his own destiny in positive ways.
Increasingly, married couples go off on merantau; in such situations, the woman's role tends to change.When married couples reside in urban areas or outside the Minangkabau region, women lose some of their social and economic rights in property. One apparent consequence is an increased likelihood of divorce.
Minangkabau were prominent among the intellectual figures in the Indonesian independence movement.Not only were they strongly Islamic, they spoke a language closely related to Bahasa Indonesia, which was considerably freer of hierarchical connotations than Javanese. Partly because of their tradition of merantau, Minangkabau developed a cosmopolitan bourgeoisie that readily adopted and promoted the ideas of an emerging nation-state.
Due to their culture that stresses the importance of learning, Minang people are over-represented in the educated professions in Indonesia, with many ministers from Minang. The first female minister was a Minang scholar.
In addition to being renowned as merchants, the Minangs have produced some of Indonesia's most influential poets, writers, statesmen, scholars, and religious scholars. Being fervent Muslims, many of them embraced the idea of incorporating Islamic ideals into modern society. Furthermore, the presence of these intellectuals combined with the people's basically proud character, made the Minangkabau homeland (the province of West Sumatra) one of the powerhouses in the Indonesian struggle for independence.^{[citation needed]}

 

Ceremonies and festivals

Tabuik ceremony.

 

Women carrying platters of food to a ceremony

 

Rakik Lampion in 

 

Maninjau Lake

Minangkabau ceremonies and festivals include:

• Turun mandi - baby blessing ceremony
• Sunat rasul - circumcision ceremony
• Baralek - wedding ceremony
• Batagak pangulu - clan leader inauguration ceremony. Other clan leaders, all relatives in the same clan and all villagers in the region are invited. The ceremony lasts for seven days or more.
• Turun ka sawah - community work ceremony
• Manyabik - harvesting ceremony
• Hari Rayo - Islamic festivals
• Adoption ceremony
• Adat ceremony
• Funeral ceremony
• Wild boar hunt ceremony
• Maanta pabukoan - sending food to mother-in-law for Ramadhan
• Tabuik - Muslim celebration in the coastal village of Pariaman
• Tanah Ta Sirah, inaugurate a new clan leader (Datuk) when the old one died in the few hours (no need to proceed batagak pangulu, but the clan must invite all clan leader in the region).
• Mambangkik Batang Tarandam, inaugurate a new leader (Datuk) when the old one died in the pass 10 or 50 years and even more, must do the Batagak Pangulu.

 

Performing arts

Saluang performance

Traditional Minangkabau music includes saluang jo dendang which consists of singing to the accompaniment of a saluang bamboo flute, and talempong gong-chime music. Dances include the tari piring (plate dance), tari payung (umbrella dance) and tari indang. Demonstrations of the silat martial art are performed. Pidato adat are ceremonial orations performed at formal occasions.
Randai is a folk theater tradition which incorporates music, singing, dance, drama and the silat martial art. Randai is usually performed for traditional ceremonies and festivals, and complex stories may span a number of nightsIt is performed as a theatre-in-the-round to achieve an equality and unity between audience members and the performers Randai performances are a synthesis of alternating martial arts dances, songs, and acted scenes. Stories are delivered by the acting and singing and are mostly based upon Minangkabau legends and folktales. Randai originated early in the 20th century out of fusion of local martial arts, storytelling and other performance traditions.Men originally played male and female characters in the story but, since the 1960s, women have participated.

 

Crafts

Minangkabau songket, the pattern in the lower third representing bamboo sprouts

 

 

West Sumatra grand mosque with Minangkabau-modern style.

Particular Minangkabau villages specialize in cottage industries producing handicrafts such as woven sugarcane and reed purses, gold and silver jewellery using filigree and granulation techniques, woven songket textiles, wood carving, embroidery, pottery, and metallurgy.

 

Cuisine

Rendang

The staple ingredients of the Minangkabau diet are rice, fish, coconut, green leafy vegetables and chili. Meat is mainly limited to special occasions, and beef and chicken are most commonly used. Pork is not halal and not consumed, while lamb, goat and game are rarely consumed for reasons of taste and availability. Spiciness is a characteristic of Minangkabau food: The most commonly used herbs and spices are chili, turmeric, ginger and galangal. Vegetables are consumed two or three times a day. Fruits are mainly seasonal, although fruits such as banana, papaya and citrus are continually available.
Three meals a day are typical with lunch being the most important, except during the fasting month of Ramadan when lunch is not eaten. Meals commonly consist of steamed rice, a hot fried dish and a coconut milk dish, with a little variation from breakfast to dinner.Meals are generally eaten from a plate using the fingers of the right hand.^{[citation needed]} Snacks are more frequently eaten by people in urban areas than in villages. Western food has had little impact upon Minangkabau consumption and preference.
Rendang is a dish which is considered to be a characteristic of Minangkabau culture; it is cooked 4-5 times a year. Other characteristic dishes include Asam Padeh, Soto Padang, Sate Padang, Dendeng Balado (beef with chili sauce).
Food has a central role in the Minangkabau ceremonies which honor religious and life-cycle rites.
Minangkabau food is popular among Indonesians and restaurants are present throughout Indonesia. Nasi Padang restaurants, named after the capital of West Sumatra, are known for placing a variety of Minangkabau dishes on a customer's tablewith rice and billing only for what is taken. Nasi Kapau is another restaurant variant which specializes in dishes using offal and tamarind to add a sourness to the spicy flavor.

 

Architecture

Rumah gadang in the Pandai Sikek village of West Sumatra, with two rice barns (rangkiang) in front.

Rumah gadang (Minangkabau: 'big house') or rumah bagonjong (Minangkabau: 'spired roof house') are the traditional homes of the Minangkabau. The architecture, construction, internal and external decoration, and the functions of the house reflect the culture and values of the Minangkabau. A rumah gadang serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial activities. The rumah gadang is owned by the women of the family who live there — ownership is passed from mother to daughter.

Tuo Kayu Jao mosque in the Solok Regency of West Sumatra.

The houses have dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tiered, upswept gables. According to Minangkabau tradition, the roof shapes was meant to mimic the horns of buffalo. Shuttered windows are built into walls incised with profuse painted floral carvings. The term rumah gadang usually refers to the larger communal homes, however, smaller single residences share many of its architectural elements.

 

Oral traditions and literature

A Minangkabau bride and groom.

Minangkabau culture has a long history of oral traditions. One is the pidato adat (ceremonial orations) which are performed by panghulu (clan chiefs) at formal occasions such as weddings, funerals, adoption ceremonies, and panghulu inaugurations. These ceremonial orations consist of many forms including pantun, aphorisms (papatah-patitih), proverbs (pameo), religious advice (petuah), parables (tamsia), two-line aphorisms (gurindam), and similes (ibarat).
Minangkabau traditional folktales (kaba) consist of narratives that present the social and personal consequences of either ignoring or observing the ethical teachings and the norms embedded in the adat. The storyteller (tukang kaba) recites the story in poetic or lyrical prose while accompanying himself on a rebab.
A theme in Minangkabau folktales is the central role mothers and motherhood has in Minangkabau society, with the folktales Rancak diLabueh and Malin Kundang being two examples. Rancak diLabueh is about a mother who acts as teacher and adviser to her two growing children. Initially her son is vain and headstrong and only after her perseverance does he become a good son who listens to his mother. Malin Kundang is about the dangers of treating your mother badly. A sailor from a poor family voyages to seek his fortune, becoming rich and marrying. After refusing to recognize his elderly mother on his return home, being ashamed of his humble origins, he is cursed and dies when a storm ensues and turn him along with his ship to stone. The said stone is in Air Manis beach and is known by locals as batu Malin Kundang.
Other popular folktales also relate to the important role of the woman in Minangkabau society. In the Cindua Mato epic the woman is the source of wisdom, while in the Sabai nan Aluih she is more a doer than a thinker. Cindua Mato (Staring Eye) is about the traditions of Minangkabau royalty. The story involves a mythical Minangkabau queen, Bundo Kanduang, who embodies the behaviors prescribed by adat. Cindua Mato, a servant of the queen, uses magic to defeat hostile outside forces and save the kingdom. Sabai nan Aluih (The genteel Sabai) is about a girl named Sabai who avenges the murder of her father by a powerful and evil ruler from a neighboring village. After her father's death, her cowardly elder brother refuses to confront the murderer and so Sabai decides to take matters into her own hands. She seeks out the murderer and shoots him in revenge.^[14]

Language

Main article: Minangkabau language

Location ethnic groups of Sumatra, the Minangkabau is shown in light and dark olive

The Minangkabau language (Baso Minangkabau) is an Austronesian language belonging to the Malayic linguistic subgroup, which in turn belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch. The Minangkabau language is closely related to the Negeri Sembilan Malay language used by the people of Negeri Sembilan, many of which are descendants of Minangkabau immigrants. The language has a number of dialects and sub-dialects, but native Minangkabau speakers generally have no difficulty understanding the variety of dialects. The differences between dialects are mainly at the phonological level, though some lexical differences also exist. Minangkabau dialects are regional, consisting of one or more villages (nagari), and usually correspond to differences in customs and traditions. Each sub-village (jorong) has its own sub-dialect consisting of subtle differences which can be detected by native speakers. The Padang dialect has become the lingua franca for people of different language regions.
The Minangkabau society has a diglossia situation, whereby they use their native language for everyday conversations, while the Indonesian language is used for most formal occasions, in education, and in writing, even to relatives and friends.^[23] The Minangkabau language was originally written using the Jawi script, an adapted Arabic alphabet. Romanization of the language dates from the 19th century, and a standardized official orthography of the language was published in 1976.^[24]

Denominations	ISO 639-3	Population (as of)	Dialects
Minangkabau	min	6,500,000 (1981)	Agam, Pajokumbuh, Tanah, Si Junjung, Batu Sangkar-Pariangan, Singkarak, Orang Mamak, Ulu, Kerinci-Minangkabau, Aneuk Jamee (Jamee), Penghulu.
Source: Gordon (2005).

Despite widespread use of Indonesian, they have their own mother tongue. The Minangkabau language shares many similar words with Malay, yet it has a distinctive pronunciation and some grammatical differences rendering it unintelligible to Malay speakers.

Adat and religion

A Minangkabau mosque circa 1900.

Animism has been an important component of Minangkabau culture. Even after the penetration of Islam into Minangkabau society in the 16th century, animistic beliefs were not extinguished. In this belief system, people were said to have two souls, a real soul and a soul which can disappear called the semangat. Semangat represents the vitality of life and it is said to be possessed by all animals and plants. An illness may be explained as the capture of the semangat by an evil spirit, and a shaman (pawang) may be consulted to conjure invisible forces and bring comfort to the family. Sacrificial offerings can be made to placate the spirits, and certain objects such as amulets are used as protection.
Until the rise of the Padri movement late in the 18th century, Islamic practices such as prayers, fasting and attendance at mosques had been weakly observed in the Minangkabau highlands. The Padri were inspired by the Wahhabi movement in Mecca, and sought to eliminate societal problems such as tobacco and opium smoking, gambling and general anarchy by ensuring the tenets of the Koran were strictly observed. All Minangkabau customs allegedly in conflict with the Koran were to be abolished. Although the Padri were eventually defeated by the Dutch, during this period the relationship between adat and religion was reformulated. Previously adat was said to be based upon appropriateness and propriety, but this was changed so adat was more strongly based upon Islamic precepts.
With the Minangkabau highlands being the heartland of their culture, and with Islam likely entering the region from coast it is said that 'custom descended, religion ascended' (adat manurun, syarak mandaki).

Notable Minangkabau

Mohammad Hatta, Indonesian nationalist and first vice president of Indonesia

See also: List of Minangkabau people

The Minangkabau are known as the educated society and therefore they are spread across Indonesia and even foreign countries in a variety of professions and expertise such as politicians, writers, scholars, teachers, journalists, and businesspeople. Based on a relatively small population, Minangkabau is one of the most successful. Based on Tempo magazine (2000 New Year special edition), six of the top ten most influential Indonesians of the 20th century were Minang. Three out of the four Indonesian founding fathers are Minangkabau people.
Many of Minangkabau people had prominent positions in the Indonesian and Malay nationalism movement. In 1920–1960, the political leader in Indonesian dominated by Minangkabau people, such as Mohammad Hatta a former Indonesian government prime minister and vice president, Agus Salim a former Indonesian government minister, Tan Malaka international communist leader and founder of PARI and Murba, Sutan Sjahrir a former Indonesian government prime minister and founder of Socialist Party of Indonesia, Muhammad Natsir a former Indonesian government prime minister and founder of Masyumi, Assaat a former Indonesian president, and Abdul Halim a former Indonesian government prime minister. While liberal democracy era, Minangkabau politician had dominated of parliament and Indonesian cabinet. They were affiliated to all of the existing factions, Islamist, nationalist, socialist and communist.
Minangkabau writers and journalist made significant contributions to modern Indonesian literature. They are Marah Roesli, Abdul Muis, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Idrus, Hamka, Ali Akbar Navis as authors, Muhammad Yamin, Chairil Anwar, Taufik Ismail as poets, and Djamaluddin Adinegoro, Rosihan Anwar, Ani Idrus as journalist. Most of the prominent Indonesian novels were written by Minangkabau writers and later influenced the development of modern Indonesian language.
There are also significant number of Minangkabau people that were known as celebrity, artist, singer, film director, and producer. They raised to be famous entertainer, such as Usmar Ismail, Arizal, and Asrul Sani as film director, Soekarno M. Noer, Dorce Gamalama, and Nirina Zubir as celebrity.
Nowadays, beside Chinese Indonesian, Minangkabau people have significant contributions in economic activities. Most of Minangkabau businessmen success in hospitality, media, healthcare, and textile trader. Minangkabau businessmen also prominent in traditional restaurant chain that settled in many cities of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The success figure such as Abdul Latief, Basrizal Koto, and Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah.
Minangs had settled outside West Sumatra since 14th century. The Minangkabaus were moved to the state of Negeri Sembilan in the 14th century and began to control local politics. In 1773 Raja Melewar was appointed the first head of state of Negeri Sembilan. People of Minangkabau descent who made significant contributions outside of Indonesia include Yusof bin Ishak, who was the first President of Singapore, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, was the first Supreme Head of State (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) of the Federation of Malaya, Zubir Said, who composed the national anthem of Singapore Majulah Singapura, World War II hero Lieutenant Adnan Bin Saidi, and Ahmad Khatib, the imam (head) of the Shafi'i school of law at the mosque of Mecca (Masjid al-Haram).

Business people

• Abdul Latief, owner of Latief Corporation
• Basrizal Koto, owner of Basko Group
• Chairul Tanjung, owner of Para Group
• Hasnul Suhaimi, CEO of XL Axiata
• Rinaldi Firmansyah, CEO of Telkom Indonesia
• Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah, owner of Melewar Group & MAA (Insurance Company)

Overseas Minangkabau

The Overseas Minangkabau are people of Minang birth or descent who live outside the province of West Sumatra. Over half of the Minangkabau people can be considered overseas Minangkabaus. They make up the majority of the population of Negeri Sembilan (in Malaysia) and Pekanbaru (in Indonesia). They also form a significant minority in the populations of Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Surabaya and Palembang in Indonesia as well as in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, the South Philippines and Pattani, Thailand. The matrilineal culture and economic conditions in West Sumatra have made the Minangkabau people one of the most mobile ethnic group in Maritime Southeast Asia.
The young people usually have to go outside the region after their teens traders or students. For most of the Minangkabau people, wandering is an ideal way to reach maturity and success. By moving, wealth and scientific knowledge are gained and the prestige and honor individuals in the midst of indigenous environment.
The immigrants usually send part of the wealth home to be invested in family businesses, such as by expanding the ownership of paddy fields, control of land management, or pick up the rice fields of the spout. Money from the diaspora are also used to improve village facilities, such as mosques, roads, or the rice fields.

Waves of Migration

Overseas Minangkabau in Major Cities

City	Percentage*	Amount (2010)
Pekanbaru	37,96%	343,121
Jakarta	3,18%	305,538
Seremban (Malaysia)	50,9%[4]	282,971
Medan	8,6%	181,403
Batam	14,93%	169,887
Palembang	7,1%	103,025
Bandung	4,25%	101,729
Bandar Lampung	8,4%	74,071
Tanjung Pinang	14,01%	26,249
Banda Aceh	7,8%	13,606
Singapore	0,04%	2,073
* Notes: Percentage to Population in the City

The Minangkabau people have a long history of migrating overseas. They would leave their homes and travel in search of knowledge and to seek their fortunes. The first migration in 7th century when the Minangkabau Merchants sold the gold in Jambi and involved in the formation of the Malayu Kingdom.In the 13th century, the Minangkabau people started colonies along the west coast of Sumatra island from Meulaboh to Bengkulu when they were spice traders under the Aceh Sultanate. In Aceh, they were known as Aneuk Jamee. In the 15th century, the overseas Minangkabaus settled in Negeri Sembilan under the protection of the Malacca Sultanate and, later, under the Sultanate of Johor. After Portuguese captured of Malacca in 1511, many Minangkabau family moved to South Sulawesi. Datuk Makotta and his wife Tuan Sitti were pioneer of Minangkabau family in South Sulawesi. They supported kingdom of Gowa, as trader, ulema, and administrator. By the 19th century, most of the Minangkabau people moved to the Kingdom of Siak and the Deli in East Sumatra as traders when the Dutch East Indies colonies opened their tobacco plantations.

Intellectual migration

After the Padri War, most of the Moslem reformists went to Mecca and Cairo. Among them were Ahmad Khatib, Tahir Jalaluddin, Abdul Karim Amrullah, and Muhammad Jamil Jambek. In Mecca, Ahmad Khatib served as the Imam of the Shafi'i school of law at the mosque known as Masjidil Haram. While Djanan Thaib founded Jamaah al-Chairiyah in 1923 and lead Seruan al-Azhar magazine with Ilyas Yacub and Mahmud Junus at Cairo.
In the early 20th century, many young Minangkabaus migrated to Java and Europe as students. In Europe, most of them studied in the Netherlands and Germany. Abdoel Rivai, Mohammad Hatta, Roestam Effendi, Nazir Pamuntjak, and Sutan Sjahrir were overseas Minangkabaus who studied in Europe and later became activists in the movement for Indonesian independence. Another activist was Tan Malaka who lived in eight different countries including the Netherlands and the Philippines. He was a member of the Indonesian Communist Party and was also a candidate for the Netherlands' member of parliament.

Causes

Cultural factors

There are many explanations of this phenomenon. One of the causes is the matrilineal kinship system. With this system, control of treasures held by women while men's rights are quite small. In addition, after puberty the youth are no longer able to sleep at his parents' house, because the house is reserved for women, their husbands, and children.
The nomads who returned to their hometown, usually will tell the experience to children in the village. The appeal of nomads lives is very influential among the Minangkabau society childhood. Someone who has never tried to go abroad will always be humiliated by his friends.^[10] This is what causes Minang men to go abroad. Now the woman Minangkabau wander because they want to trade, career and continuing education.
According to Rudolf Mrázek, a Czech Michigan-based Indonesianist, two typologies of Minang culture, the dynamism and anti-parochialism give birth spirit of independence, cosmopolitan, egalitarian, and liberal-minded, causes the embedded migration culture of Minangkabau people. The spirit to change the fate of the pursuit of science and wealth, and Minang proverb which says Ka ratau madang di hulu, babuah babungo balun, marantau bujang dahulu, di rumah paguno balun (better go wander, because in kampong not useful) result in Minang youth to migrate since youth.

Economic factors

Another explanation is that population growth not accompanied with the increase of natural resources that can be processed. In the past, result of agriculture and plantations are the main source of living to support family members. More recently, the resources have become insufficient to sustain all members, because they must be shared by several families. These factors have encouraged Minang people to go wander and speculate in foreign countries. In the foreign, usually the first immigrants settled in the house family regarded as landlady. The new nomads job are usually as small traders.
Meanwhile, the economic history of the Minangkabau people since long ago has been bolstered by the ability to trade and distribute their crops. Minangkabau inland area has geological reserves of raw materials especially gold, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, and iron. The nickname Suvarnadvipa that appears on legend in India was referred to the possibility of Sumatra as island of gold. In the 9th century, the Arab traders reported that Sumatran people have been using a number of gold in trading system. Continued in the 13th century, king of Sumatra used the crown of gold. Tomé Pires around the 16th century, says that gold was trade in Malacca, Barus, Tiku and Pariaman, originated from Minangkabau inland area. He also mentioned that in the Indragiri area on the east coast of Sumatra is the central port of the Minangkabau kingdom. The manuscripts written by Adityawarman also mentioned that he is the ruler of the earth's gold. It is then encouraged the Dutch to build a port in Padang. And arrived at 17th-century, Dutch still call a gold ruler to the king of Pagaruyung and then asks Tomas Diaz to investigate the matter, which he tried to enter the interior of the Minangkabau from east coast of Sumatra, and Diaz' noted he had found one of the Minangkabau king at that time (Rajo Buo) and also mentioned main of the people jobs was gold miners.The geological record of the Netherlands noted that on Batanghari found 42 places of mined gold with the depth reaches 60 metres, and in Kerinci they met the miners of gold. Until the 19th century, the legend of gold in Minangkabau hitterland, still pushing Raffles to prove it, and he is listed as the first European to successfully achieved Pagaruyung through the west coast of Sumatra.

Influences

They exercised great influence in the politics of many kingdom and states in Maritime Southeast Asia. Raja Baginda migrated to south Philippines and founded the Sultanate of Sulu in 1390.In 1603, the Overseas Minangkabaus ulamas or religious figure taught Islam in Sulawesi, Borneo, and Nusa Tenggara island. Dato Ri Bandang and Dato Ri Tiro, both of whom were prominent ulamas spread the word of Islam to the Gowa and Luwu kingdom in South Sulawesi.
The Overseas Minangkabau were also involved in political rivalry with the Bugis after the death of Sultan Mahmud Shah II in Sultanate of Johor. In 1723, Sultan Abdul Jalil Rahmad Syah I or known as Raja Kecik, founded Sultanate of Siak in Riau. In 1773, Raja Melewar was appointed the Yang di-Pertuan Besar in the state of Negeri Sembilan. The mid-twentieth century, many overseas Minangkabau like Ahmad Boestaman, Abdullah CD, Rashid Maidin, Shamsiah Fakeh, and Khatijah Sidek were involved in the Malaysian independence movement. After Malaysia and Singapore independence, many politician and minister were Overseas Minangkabau, such as Muhammad Eunos Abdullah, Rais Yatim, and Abdul Samad Idris. While Yusof bin Ishak was the first president of Singapore and Tuanku Abdul Rahman was the first Supreme Head of State (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) of the Federation of Malaya.
They are also great influence developing Malaysian culture, mainly culinary, music, and martial art. Rendang and lemang, the traditional cuisine of Minangkabau, also popular in Malaysia as well as Singapore. Andalas University historian, Prof. Gusti Asnan suggests that rendang began to spread across the region when Minangkabau merchants and migrant workers began to trade and migrate to Malacca in 16th century. Caklempong, the musical tradition instrument, was brought to Malaysia by the Minangkabau people as early as the 14th century.

Occupations

Many Minangkabau have established themselves as merchants, government employees and white collar workers in the places that they have settled. A number of them work as merchant, teachers, ulamas, and also in the field of medicine. Many Overseas Minangkabaus are affiliated to the Muhammadiyah Islamic organisation. In the big cities, they are greatly involved with the mosque activities as well as the modern Moslem organisation. They are also present in the field of academics and many Overseas Minangkabaus hold posts as headmasters in high schools.

Organizations

Today, most of kanagarian (literally 'little state") in Minangkabau have an overseas link. They have branches and are found in all the big cities in the Malay Archipelago as well in Thailand, the United States and Europe. Their objectives are the promotion of the social, physical, intellectual, cultural and general welfare of its members. An example is Gebu Minang, which is one of the largest overseas Minangkabau organization.

Merantau and art workers

The phenomenon of wandering in Minangkabau society often becomes a source of inspiration for artists, primarily literary. Hamka, in his novel Merantau to Deli, telling stories about life experiences Minang nomads who went to Deli and married Javanese woman. Another novel Tenggelamnya Kapal van der Wijck tells the story of children who return to home. In the village, he faced obstacles by indigenous peoples who is his father's family. A novel by Marah Rusli, Sitti Nurbaya and Salah Asuhan Abdul Muis tells the story of the Minang nomads. In these novels, the intersection of Minang tradition and western culture are narrated. Negeri 5 Menara by Ahmad Fuadi, tells of immigrants who study in boarding schools in Java and eventually become successful. In a different form, through his work titled Kemarau, A.A. Navis invite the overseas community to build their Minang hometown.
Merantau is a martial arts film from 2009 which tells the story of a young Minangkabau man who leaves his hometown to teach silat and the trials and tribulations of his journey.

History

In 7th century, Minangkabau merchants sold the gold in Jambi and involved to formation Malayu Kingdom. They became influential traders who operate on the west coast and east coast of Sumatra. gold at first became the main trade of Minang society. Beside gold, Minangs also brought spice from the Sumatran hinterland to be sold in the Straits of Malacca.
After the gold reserves decline, commodity became the main business of Minang people. Trade of pepper, acacia, and gambier, thrive in the 15th century until the 18th century. Followed by coffee trade in the 18th century to 19th. They brought merchandise from the interior of Minangkabau to the Straits of Malacca or the Indian Ocean for sell to foreign merchants. To the east coast, the trade is mostly done through big rivers such as Kampar, Siak, Indragiri, and Batang Hari. From these trading activities, many Minang traders who migrated and set up colonies along the west and east coast of Sumatra, even down to the Malaysian peninsula. On the west coast they established trading posts in Meulaboh, Barus, Sorkam, Natal, Tiku, Pariaman, Padang, to Bengkulu. On the east coast, their trading colonies stretching from Batubara, Pelalawan, up to Jambi.
Many Minangkabau people worked as intermediary traders for the Srivijaya empire, the Sultanate of Aceh and the Sultanate of Malacca.^{[citation needed]} Minangs merchants built trading posts along the west coast of Sumatra from Meulaboh to Bengkulu.
During the latter part of 18th century and the early of 19th century, Minangkabau merchants developed a flourishing trade in gambier, coffee, and textiles. This led to conflicts with both local rulers and the Dutch. Then the Minang traders, seeking free markets on the east coast of Sumatra, were attempting to break the monopolies of the Dutch and the local political authority. Minang merchants declined after the Dutch defeated Minangkabau people in the Padri War. Until Indonesian independence in the late 1940s, West Sumatra and its trading system was under Dutch East Indies control.
In the 1950's, the new Minang businessman raised as indigenous traders among the Chinese. The most prominent were Rahman Tamin, Agus Musin Dasaad, Anwar Sutan Saidi, Sidi Tando, Hasyim Ning, Djohan & Djohor, and Sutan Sjahsam. Tamin and Dasaad whose business interests were based upon trade in small-holders rubber, tea, coffee, and pepper. Two of brothers, Djohan & Djohor, combined with Dasaad on the import of textiles from Japan and importing raw cotton for the Indonesian textile industry. Sidi Tando, opened a paint factory and was to move into shipping in the early 1960s. Sutan Sjahsam, the brother of PNI figure Sutan Sjahrir, who owned import company, N.V. Soetan Sjahsam Corporation, and the founder of Indonesian Capital Market. Hasyim Ning, the Mohammad Hatta's step-brother, developed assembling automotive industry. In 1952, Ning was appointed President Director of The Indonesian Service Company, which imported and assembled Dodge trucks and Willeys jeeps.

Culture

Trade is one of the prominent culture in Minangkabau society. For those of Minang society, as a trader not just for living and the pursuit of wealth, but also as a form of existence to become an independent. In the Minang culture is egalitarian, everyone will try to become a leader. Being a sub-ordinate other people, so it's ready to take orders, not a right choice. The principle "better to be the leader of a small group rather than a large organization men" is a principle most of the Minang community. Being a trader is one way to satisfy these principles, as well as being independent. By trade, Minang people could fulfill its ambitions, to live a normal life as they wish, to live freely without any party in restraint. So many Minangkabau wanderers prefer sunbathe sweltering on the sidewalk, selling socks, rather than having to work in an office, often in order and in the mad-scold.
The rise of commercial culture in Minang society, caused by high legacy that ensures ownership and sustainability of land for every family in Minangkabau. With ownership of the land, the position of Minang society not only as the tenants only, but also a direct dealer who sold the results to the market.
In addition, the culture that infuses culture wander independently, making the profession to trade as a beginners job to make ends meet. Therefore, be street hawkers often be the beginning for many overseas Minang.

Type of business

Restaurant

Restaurant and food are the Minang merchants favorite sector. The Minangkabau restaurant or known as Restoran Padang in many Indonesian cities, as well as Malaysia and Singapore. The merchants always build the own-brand for their restaurant, such as Restoran Sederhana, the biggest Minang restaurant chain which has over 60 outlets whole of Indonesia.In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Sari Ratu restaurants chain are the biggest one.

Textile

The Minangs textile trader dominated traditional market in many cities of Indonesia. In Jakarta, the merchants domination at Tanah Abang, Senen, Blok M, Jatinegara, and Bendungan Hilir. In Pekanbaru, domination at Pasar Pusat and Pasar Bawah. In Medan, domination at Sukaramai and in Surabaya they have settled in Pasar Turi.

Craft

Many of Minangkabau merchants sell gold, silver crafts, and shoes. Most of them came from Pandai Sikek, Tanah Datar and Silungkang, Sawahlunto. Many of Sungai Puar people sell of antique things. They settled mainly in Cikini and Ciputat (both in Jakarta).

Printing

Many of Minang merchants were involved with publishing house and printing. The successful merchants in printing business were Joesoef Isak, founder of Hasta Mitra and H.M Arbie. Beside of them, the business roled by Sulit Air people.

Hospitality

The Minang merchants also supported Indonesian tourism industry. Their founded hotel and tour travel company. In Jakarta, the Minang merchants develop Grand Menteng hotel chain and Basrizal Koto built Best Western Hotel in Pekanbaru and Padang. Natrabu Tour, founded by Rahimi Sutan, is the big tour travel company who has by Minang merchant.

Education

Universities in Jakarta owned by Minangkabau are University of Jayabaya, University of Persada Indonesia YAI, and University of Borobudur.^{[citation needed]}

Media

Many of Minang journalist founded media company (newspaper, magazine and television network). They are Sutan Maharaja, founded Oetoesan Melajoe on 1915, Hamka founded Panji Masyarakat magazine, Rosihan Anwar founded Pedoman newspaper, Ani Idrus founded Waspada newspaper, Lukman Umar founded Kartini magazine, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana's son and daughter founded Femina magazine, and Abdul Latief founded TV One.

Financial

In Indonesia, the Minangkabau merchants were involved in developing the national banking industry. In 1930, Anwar Sutan Saidi founded Bank Nasional. Beside as pioneer in banking sector, the other Minang merchants, Sutan Sjahsam as pioneer of capital market industry. Sjahsam, the Sutan Sjahrir's brother, founded the broker company, Perdanas.

Notable Minangkabau business people

• Djohor Soetan Perpatih. Co-founded N.V Djohor Djohan with his brother Djohan Soetan Soelaiman. Djohor Djohan famous as discount shop what always gave discount to the customers.
• Hasyim Ning. The Minangkabau merchants in Sukarno's regime. He founded Indonesia Service Company, the automotive service. Hasyim hold Europe-American automotive brand license and was called Indonesian Henry Ford. Beside that, Hasyim also successed in hospitality business, such as hotel and tour travel.
• Abdul Latief. The owner and founder ALatief Corporation. It subsidiaries are Pasaraya, the retail trade chain and TV One, the television network. Latief was politician in the New Order era as the Labour minister.
• Basrizal Koto. One of a Minangkabau conglomerate successful. Basrizal, usually call as Basko has hotel, mining company, shopping centre, TV-cable, and the largest cattle company in South East Asia. Basko's business based on Sumatra, mainly in Pekanbaru and Padang.
• Rahimi Sutan. The business man who came from Payakumbuh. He has been business since young. He developed tour travel company and the restaurants under Natrabu Grup. Nowadays Natrabu Tour and Travel has branches in the whole of Indonesia, Japan, Great Britain, and the United States.
• Fahmi Idris. As the business man who founded PT Kodel and politician of Golkar party. His business are trading and investment.
• Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah. The Minang-Malaysian businessman. He operates manufacturing company and iron steel company under the corporate flag Melewar Corporation.

 

 

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