Minangkabau Deliberation

Minangkabau people in Indonesia have a unique system of deliberation. It is called Adat. The cultural heritageof the Minangkabau is based on maternal linage and heredity of property from the mother. Adat is a normative rules and usage of the deliberation and decision making system. Adat institutes active in the villages, and some time is cities. most villages have adat.

Buah gadang is the smallest social unit recognized under the adat. Its members share a common property. It is leaded by panghulu. There are about 20 to 100 buah gadangs under the village council. The council has members which are called panghulu. Each panghulu represents his linage. Every linage has sub-linages which are represented by mamks. The memks represent their people.

The adat have several rules:

The Kamanakah (people of the sub-linage) are subject to the mamk (head of the sub-lineage).

The mamk is subject to the panghulu (head of the lineage).

The panghulu is subject to the mupakat (village council?)

The mupakat is subject to the power of reasoning

The power of reasoning is subject to what is possible and appropriate.

And possible is subject to truth.

It is truth which is the highest authority (which becomes king)

The problem should be solved at the lowest possible level, and only if the appropriate level can't solve it, they should go to a higher authority. Everybody has its own tern to speak. The deliberation is led by the head of the council (in the respective level). Decisions are made unanimously. All families are equal.

The decision should have consent on all parties involve, all down the ladder.

Contents

Sources about the Minangkabau deliberation

Muslims and Matriarchs: Cultural Resilience in Indonesia through Jihad and Colonialism

Sep 15, 2013,by Jeffrey Hadler

(page at google)

Caniago Detik Blog post

source

3. Elements of Community nan sakato
There are 4 elements that must be obeyed by every member of the community to establish community sakato nan. Sakato means one word-agree-semufakat.The four elements are:
a. Saiyo Sakato
Facing a problem or work, there will always be differences between people’s views and stance with one another in accordance with the other with the proverbial “black Samo kapalo, etc. ba mind.” Such disagreements are very common and very democratic. But if allowed to continue, it will result in a problem that will not terselasaikan. The work will be uncertain. Because it had always sought a way out. Shown the way out is to do traditional Minang deliberation and consensus, not consensus to continue the fight. The decision may be round (unanimously), but may also attenuate or picak (through voting). Adat Minang are not familiar with the term “Agreed not to a general consensus.” How is the decision process is taken, but after there is consensus then said that decision should be implemented by all parties. Out we remain intact and remain single. Each individual Minang are advised to always keep the relationship with their environment. Adat Minang not too worships autonomy (privacy) according to the teachings of western individualism. Adat Minang taught to familiarize with the environment in spite of counsel concerning personal matters. Thus traditional Minang Minang encourage people prefer the “togetherness” in spite of involving private business. Although an individual Minang held the position of authority such as the in-house position or any mamak Andiko prince, the decision may not be taken alone. Therefore, the authoritarian attitude has never favored war-Minang people. Adat Minang really crave unity and unity in Minang society. Minang people believe without the unity and integrity that will keep them away from public purpose to be achieved. They understood also in live in groups in society will always have difference cross, angry and disputes will always occur. Between sanduak and periukpun never quiet there will always be noise. However, Minang people have a basic philosophy that strong to overcome them. Adat Minang will always try to maintain communication and dialogue possible. Because in a way that all problems will always be resolved by consensus. Minang people consider solving the problem outside the deliberation is bad. In reaching a deal is sometimes not easy. Because it requires patience, fortitude, and sometimes forced to deplete power. However, deliberation still necessary.
b. Sahino Samalu Clan group life very closely. Relationship between the individual fellow members of the group are very close. They are like a single unified whole. The distance between “you and me” becomes almost non-existent. The term “crew” illustrates this closeness. If a complicated affair settled by way of “Samo crew crew”, everything will be easy. Proximity relations in this ethnic group, making individual self-esteem, become fused into a single ethnic group esteem. If someone underestimated the tribe members in the association, all members of the tribe feel offended. So also when a tribe humiliated then all members of the tribe that would simultaneously defend the good name of his tribe.
c. Processing, cooking Tango
The third element that can form nan sakato society, is to the creation of an orderly society and discipline in society. This means that every member of society are required to comply with the rules and laws, and heed the guidance and instructions given traditional rulers. In social life there will always be a mistake and an oversight. Mistakes and an oversight that must be resolved by the rules. Thus order and peace will always be maintained.
d. Sapikua Sajinjiang
In a communal society, all the tasks to be shared responsibility. The nature of mutual cooperation becomes imperative. Mutual help and support is an obligation. Heavy at the same bear carry light. Life among the members, like aur with cliffs, help each other help, support each other support. With nan sakato community is expected to achieve the purpose of life and the lives of people in accordance Minang ancestors invented the concept of the Minang people.

e. Fair
Fair means taking steps that are not biased attitude, and hold fast to the truth. Be fair of this kind, it is very difficult to implement when dealing with dunsanak own. One way or another because of the other traditional proverb which says “Indigenous dunsanak, dunsanak dipatahankan”. i. Wise, responsive and patient People who are wise, is one who can understand others’ perspectives. Can understand what the explicit and implicit. Response means able to ward off any danger that might come. Patience means capable of receiving all the trials with a roomy chest and be able to find a way out with a clear mind.

From indonisian Wikipedia

Source (translated to English)

Act in Nagari organizing relations community in a village. The system used is typical of communal society , with characteristics:

• Everyone naturally immediately become citizens Nagari
• Direct democracy, because the prince is very close to the people, deliberation and consensus implemented without represented.
• Mutual cooperation. Unity in the face of all the problems in Nagari
• Social safety net, all citizens Nagari, can count that he will be supported jointly by the community if he had an urgent distress.

To maintain harmonious relationships and helping each other among all citizens, community members Nagari always trying to communicate with everyone in a language that is not directly called meatball-stale . In addition, the rites of passage are like birth, circumcision, marriage, and death is always held traditional event with a special format and standard, but can be slightly different from one another Nagari Nagari with, in accordance with customary principles Selingkar Nagari. Included in the legislation in Nagari is mores concerning entertainment and recreation, such as Randai , game kite and hunting pigs .

A paper

Paper on the system.

Source 1

Matriarchal Values and World Peace: The Case of the Minangkabau