Malay Identity Reinforcement in the Land of Sumatra

Yogyakarta, Melayuonline.com- The ruin of Soeharto`s New Order, followed by regional autonomy policy, had created wider opportunity for some Sumatran provinces like North Sumatra, Riau, West Sumatra, and South Sumatra, to set their own political identity and to strengthen up the Malay identity. Those phenomena appeared as the consequences of the Sumatran Malay people`s eagerness to claim that they are the real Malays.

The above opinion was shared by Dr. Minako Sakai, a Japanese anthropologist who is now serving at Indonesian Studies Department, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. Mrs. Minako once delivered a lecture “Creating a New Centre in the Periphery of Indonesia: Sumatran Malay Identity Politics on Wednesday (10/9/2009) at the Balai Pinang Lima, the office building of Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu-BKPBM (Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture).

The lecture was moderated by Afthonul Afif, a research fellow at BKPBM as well as a redactor at MelayuOnline.com. Coming to appear at the lecture were MelayuOnline.com`s consultants Prof. Dr. Sjafri Sairin, Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, and Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat, BKPBM`s Design Consultant Ong Hari Wahyu, two representatives of Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies of Gadjah Mada University Dr. Nicolaas Warouw and Budi Irawanto, MA., a representative of Center for Asia-Pacific Studies Dr. P.M. Laksono, two representatives of the Faculty of Roman Literature of Gadjah Mada University, a prominent culture observer Hari Dendy, a lecturer of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Gadjah Mada University Drs. Aprinus Salam, MA., a representative of Riau Society Assembly branch Yogyakarta Ridwan Usman, a representative of Umar Kayam Foundation Kusen Aliph Hadi, and some journalists.

The lecture was begun by a welcome speech from Mahyudin Al Mudra, the head of BKPBM and the director of MelayuOnline.com. Mahyudin remarked that such a monthly lecture is aimed at giving enlightenment to all people concerning with the Malay cultural studies. “And hopefully, there would be other prominent academics who want to share knowledge through the monthly academic discussion. This is also part of BKPBM`s programmes in terms of preserving and developing the Malay culture,” Mahyudin remarked.

Mrs. Minako delivered her research on Malay cultural facts she found in some Sumatran province during 1994-2004. She found there were efforts from the Sumatran people to strengthen their Malay identities, based on the two factors.

First, the Malay people tended to call themselves as the liable inheritors of the glory of Malay civilization in the past, in which from this they hope that their social status get better and higher. “Taken for granted, there is a cultural organization that endeavours to revive the past glory of Malay civilization in Palembang. Its name (is) Kerukunan Keluarga Palembang, which was founded by the descendants of the Sultanate of Palembang. The organization actively holds some cultural activities like Malay cultural fests and Malay dancing fest. As well, they inaugurate a sultan after tens years the Sultanate of Palembang faced its ruin,” she explained.

Second, there are initiatives to establish cooperative networks with neighbouring countries in the fields of economy, culture, and politics. “Some political elites even made cooperative networks with Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (DMDI), a Malay-based organization that settles in Malacca, Malaysia. Through this, they hope that this could be an effort to advance the development progress in Sumatra,” said Ibu Mina, that she is usually called. From such harmonious relations with the DMDI, they adopted Islamic symbols and values into their daily lives. Consequently, there is assumption that being Malay means becoming Islam.

At the end of the lecture, Prof Sjafri Sairin once suggested a question on the motives behind the tendency of the Sumatran people calling themselves more Malay than others. The Professor argues that such a deed is a mere formal but fraud. “This is `useless` to say `I`m more Malay than you,” he said.

Sjafri`s opinion got supported by Mahyudin Al Mudra who questioned the benefits from such an effort, claiming one is more Malay than the others. “Well, will it be useful to say that `I`m more Malay than the others` in fact such a deed is not beneficial for reviving the glory of Malay cultural civilization in Indonesia generally?” Mahyudin asked.

Responding to the questions, Mrs. Minako explained further that those efforts were accomplished just to gain political authority from either government or the public. “They do realize that establishing co-operative network with DMDI is best to gain acknowledgement from the public that they are Malay. In addition, they do as such because they have other objectives; they want better economic welfare because the more they establish cooperation with Malaysia, the more Malaysian investors coming to Sumatra,” she said.

The Inauguration of MelayuOnline.com`s consultants and MoU Signing

The lecture session ended with the inauguration of MelayuOnline.com`s consultants. Mrs. Minako Sakai was inaugurated the consultant of MelayuOnline.com by the director of MelayuOnline.com, Mahyudin Al Mudra. Mrs. Minako thanked greatly for relying such a `big duty` on her shoulder. Mahyudin also thanked to her for supporting BKPBM and MelayuOnline.com the academic field.

“On behalf of MelayuOnline.com, I am really proud and happy because Ibu Mina agreed to be one of MelayuOnline.com`s active consultants. With the inauguration, I do personally hope there will be Malay in Australia as Ibu Mina shoulders the names of BKPBM and MelayuOnline.com since now and then,” Mahyudin`s remarks. Mahyudin Al Mudra officially bestowed Ibu Mina with MelayuOnline.com jacket and some books.

On the same occasion, BKPBM and the Faculty of Roman Literature of Gadjah Mada University have agreed to establish cooperation. Both signed a Memorandum of Understandings in terms of mutual relations between the two sides.

One clause on the MoU says that the Faculty of Roman Literature would be giving hand in the Bahasa Indonesia-French translation service. Likewise, BKPBM would be open to receive internship students from the faculty of Roman Literature of Gadjah Mada University, and to award academic certificate to the internship students.

“I do believe there is Malay in France and in other French-speaking countries. For that reason, the MoU signing is too much urgent to introduce the Malay culture globally. Hopefully, all the Malay people around the globe can be united culturally,” Mahyudin remarked. That day`s event ended with the breaking the fast ceremony.

(Samsuni/brt/01/09-08)

Fotografer : Aam Ito Tistomo

Acara ini didukung oleh AL-BURUUJ CATERING.

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