INFORMAL MEMORANDUM IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS ON INDONESIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-02771R000300150002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 30, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 11, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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TIONS ON
Some Note5 on the Re1at1n4i of Malaya
and emmatra
114 torical Aeaociation,
C. Language
D.Religion
E. Attitude toward each OtheI
Notes on the Min
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A
1!9t.3 on the
A ettrey of the ethnic,.
?eonond.c factors might sugs;
association between, Sumatr_l, ,_4?n
appear likely on political
mon characteristics of M4
the fact that the Straits
ITiONS ON IMDOUSIlk
and Sumatra
cultural, and even
eibility of a closer
than would in fact
?nal grounds. The corn-
trans reflect in part
La are only about 60 to
100 miles across; narrow enpugb tc, Invite peoples to migrate
and governments to seek concl ol both shores. A modern
history of separate colonlapi, eaderience has left the Mala-
yans and the Sumatrans with.,. remarkable different memory
of their earlier common hiur$. It would be unwise to
exaggerate the similarities lie ten these two peoples be-
cause their differences are ix Lter than, say, those be-
tween Canadians and America' twean Australians and
New Zealanders.
With respect to the &eoah.t e2tion&hig between Ma-
laya and Sumatra it should L teJ that throughout modern
history all significant sez, powers have sought to prevent
any single power from gainitic aontcol of both shores of the
Straits of Malacca. The ict 1 i union of Malaya and Su-
matra has been repugnant to 1Lsei powers, for even a rela-
tively weak government stmcclitt ;he Straits would have
substantial advantages.
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B. las jimeAL.tione
Although the earliest rigrett of people into Ka1aya
came from the mainland of Stetheast Asia, the modern Malayan
La generally viewed as having megrated originally from Sumatra
and :am back to the peninwla the largest movements of
people from Sumatra came fmn Pelembane and from the Minang-
kabau areae. These early nagrations from Sumatra were ex-
tremely important in ihapinG the early history of the Malayan
oulture, At the time when "Alembeng wee the center of the
Sri Vijaya empire there was i leave political relationship
that encompaesed Malaya, eel Palerbang itself was often refer-
Vela to els the *Malaya" countTy. Pltheugh in their customs, and
habits of life the people ot Veire Sembilan still seem quite
close to the Central Sumatrale, trity teem to have little cons-
gime sanee of identity with Sameasans. Indeed, the feeling
Of the Negri Sembilan for Sanatra is not like that of, say,
the American toward ftgland, but is more like that of the
modern Armenian toward Oredte. Se! may at beat know that he
has Some historical ties blit they hartay seem relevant to his
attitudes toward his preseet day uorld.
The peoples of Negri tembllan were, however, reminded of
earlier ties with Sumstrt when a member of the Sumatran
ocracy was invited to teems the position of Yang-di-
an and then establishtC t1.4 leouse of the current ruling
This did not stretuthen 3reatly any sense of associa
n between Sumatra and Maar'. The fact that the raler of
gri Sembilan is now serveng RS the first Chief of State, or
Teng-di-Pertuan Agong, of the newly indePendent Malaya should
not suggest any strengtheneng ef ties between Malaya and Sumatra.
Firat the Portugese anti le.ter the Dutch dominated both
shores of the Straits making Lt Poesable for extensive move-
ments of peoples to take ollee between Malaya and Sumatra. For
example, shortly after the Aeclire of Portugese power, the
Aohinese from the Western f:Ip ef Sumatra engaged in extensive
raiding operations that ea -cried them across much of the Malay
Peninsula. However, after the Feltith influence was established
in Maleya and the DUtch colenial control :reached into Sumatra,
the two areas became formally selarated and the intercourse
between them steadily declined.
During the modern coleniel period migrations of Sumatrans
to Malay continued. However, in modern times there have been
far more :avanese immigrarts to galaya than Sumatra. Thus, of
the Malayans Who originalle came from Indonesia, a far larger
2
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proportion think of them5e1vE as having come from Java than
from &Matra This is partiaular4 the case in lohore, where
most Indoneolan migrants ha' t4;1ed in recent ye . At
the eame time, it is 51gn1tirt hat most Malayt who do not
think or themselves at having rig-sited from indonetia tend to
look down on all recent rrivals, whether from Java or Sumatra.
Since there are more recent 104%rante from Java there is general-
1Y a etronser feeling of prettleic against Javanese than Suma-
tran*.
3
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The dtttererice in lan Ec between Sumatra and Malaya is
not great. The 'Malay dia1etH pr4cen in Mastern Sumatra are
not Appreciably different from )se found in the peninsula.
However, the differences it dibleot among the PeoPlee or dif-
ferent parts of Sumatra are encu41 so that the Malayans have
little difficulty in recovizir_; them as being foreigners.
Thus, the language of the Palm) aid the Sumatran are similar
enough to serve as a constant reminder to both that they be-
to different social grcupt. In fact, the degree of slim
ilarity and differences 1nlan4t.av are about the same as that
between social classes in )stern Europe or America. Thus
the Malay and the Sumatran (an ea,.A1 be proud that his speecA
is different from the othert.
4
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The dominant religion Ln 1)Ot Matayaand Sumatra i , of
course, /slam. In both reLi,onsbhis religion has provided
the basis for much of the popu.Lar culture, In recent years,
however, Sumatrans have tenced to take a nomewhat more active
intereat in 'e/ion. Thus, on *ie one hand there have been
a fairly large number of almaran converts to Christianity,
while on the other hand it la Lmong the West Sumatrans that
one finds the most fanaticcl pporters of the prophet in all
of Indonesia. In contrast, tilt. Malays have generally had a
more relaXed attitude towEjc 12e formal religion. The more
educated Malays find the BTltish Approaoh toward religion an
admirable one; religion it au Important that the state should
support it and thus ordintiy r.omals need not worry p.bout it.
general it may be 4444 that the Mhlaye have a much
rited intereat in pze-lalamic religious concepts.
generally has a gxet 41 vf respect for his medicine-
or pawang Who is believid to oet able to cast hexes, mix
poi ons, and destroy one's enemies in all kinds of ways that
will baffle the beat trainel minaU of Scotland Yard. In con-
trast, it may be *aid that tne awmatrans tend to have a less
manipulative attitude toward thel.:. earlier religions. Sumatrans
tend to be more awed by thio3b touLical, while the Malaya are
much quicker to explore the )rac3tical uses of magic.
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Toward Each 041a1
Qflly period of sepAi'lts
and Sumatrans a iriz!
and different nati.sra.
ism within 1rkc,r 1 t
le serious thouall, slot
ationa whtch existed before ;he cc
d. It is true that aaon,..; c
n talk of the eventa4L 113Cf
with ndonesia aa a whole bve
e in Malaya.
The desire for 3UCh a -
om a fear of the Chine
ays have thought in
Indonesia, it has been main
tra In the Malay mind it -
a strong and capable ally a41r
Sumatran ia seen as leaa e
have spoken of the possibi14;ie
sent an extremist position, at
found within the United MaN
leading Malayan politiciana, he
hesitant even to suggest tha po
changing the boundaries of
part of Indonesia.
1 rule has given both
onging to different
ite of the weak bond
has still been rela-
ayans that the situ-
lonial period should be
ertain MalaY elements there
saity for Mhlaya to join
of the problem of the
stemsa Imost ntire-
laya. To the extent
eventual union with
Java and not Suma-
Javanese who is seen as
the Chinese, while the
tar . Those politicians who
cf such a new state repre-
lough 30110 of then are to be
Orggnization. The
4ever, have been extremely
;s!..billty of expanding or
la:ay atate to include some
Nad Indonesia had a more ctIble political hi tory since
independence, it i not incariceLvsble that a larger propor-
tion of Ahlaya would be sho4q.ngirtcraet in some kind of
association with Indonesia. Th:- asis for such a desire,
however, would stem largely 7roll 1 a feeling of insecurit
toward the Chinese within MktAyl, and 2) a desire to find
strength fram a vigorous . eadership, A disunited
and weak Indonesia is likely to hive somewhat less appeal
to Malays,
it is true that dur Anti-Dutch d nstrations
t t followed the United n ' vote on New Quinea, the
generally expresse thy for the Indonesians
at a tise when the fee1iri& t thi Britiah in Malaya were
with the Dutch. 3actlon on the part of the
has been a rather 2 Lenora' reaction toward
co-religionists and tairar i people with whom they
hey have much In commo:I. It has been apecifie enough
owever, to center particul,),ily 14on the Sumatrans as con-
ted to the aavanese. 4.4j dLecussion of union with
6
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Indone?ia hae been of such . germ al and vague nature that
the different groups within tndln sla have never been singled
out for special reference.
The attitude of the Striru towards Malaya is somewhat
more difficult to gauge. ti tha . at there has been some
tendency for the Sumatrans look to Malaya for employment
opportunities. This, howev?.r, hat., been the case only with
laborers, since educated SumetrAnD have generally been quite
succeseful within their own countpy.
Thue we find that the tendenoy in the past has been for
the Malayans tobok toward Inameilia for possible confederation
for a larger state, while in ecntl-ast there has been very little
interest on the part of Sumetrens to look toward Malaya for their
Political fature. Among the Javanese there has been some talk
Qt a larger Indonesian natin tha:: would include parts of Malaya.
This form of Indonesian nationLliam has not been common to Su-
matra. The current revolt c,f the commanders in Sumatra has not
been based on strong ideologictl c:onsiderations that would call
for the Oreation of a new trd ilwarate state or for Identification
with Malaya.
The Malayan government hi
ality toward the confll
were not for the issuf
would probably support th
lements on Sumatra were to
the Malayan government is rlore
Communist position than of in:,
r. adopted a policy of et ict
between Makarta and Sumatra.
_ communism the Malayan govern
cantral government of Indonesia
revolt. Thus the neutrality of
a reflection of ito strong anti-
sease of association with SUITIatra.
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alte2..112122 on the u
The Minangkabau people,?, arlaita ed In Sumatra where they
are still one of the most .4Appr',act ethnic groupings. A large
colony of them,, however, mcaad ao Negri Sembilan in Malaya
during the sixteenth centuraa r2h4 origins of their name is of
some interest at this time Ihen the Suaatrans are In revolt
against Javanese control. aacordiag to tradition at the time
of the Javanese kingdom of Ilajaaatit, the Javanese sent an ex-
pedition to conquer Western, aulatra. The Javaneae suggested
to the local people that inaaeaa cf fighting a military en-
gagement, they should permit two taffaloes to fight a duel,
the wInniag buffalo to decidv the Ywnership of the territory.
The Mlnangkabaus took a yotaa., baft-,:lo from its mother, starved
It for milk for a couple of.aayil,, and then tied sharp knives
on the brow where Its hornaihaio it az let grown. The Java-
nese produced a large buffo, and when the fight began the
Minangkabaust little buffala laa,hel up to the old buffalo
belly in search of milk and .'Aatz !calves gashed its rivals
flesha forcing it to run awa. The people were supposed to
have shouted at this point tivnang aerau enan,g Nerbaut
"Our buffalo wins." Hence the name Minangkabau.
The distinctive feature JT the Minangkabau culture le that
t Originally was a matriarThy vith respect to inheritance.
married man lived among hi a vifc's people and could not him-
self inherit property. The.Minangaabau also developed an ex-
tremely elaborate legal coda known as the 'adat tertateh."
The code itself la a highly ,refined one, with an impressive
number of explicitly defined, eategaries for classifying typeJ
of civil and criminal actio.
Another distinctive feat the Minangkabau culture WAC
the great importance attachta' ix many apparently democratic
principles. For example tte - chiefs were all elected,
important decisions require thc e.(preasion of opinion of all
within the group; and rich and pocu?, high-born and low-born
were all treated equally before the law. The one almost fatal
flaw, however, of the Minangkabau t_lulture was their reliance
on the prinelple of unanimity. It was essential within thia
system, for almost all decialionE had to receive the unanimoua
consent of all involved. Otten before decisions could be made,
considerable bloodshed had VC) take place in order to achieve
unanimity. The problem of iasarina that election's, would take
place for the functionally lapaltaat tribal chiefs without un-
due delay, because of the nctd for unanialty, was resolved by
insisting that the new chiet amid have to be elected before
the deceased chief could be turied.
8
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The principle of unanimite - coupled with the Idea
that these in official positeons should be provided with
very little authority. In Mnanekabau thinking, a man
Should be content with the honer arid prestige of a post.
To ask for power and authority 17 to display a mean and
grasping personality. The Attnanektbau ideal was to achieve
honor and prestige without terrine to face any ugly problems
of decision-making. Comparel with most traditional cultures
there was a treat deal of coe!"esioe among the Ninangkabau
on matters of responsibility. The fundamental structure
of the society was, of couree the matriarchal pattern of
relationships; the formal oft' el, although vigorously con-
tended over by the men were r renarkb1y little conse-
quence.
Another feature of Ninate t,culture ha been its
eapacity to adapt to external ife absorbing many
qualities of other cultures ehile ereeerving its own fun-
damental principles. The Nitanakabau accepted more from
the early Nindu influence it Soetheaet Asia than most of
the people of the region, even thcrxgh their concepts of
oVaIity stood in basic oontradiction to the fundamental
Mindu concept of cast. Later, in epite of all that the
prophet had to eay about the inferior position of women,
the Ninangkabau accepted /elm vita alacrity. This would
have been more understandable if it had been accompanied
by an assertion of authority on the part of men, but the
matriarohy seems to have bene even more firmly entrench-
ed after the acceptance of Telan. In modern times, as we
shall note, the Ninangkabau lend relatively conspicuous suc-
cess in adjusting to the Weeeere impact. In doing so, how-
ever, they have loet much of" their dedication to matriarch-
al principle.
These cultural haracteeiettc of tbe Ninangkabau are
illustrated by the praTi,tice of the inangkabaU col-
s in, Nalaya: In defintee the role of their chief ruler
ng-dieretuan, they refletted their exposure to Indian
e by conceiving of hie te ore whoee ancestors had beer
ntarnation of Hindu veil. In deference to their Islamic
ri.gion they thought of him at the shadow of Allah on earth.
Met because of their own traditions they gave him no author-
ity: he could collect no texee eeeept fees at cock fights.
SA was expeeted to live on his wifes inheritance. The
langediePetuan wee in the lwkw-Prd posItion of being the su-
preMe arbiter and judge oel, If the territorial chiefs in-
vited him to adjudicate--bet ttey never did. He was also
conceived of as the caliph er heel or the Mbslem theocracy
in any territory where the loot' ebier did not claim the title
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for himself?which he a1wy- dia. TheDretlCallY he pre-
sided over a State Counc11-7tut ths body almost never met
because the prospects for utaatrita were usually so dim.
It is striking that thelrilEngaabau both in Malaya and
in Sumatra have been generally recogniaed as one of the more
vigorous people and that bath areaa a disproportionate
number of them people,
followea eaeeaa in the civil service
and within the military. fa! extrcasely high proportion of
the national leaders of Indare3Th Are from Minanglcabau.
Dr. Hatta was born in Dukit'Tinggiz and Sjahrir, the leader
of the socialists, and Watslr, the leerier of the Masjuma,
are alao from the Padang art ar lumntra.
Various hypotheses can be aavanced as to why he Minang-
kabau have shown such comparatiae Taecess in more westernized
pursuits. Possibly their thta)erl?eace with this traditional
elaborate legal code has gtaan thel a greater senze for the
importance and the relevanc!e of legal structures. This tra-
dition may have made them mhTrae akilled in thinking in abstract
and impersonal: term. Thera is alao some suggestion that the
matriarchal system has drilsAla tie Minangkabau male out of
agriculture and away from atineeant with the maintenance of
lands which belong to the ,aalen: Thus the male is often
more prepared to follow cs.aaare ctavying him into the civil
service and military establa4mant3. It has also been sug-
gested that the somewhat le_a; plaluerirg of the male child
among the Manangkabau as caimred with most Malay and Indo-
nesian culture practices hal lel to a more self-reliant in-
dividual. Whatever the vaX or these hypotheses, it is
clear that products of Minaaalrabtal culture have generally
adapted somewhat more reaafl ta the demands of modern life
than the other Indonesians Icalays.
10
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