Adat Perpatih: A Matriarchal System

Adat Perpatih: A Matriarchal System


The matriarchal system of customary law is followed by the majority of Malays in Negeri Sembilan and to some extent, in Naning (a district in Malacca).

With its roots in Minangkabau, from where many settlers came from in search of their fortunes, Adat Perpatih takes its name from the person who first practiced it, Datuk Perpatih. History tells of two brothers - Datuk Temeneggong (the elder) and Datuk Perpatih - who were both of the same mother but different father had conflicting ideas and how eventually Minangkabau was finally divided into two lands. The areas were governed under two systems called Adat Temenggong and Adat Perpatih respectively.

Under the Adat Perpatih system, the people were divided into four sukus (clans) - Bodi, Caniago, Koto and Pilang - which formed the original Minangkabau sukus where the individual suku shared a common ancestry traced from the matriarchal lineage. According to Adat Perpatih, marriage within a clan is prohibited and whenever a man marries, he is required to live at his wife's place and be part of his wife's suku.

According to Adat Perpatih, property division is under two categories, inherited or acquired property and generally the following quatrain is applied:

§ Property acquired during marriage is shared
§ Property inherited is set to one side
§ Personal property is taken back when a wife passes away.

Her portion of acquired wealth passes on to her daughters. But if the husband dies, his acquired wealth is left to his surviving wife to be shared among his daughters.