Reviving 'adat perpatih'

Reviving 'adat perpatih'



GREAT cultures of the world have died as a result of neglect.

"When a culture is not being practised anymore, it dies. This has happened in Europe," says Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) social anthropologist Professor Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin.

The key to safeguarding cultures is consistent awareness programmes besides practising them.

Shamsul, who is also the director of UKM's Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA) and Institute of Occidental Studies, says that adat perpatih may also die if no concerted efforts are made to preserve this often misunderstood culture.

Adat perpatih is named after Datuk Perpatih, the first person to practise it.

It has roots tracing back partly to Minangkabau, Sumatra, Indonesia from where settlers migrated to this region during the 15th and 16th centuries in search of a better life.

At the time, the indigenous communities in Malaya were already practising the matrilineal social system.

It has been said that adat perpatih's strength is its holistic nature. It guides practitioners in every aspect of their lives - from managing a family to running a business.

It also teaches a democratic system of conduct and thoughts. Both men and women are consulted during occasions to overcome obstacles and to provide solutions.

However, due to lack of understanding about adat perpatih, outsiders or non-practitioners only recognise it for its matriarchal nature.

Erosion of adat perpatih has set in as more and more people abandon the culture.

Shamsul blames this on cultural pessimists who compartmentalise modernity and old tradition.

"This is wrong. We should celebrate the dichotomy of the old and modern," he says.

He cites Japan as a shining example of how modernity and the traditional coexist harmoniously.

"Japan is culturally rich yet very technologically advanced," he adds.

Although cultural disintegration is inevitable, there should always be space for adat perpatih to thrive and exist for generations to come.

With this in mind, ATMA and the Negri Sembilan state government recently joined forces to organise the Persukuan Adat Perpatih and Negri Sembilan Traditional Food festival in Bangi.

The carnival was aimed at introducing unique features of adat perpatih to Negri Sembilan folks, especially the younger generation, and those from other states.

The festival in Bangi, the first time it was held outside of Negri Sembilan in 10 years, attracted some 8,000 visitors.

Shamsul is happy with the huge turn out.

"This is part of the process of keeping culture alive. So naturally we want as many outsiders to come and participate in it," he says.

The collaboration between Negri Sembilan state government and ATMA does not stop at being co-organisers of the Persukuan Adat Perpatih and Negri Sembilan Traditional Food festival.

"We are in the process of creating an academic hub in this area," says Shamsul.

On its own, Atma has digitalised adat perpatih by setting up a portal on the social systems, available for the public at ATMA's website at www.malaycivilization.com

"Technology can be a conduit to channel awareness and appreciation of adat, especially among youngsters who are enamoured with technology."

Possible collaborations between ATMA and the Negri Sembilan state government, in particular the state museum, are endless.

"In the future, we may study the social functionality of adat perpatih. We also intend to share our researchers' expertise with the state government and the state museum," says Shamsul.

ATMA has the technology and know-how to help keep knowledge on adat perpatih up-to-date. But technology, Shamsul admits, has its limitations.

"Where technology fails, the state museum can fill the gap. But we at Atma will assist the state museum in expanding its collection on adat perpatih."

Shamsul, who lauds the setting up of adat perpatih clubs in 50 schools in the state, says that there is always room for improvement.

For starters, a knowledge centre for adat perpatih should be established in Negri Sembilan.

"The state museum, for example, should 'package' adat perpatih according to age cohorts. There are enough examples for us to follow and make this a success."

He hopes that these efforts will persuade the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to recognise adat perpatih as an intangible world heritage in the future.

"If Angkor Watt can be accepted as a tangible world heritage, why can't adat perpatih be accepted as an intangible heritage?" he asks.