Minangkabau Traditional Leaders Report Abu Janda to West Sumatra Police

The report seeks legal clarity over Abu Janda’s statement referring to West Sumatra as ‘barbar’. A group of Minangkabau traditional leaders, part of the Mahkamah Adat Alam Minangkabau, have filed a police report against social media activist Permadi Arya, also known as Abu Janda, with the West Sumatra Police over alleged hate speech for calling West Sumatra ‘barbar’. Mukti Ali Kusmayadi Putra, the legal counsel for the Mahkamah Adat Alam Minangkabau, stated in Padang on Monday that the report was submitted to obtain legal clarity over statements deemed to cause public unrest. ‘This report is to ensure legal certainty regarding Abu Janda’s statement about West Sumatra being ’barbar’,’ Mukti said. The man commonly known as Boy London said the report was filed after clips of videos allegedly containing Permadi Arya’s remarks referring to both West Java and West Sumatra as ‘barbar’. According to the Indonesian Language Dictionary (KBBI), the term ‘barbar’ means ‘uncivilised’. ‘We hope there will be no more hate speech against West Sumatran society, which is wrongly accused of religious intolerance,’ he added. The complainants submitted evidence in the form of a flash drive containing materials related to the alleged violations. Meanwhile, Irwansyah Angku Datuak Katumangguangan, Chairman of the Mahkamah Adat Alam Minangkabau, said the group had first assessed the Minangkabau community’s reaction to the remarks, which had caused concern. He stated that the clarifications provided by the accused did not align with the content of the circulating videos, prompting traditional leaders to take the matter to court. ‘After consulting with traditional leaders, Permadi Arya’s remarks have crossed the line,’ he said. Irwansyah emphasised that Minangkabau society upholds tolerance and customary values, and that the report serves as a reminder for all parties to be cautious in statements concerning ethnicity, tradition, race, and intergroup relations. Previously, the Central Board of the Minangkabau Family Association (IKM) also filed a report against Permadi Arya over his alleged remarks calling West Sumatra ‘barbar’. IKM Secretary-General Braditi Moulevey said the report was submitted after IKM officials and Minangkabau communities both locally and abroad felt disturbed by statements deemed to constitute hate speech.