Nagari Governance Based on Custom, Sharia, and Community Participation
Social change, technological progress and economic growth are inevitabilities of modern life. Yet such change must not erase the identity and values that form the foundation of a community’s way of life. For societies that uphold the philosophy of Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah (ABS-SBK), development is not merely about improving infrastructure and the economy, but also about maintaining a balance between material, moral, social, cultural and spiritual advancement.
In recent years, various social problems have emerged in a number of kenegerian, including rising drug abuse, gambling, alcohol consumption, social conflict, environmental damage, weak oversight of business licensing, and the growth of commercial establishments that contradict customary and religious norms. These phenomena show that the problems faced are not merely individual matters, but problems of governance and communal life.
Governance of a Kenegerian Is Not Merely Administration
The concept of good governance holds that good government is built upon the principles of participation, transparency, accountability, effectiveness, legal certainty and justice. In the context of the kenegerian, these principles need to be enriched with customary and syariah values as part of the community’s identity.
A negeri government cannot simply perform administrative functions; it must also act as a guardian of values, a protector of the community’s interests, and a keeper of the balance between economic development and social life. Good governance must ensure that every policy adopted does not conflict with customary norms, syariah, or the wider interests of the community.
Custom and Syariah as Social Capital
Custom is not an obstacle to development. On the contrary, custom is a form of social capital capable of strengthening community cohesion, improving compliance with rules, and building trust between government and society.
The philosophy of Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah teaches that customary law and Islamic values mutually reinforce one another in regulating communal life. When custom and syariah are made the basis of policymaking, development is more readily accepted because it carries both social and moral legitimacy.
Conversely, if policies are based solely on economic considerations without regard for local values, the potential for social conflict grows.
The Importance of Community Participation
Effective governance cannot rely on the negeri government alone. Community participation is the primary element in creating responsive and sustainable government.
In the kenegerian system, this participation is realised through the involvement of ninik mamak (customary elders), alim ulama (religious scholars), cerdik pandai (the educated), bundo kanduang (women leaders), youth, women’s figures, and all elements of society in deliberation, policymaking, oversight, and development evaluation.
Meaningful participation is not limited to attendance at meetings; it also provides space for the community to voice aspirations, criticism and solutions responsibly. In this way, every policy produced genuinely reflects the community’s needs.
Challenges of Kenegerian Governance
The greatest challenge today is not only the swift current of globalisation, but also the tendency to maintain the status quo, allowing problems to persist without fundamental reform.
Weak oversight of business licensing, the diminished authority of customary institutions, poor inter-institutional coordination, minimal transparency, and declining public concern for social issues are all indicators that governance still requires renewal.
Social ills such as drug abuse, gambling, alcohol consumption, and the proliferation of businesses that conflict with customary and religious norms are the consequence of weak oversight systems and poor cross-institutional coordination. Therefore, resolving them requires more than momentary crackdowns; it demands more comprehensive governance reform.
The Direction of Governance Reform
Strengthening kenegerian governance needs to be directed towards several strategic steps.
First, strengthening negeri regulations that integrate national legal provisions with customary and syariah values.
Second, improving the transparency and accountability of government so that public trust grows stronger.
Third, reviving the function of customary institutions as strategic partners of government in maintaining social order.
Fourth, broadening the space for community participation throughout the development process.
Fifth, developing a productive and ethical community economy so that prosperity can be achieved without sacrificing moral values.
The future of a negeri is determined not only by the size of its development budget or the number of projects carried out. It is determined by the quality of its governance, the strength of the values its society upholds, and the ability of all elements to work together in preserving the dignity of the negeri.
Kenegerian governance based on custom, syariah and community participation is not an attempt to preserve the romanticism of the past, but a development strategy rooted in local identity while remaining relevant to the principles of modern government. When the government, customary institutions, religious figures, youth and society move with one vision, there will emerge a government of integrity, equitable development, and a community life that is safe, dignified and sustainable.
Thus, strengthening kenegerian governance must be seen as a long-term social investment to ensure that the progress achieved does not erode local identity, but rather reinforces the noble heritage to be passed on to future generations.