Taufik Kiemas title causes raised eyebrows

Taufik Kiemas title causes raised eyebrows

Kasparman Piliang, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra

Despite controversy, President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband
Taufik Kiemas will soon be bestowed with a customary title by
leaders of a clan in West Sumatra province.

Leaders of the Sikumbang clan at Kenagarian (village) Sabu in
Batipuh subdistrict, Tanah Datar regency, is scheduled to confer
the title of Datuk Basa Batuah on Taufik during an official
ceremony on Dec. 21.

"It is not an honorary title nor is it a token of appreciation
for his service (to our clan). It's only a customary title," said
Zainal Hafizd Datuk Kayo, the top customary leader of Sabu
village.

Based on the Minangkabau customary rules, a person who
receives the title of datuk (clan leader) has the right and
responsibility to look after the children of his or her nieces
and nephews.

He or she is responsible for resolving any family disputes
arising within his or her clan. Even if the decision handed down
by the datuk is considered too harsh, it must be obeyed.

A datuk must comprehend his own culture and traditions, and be
honest.

It is a much respected title that has strong roots in
Minangkabau society's structure, and follows clear ancestral
lines. In Minangkabau tradition, it means that the title's
recipient has what is called Basosok bajarami, bapandam
bapakuburan (clear and distinct ancestry and origin).

The bestowal ceremony for Taufik will be held at the Ustano
Basa Rajo Pagaruyuang (the Grand Palace of the Pagaruyung Raja)
in Pagaruyuang, Batu Sangkar subdistrict, Tanah Datar.

"The bestowal of the title of datuk on Taufik Kiemas is
because we want to select one who has long been left behind, and
to restore what he deserves by right," Zainal said last Thursday
in Padang, the North Sumatra capital.

He said the title was last used by the late Muhammad Daud, who
was reported to be Taufik's uncle. Due to the Batipuh War in
1850, the founders of the Sikumbang clan were separated and one
of them, Siti Saadah, fled to Padang. She was a sister of Siti
Aminah, the mother of Muhammad Daud Datuk Batauah.

After the war, the two sisters grew apart and in 1905 Muhammad
Daud died.

Based on Minangkabau tradition, if the datuk passes away, a
replacement must be found from within his own clan.

"Here's the problem. At that time, there was no male successor
from the Sikumbang clan, so they did not replace him and so the
title is still unclaimed to date," said the Minangkabau Land
Traditions Organization (LKAAM) head, Kamardi Rais Datuk Panjang
Simulie.

However, local people questioned whether Taufik is the right
man for the title as he was born in Palembang, South Sumatra
province.

According to Zainal Hafizd, the ancestral line of the
Sikumbang clan was cut after the death of Siti Saadah and it
could not be traced back.

However, Taufik once claimed he originally came from Padang.

"Pak Taufik later sought to find his own roots and it turned
out that he is a fourth generation descendant of Siti Saadah,"
Zainal added.

He quoted Taufik as saying Siti Saadah had a daughter named
Siti Hasnah who gave birth to Asiyah. The latter then had a child
named Hamzatun Rusda.

Hamzatun later married a man from Palembang named Cik Agus
Kiemas who later had 11 children, including Taufik, Zainal
added.

"So, it's clear that we have not picked the wrong person
because, according to Minangkabau tradition and the use of the
matrilineal system to trace descent, Taufik is clearly a man of
Minangkabau descent," he said.

But an investigative team assigned by West Sumatra Governor
Zainal Bakar to trace Taufik's descendants discovered another
version.

It revealed that the Siti Saadah who lived at Belakang Tangsi,
Padang, came from Saning subdistrict in Solok regency. Her clan
was not the Sikumbang clan but rather the Koto clan.