W. Sumatra's Koto clan to have 1st supreme chief in 162 years
W. Sumatra's Koto clan to have 1st supreme chief in 162 years
JAKARTA (JP): After waiting for 162 years, the Koto clan of
Nagari Paninggahan village in Minangkabau, West Sumatra, will
finally have a supreme chief.
In a rare and grand ceremony to be held in Nagari Paninggahan,
Solok regency, on Aug. 18, Muchtar Byna, 72, a businessman and
former member of the House of Representatives, will be installed
as Datuk Bagindo Majolelo.
Earlier, on Aug. 17, another ceremony will be held for his
Javanese wife. Mrs. Byna, 45, who comes from Surakarta, Central
Java, will be adopted into the Guci clan, one of the four clans
in Minangkabau. She will also be given the title Puti Junjung
Delima.
"Puti (Putri in Indonesian) means princess and Junjung Delima
means honorable, beloved, everything that is good," said Mrs.
Byna.
Both events will be highlighted with a grand reception on Aug.
22 at the West Sumatra pavilion in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah,
East Jakarta.
"Mrs. Tien Soeharto is expected to attend the reception along
with between 1,500 and 2,000 other guests," said Byna.
The Bynas are holding the reception on suggestion from
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, who believes the event will
help promote the Indonesian culture, the Minangkabau in
particular, among the invited foreign VIPs. The Bynas also have
the support of the West Sumatra's provincial administration,
which hopes to promote its tourism industry.
The lavish ceremonies are understandable given the long wait.
The delay is due to several factors, one of them being the
absence of a son from the previous Datuk Bagindo Majolelo.
"It's because a datuk (chief) has to come from the mother's
side. My grandmother and great grandmother did not have sons,"
Byna explained.
He is the only son and has one sister.
Because of the matrilineal system observed by the Minangkabau,
his son will not be eligible for the title because Byna's wife
does not come from a datuk family.
"But my sister's son may inherit the title from me," said
Byna.
External factors
Aside from the blood factor, there are also external factors.
"We are a very democratic society. A datuk is elected, not
passed on. A man may be eligible for the title given his blood
history, but he may not be elected by the clan," he said.
The first discussion about his appointment took place 12 years
ago.
"It took so long to finally realize this event because of both
personal and clan matters. The clan discussions went on and on.
Personally, I was not really prepared because I was still
attending to so many things," he said.
Byna was preoccupied with his business affairs, mainly in
plywood and property. He was also a member of the House of
Representatives, a position which he held for 27 years as a
representative of the United Development Party (PPP) faction
affiliated to Nahdlatul Ulama, from 1960 to 1987.
He said the new title will bring him more responsibilities. A
Datuk Bagindo is the supreme chief of all the other datuks in the
clan. He will also serve as the chief judge, meaning he has to
settle any dispute among his clan members, from land to marriage.
Aside from the big responsibility, the title does not bring
much else.
"It will be good for my family's reputation, though," Byna
commented.
He has every reason to be proud of his election because not
every datuk may be appointed to the highest position in the clan.
"There are several requirements a man has to meet to be
appointed. For one thing, he has to have the heritage. He also
has to have a prominent position in society because he is
expected to assist in the development of his people and their
domain," Byna asserted.
"He should also be a man who has made achievements, not only
for himself, but for his clan," he added.
In short, personal integrity is as important as blood.
There is no complete history of the title, but the first
written record dates back 400 years. Because the title is not
handed down in a family, it is difficult to trace the previous
holders of the title, he said. (lem)