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2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016), Shah Alam, 9-11 October 2016
"Merantau": Agents of Developments of Malay Heritages Built
Environment
Mohamad Hanif Abdul Wahabᵃ׳ᵇ
*
Azizi Bahauddinᵃ
ᵃSchool of Housing, Building, Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Gelugor, Penang,Malaysia
ᵇSchool of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA,40450,Shah Alam, Selangor,Malaysia
Abstract
Traditional Malay is a society who is depending on and influencing by the natural surroundings. Life in the ocean and
islands affect the way they live and evolve the variation of culture. They built a perahu or boat to move from one place to another
by the river and the beach searching for a new life. The process is undertaken by the ancestors of Malay known as merantau
which are characteristic of indigenous Malay people. The merantau process effect in the opening of the new settlement in Alam
Melayu as the Malay Minangkabau who built settlement outside the mainland of darek in Minangkabau, Indonesia to Rembau in
Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The cultural variation is visible through the elements of its architectural design of Negeri Sembilan
traditional house by compared with Minangkabau house in Indonesia. The difference is due to changes in evolution in the
merantau process, environmental influences, customs, and beliefs. It proves the merantau is not just the movement process but
also agents that shape the evolution through the result of Malay innovative thinking.
© 2016 Published by/and/or peer-review under responsibility of Faculty of Art and Design, Universiti
Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor
Keywords: Merantau; Heritage; Built; Environment.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +6-012-326-4228; fax: +6-03-5544-4353
E-mail address: mhaw15_hbp026@student.usm.my
2 Mohamad Hanif Abdul Wahab/ 2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016),
1. Introduction
Alam Melayu which also known as the Malay
World is referring to Malaysia and Indonesia as its
mainland (Rahman, 2014). It covers an area of Taiwan
in the north to Madagascar in the west, across the
Malay Archipelago, the Hawaiian Islands, Easter
Island, to the Chatham Islands in the South Pacific
(Ishak, 2007; Rahman, 2014). Around 10,000 to 11,000
years ago, rising from sea level during the Holocene
period change the landscape of Alam Melayu (Nik Abd.
Rahman & Shahar, 2012). Malaysia and Indonesia are
located on the ground called Pentas Sunda, is split and
formed a peninsula and islands.
The landscape changing has changed the
Malay way of life. They built a perahu or boat to move
from one place to another by the river and the beach
searching for a new life. The process is undertaken by
the Malay ancestors known as merantau which are
characteristic of indigenous Malay people. Merantau
comes out of the word rantau. Rantau in etymology
means to monitor the extent of the bay or rivers
(Rahman, 2014)by cruising along the shoreline in
search of livelihood, knowledge, etc. (“Kamus Besar
Bahasa Indonesia,” 2015).
Fig. 1. Nusantara region or the Malay Archipelago. Source: Ishak,
(2007); Masri et al., (2015)
The definition of merantau does not limit as a
process of movement. Mochtar Naim, (1979) described
merantau which features as:
• The development process, evolution
• the preparatory process,
• forming space and harmony opportunity,
• communication medium,
• the process of environment adaptation and
adjustment,
• the development of innovative thinking,
• the establishment of socio- cultural
differences,
• the acceptance of changes and cultural
connections.
The merantau occupies a special place in the Malay
community especially Minangkabau who is derive the
terminology. Merantau contributes to the development
of culture within the mainland area of the Alam
Melayu. The Malay culture occurs externally to the
southern Japanese and internally in Negeri Sembilan,
Malaysia. This movement process known as pemekaran
rantau or expantion territory begin from the central
region in darek, Minangkabau creates rantau region
outside the darek territory which expand towards
seacoast and bypass the Straits of Melaka sea and
establish a rantau state known as Negeri Sembilan in
Malaysia. Due to the impact of the territory expansion,
the characteristics of entrenched social institution or
lembaga sosial yang membudayakan (Naim, 1979)
adopted by the customs, beliefs, and way of life. It is
detected by the arrangement of the new settlement
communities, traditional custom systems based on
matrilineal, Islamic religious beliefs and the similarity
of social systems with implemented in the rantau
community of Negeri Sembilan as the mainland of
darek in Minangkabau, Indonesia .
2. Objective and Methodology
This study aims to identify the elements of merantau
during the transition of Malay Minangkabau, Indonesia
to Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. The qualitative analysis
is use to investigate the cultural history and the impact
of merantau towards the development of the Malay
architecture. It involves an analysis of the literature
source to understand the architectural elements,
characteristics, and the influence of merantau towards
Malay World
Mohamad Hanif Abdul Wahab/ 2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016), 3
Malay built environment. The expected outcome is to
confirm the effect of merantau elements towards the
formation of the Malay settlement development in
Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It will explain
how cultural ties abroad with the establishment of the
architectural heritage in the Malay built environment.
3. Literature review
The movement process of merantau started since
10,000 to 11,000 years ago in Alam Melayu when the
rising from sea level during the Holocene period split
the ground called Pentas Sunda and formed a peninsula
and islands. Malay began to separate due to the
geographical changing (Nik Abd. Rahman, 2012) and
creatively built perahu or boat as a medium to move
from one place to another by the river and the beach
searching for a new life.
In the Hoabinhian period, the Southeast Asia
community comes up with the ability to build a boat
that allows them to merantau or move from one place
to another by sailing along the river or the coast and
develop trade activities between the communities in the
Alam Malay (Mohd Balwi, 2005).
"Rantau" according to Purwadarminta, (1966);
Teuku Iskandar, (1970); Winstedt, (1960) means a
lowland or watersheds area, which is usually located
nearby or in part of the coastal regions (Naim, 1979).
Rantau verb interprets a movement process to another
country or to leave their home or to sail through rivers
etc. (Echols & Shadily, 1963).
Fig. 2. Map of Minangkabau territorial expansion from darek in
Sumatra, Indonesia to rantau in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Source:
Kato, (2005), Mohamad Hanif ( 2016 ).
Tsuyoshi Kato, 1982) defines merantau as an exit
movement by the Malay Minangkabau from the
mainland or darek intended to pemekaran rantau or
expanding territory cause of the shortage of land for
agricultural purposes. The pemekaran rantau by Malay
Minangkabau spreading outside of the Sumatra island
to peninsular Malaysia in Negeri Sembilan where the
establishment of a new settlement began in Rembau.
Merantau by perahu has brought environmental
influences into local architectural design. The perahu
as a Malay medium of communication to the extent
forming their identity. These can be seen in the
characteristics of the Malay house design through
perahu symbols placement on its components as stated
by Mohamad Rasdi, Mohd. Ali, Syed Ariffin,
Mohamad, & Mursid, (2005),
“Ancient world of South-East Asia, the Dongson
maritime communities apparently believed that
the souls of their dead travelled back across the
sea to the land of their ancestors. The influence of
boat and boat buildings symbolism around the
house can often been seen”.
Also, related perahu analogies are used in elements
of Malay house as described by Phillip Gibbs, (1987)
who wrote:
“The word for the posts of the house is ‘tiang’,
which is also the word for the mast of a boat. The
word for flooring is ‘lantai’, which is also the
word used for the flooring at the bottom of the
boat. The word for the equilateral triangular
gable-end is ‘tibar layar’. ‘Tibar’ means ‘end’
and ‘layar’ means ‘the sail of a boat’. Sitting on
the floor of Malay house is analogous to sitting in
the breeze blowing off the sail of a boat”.
Horst Liebner, a Buton maritime terminology
researcher which inspired by the works of Isidore
Dyen, (1963) lists the four most original words in
Malay voyage namely 'pulau' (island), 'air surut' (low
tide) and 'air pasang' (water pair) and 'batu karang'
(rock) (Liebner, n.d.). The water is mention as 'tai' as
'henau tai' and 'tai siwulu' means low tide while 'eke
(nu) tai’ means the tide (Liebner, n.d.). 'Tai' or
seawater is a horizontal level when the perahu sail
Derek
Rantau
Negeri Sembilan
Sumatera
4 Mohamad Hanif Abdul Wahab/ 2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016),
which almost equals to the term lantai or floor which is
a flat surface in the house that symbolically depicts
Malay house like a ship that was sailing on it. Horst
Liebner also confirmed that the term of ‘kamar perahu’
(houseboat) associated with the parts of the house.
Others perahu term is 'jamba' which means a small
room at the back of the lambo boat imitate the word
'jambang' ( means 'waste water' ) in Bugis (Liebner,
n.d.) are equaled the word 'jamban' in the Malay
language that serves as a toilet in the backward
traditional Malay houses.
The article “Perahu Kajang , Perahu Berbentuk
Rumah,” (2015) mentions in historically, the traditional
boat of perahu kajang which located around the
riverside of the Musi River, Palembang has a similar
function to a house. The perahu has like roof-house
structure namely kajang (awning) made of woven palm
leaves or pine to cover an underneath space. It
structures composed of three parts, the front, central
and rear roof section. The front roof in angled position
identify as kajang tarik or pulling awning. The central
part known as fixed roof or kajang tetap (fixed awning)
and a rear roof section known as tunjang karang or
cord coral. Perahu kajang main features is a bulge
located at the stern so-called Selungku, nearly matching
Negeri Sembilan Malay traditional house where it
slightly elevated at the area of serambi (veranda) area.
The interior part is seen similar to a Malay house
which provides a central space for family members to
relax and sleep at night. At the rear area, there is a
dapur (kitchen) and kamar mandi (bathroom). Other
features is holes that position on the surface of the
board panel (wall) (“Perahu Kajang , Perahu Berbentuk
Rumah,” 2015) which function as similar as the
window of a traditional Malay house.
If we look at the boat hull in everywhere, the front is
tipping. Similarly, a Negeri Sembilan traditional house
ridge are made tapering, particularly at the serambi
(veranda) and the rumah ibu (main house) roof
structure. Ridge connected with rafters and getting
straighten up down the to the fascia board level clearly
showed the mimicry effects of perahu kajang were in
the form of Negeri Sembilan traditional house. This
event shown the formation of merantau process by
perahu significantly shape a characteristics of the
architectural identity in Malay built environment as
local heritage symbols .
Fig. 3. Kajang perahu design elements on the Negeri Sembilan
traditional house resulting from evolution and innovative of merantau
process establish the heritage identity of hybrid cultural in Malay
built environment. Source: http://bochibochitani.blogspot.com and
Kajian Alam Warisan Negeri Sembilan, Politeknik Port Dickson.
4. Analysis and Findings
Merantau is not merely the process of human
movement. Merantau has variables that are not fixed
and are always influenced by Malay world surrounding.
The effect of merantau such as factors, methods,
experiences and Malay innovative knowledge able to
produce the design elements and features that visually
transform into the architecture of the built environment
Malay. Example elements is the shape of a boat, the
form, shape and texture adapted from nature, dynamic
effects or orientation movements, the symbols and
analogy manifestation and the harmonious architectural
design which translated into traditional Malay house.
These shown through the literature review analysis by
Mohamad Hanif Abdul Wahab/ 2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016), 5
comparing with the definition of merantau by Mochtar
Naim (1979) as stated in Table 1:
Table 1. The result of the merantau design elements through the
literature review by comparing with the definition given by Mochtar
Naim, (1979 )
Literature
Design Elements
In the Hoabinhian period, the Southeast
Asia community comes up with the ability
to build a boat that allows them to merantau
or move from one place to another by
sailing along the river or the coast and
develop trade activities between the
communities in the Alam Malay (Mohd
Balwi, 2005).
Form (Perahu)
"Rantau" according to Purwadarminta,
(1966); Teuku Iskandar, (1970); Winstedt,
(1960) means a lowland or watersheds area,
which is usually located nearby or in part of
the coastal regions (Naim, 1979).
Surface texture
(plain ), form and
shape (river, shore)
Rantau verb interprets a movement process
to another country or to leave their home or
to sail through rivers etc. (Echols & Shadily,
1963).
Dynamic (sailing),
lines (rivers).
Tsuyoshi Kato, (1982) defines merantau as
an exit movement by the Malay
Minangkabau from the mainland or darek
intended to pemekaran rantau or expanding
territory cause of the shortage of land for
agricultural purposes.
Dynamic
movement (exit ,
division), patterns
(village).
“Ancient world of South-East Asia, the
Dongson maritime communities apparently
believed that the souls of their dead
travelled back across the sea to the land of
their ancestors. The influence of boat and
boat buildings symbolism around the house
can often been seen” (Mohamad Rasdi et al.,
2005)
Shape (perahu
symbol) and
surface (datum /
dot placement).
“The word for the posts of the house is
tiang, which is also the word for the mast of
a boat. The word for flooring is lantai,
which is also the word used for the flooring
at the bottom of the boat. The word for the
equilateral triangular gable-end is tibar
layar. Tibar means ‘end’ and layar (‘the sail
of a boat’). Sitting on the floor of Malay
house is analogous to sitting in the breeze
blowing off the sail of a boat” (Phillip
Gibbs, 1987)
Form (Boat)
The water is mention as 'tai' as 'henau tai'
and 'tai siwulu' means low tide while 'eke
Harmony . 'Tai '
almost equaling
(nu) tai’ means the tide (Liebner, n.d.).
the term ' lantai
’
(floor) is a flat
surface in the
house
perahu term is 'jamba' which means a small
room at the back of the lambo boat imitate
the word 'jambang' ( means 'waste water' )
in Bugis (Liebner, n.d.) are equaled the
word 'jamban' in the Malay language that
serves as a toilet in the backward traditional
Malay houses.
Dynamic and
Forms (Space
evolution) equal to
'jamban’ (toilet)
Malay houses .
The article Perahu Kajang , Perahu
Berbentuk Rumah, (2015) mentions in
historically, the traditional boat of perahu
kajang which located around the riverside of
the Musi River, Palembang has a similar
function to a house.
………
The interior part is seen similar to a Malay
house which provides a central space for
family members to relax and sleep at night.
At the rear area, there is a dapur (kitchen)
and kamar mandi (bathroom). Other
features is holes that position on the surface
of the board panel (wall) (“Perahu Kajang ,
Perahu Berbentuk Rumah,” 2015).
Harmony and
shape (perahu )
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, the merantau process effect in the
opening of the new settlement in Alam Melayu as the
Malay Minangkabau who built settlement outside the
mainland of darek in Minangkabau, Indonesia to
Rembau in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The cultural
variation is visible through the elements of its
architectural design of Negeri Sembilan traditional
house as stated in Table 1 by compared with
Minangkabau house in Indonesia. The difference is due
to changes in evolution in the merantau process,
environmental influences, customs, and beliefs. It
proves the merantau is not just the movement process
but also agents that shape the evolution through the
result of Malay innovative thinking. Thus, the further
study will investigate the relationship of the various
elements that formed as a result of the merantau
process to the architecture and how it can connect
Malay design heritage that was always growing and
evolving.
6 Mohamad Hanif Abdul Wahab/ 2nd Art and Design International Conference 2016 (AnDIC 2016),
Acknowledgements
This research work was sponsored by the
Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and
Universiti Teknologi MARA under grant Skim Latihan
Akademik Bumiputera (SLAB) reference no.
KPT(BS)780317087053.
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