"WAYANG PALEMBANG": ITS ORIGINS, CHARACTERISTICS, AND PRESERVATION FROM EXTINCTION

Wayang Palembang is a traditional art of performing arts with artificial media of people made of leather. Wayang Palembang contains universal cultural values because it tells human life. This study describes the existence of Wayang Palembang through manuscript traces (ancient manuscripts). The research found that the Wayang Palembang was originally introduced by the ruling elites of the ruling Majapahit kingdom in Palembang. During the time of Palembang Sultanate this art modified by absorbing elements of Malay culture. Subsequently, he continued to be preserved during colonial and post independence. Wayang Palembang has unique characteristics that distinguish it from Javanese puppet, which is from the aspect of the introduction language by the Mastermind, the display of its own, or the performance devices, including the duration of the timing. This shows the harmonious acculturation and adaptation between Javanese culture and Palembang Malay culture. The heyday of the Palembang puppet period ended in 1980, with the last Dalang death

KELAKAR BETHOOK IN PALEMBANG MALAY LANGUAGE: A LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS

This paper examines distinctive culturally-linguistic humour and directives in Palembang Malay language (hereafter referred as Palembangnese) in Indonesia. Two transcribed samples of Kelakar Bethook (KB) in Palembangnese humour were selected. The data analyses and discussion show the uniqueness of humour and directives in KB in Palembangnese. This present research contributes to the nature of linguistics in language documentation and extends the scope of speech act research in a non-western language. This study also contributes to enhancing the linguistic-cultural theory in Eastern language and culture. This research thereby contributes to distinguishing one facet of language Malay civilization by exploring distinctive cultural-linguistic practices and promoting a wider awareness of Palembangnese culture and humour.

FROM INCULCATING ISLAMIC VALUES TO ‘RAHMATAN-LIL-ALAMIN’: PROMULGATING VARIOUS APPROACHES OF ISLAM IN MALAYSIA

The government of Malaysia has introduced ‘Inculcating Islamic Values’ during the reign of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir in the 80s, ‘Civilizational Islam (Islam Hadhari)’ during the reign of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in 2004, ‘Wasatiyah’ during the reign of Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2010 and ‘Rahmatan-lil-Alamin’ recently in 2018 under the new government. All the approaches were designed towards developing a modern society in predominantly Malay-Muslim society of Malaysia. The concepts were normally publicized as a part of the manifesto during the political campaigns prior to the general elections. Since then, Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike were expecting to observe more detail explanations of the concepts and how it could be translated into actions in the multi-religion society. Occasionally the Prime Minister will reiterate the approaches and spell out in detail the methods of implementing the concept or to translate the concepts into policies. The concepts will further be elaborated in a couple more speeches delivered by the Prime Minister and senior ministers including the information minister. The mainstream media has also allotted special columns and programs to outspread the concepts even though at times not in detail and lack of continuity. Today, after about one year since the latest concept (Rahmatan-lil-alamin) has been conceived, what are the peoples’ perceptions towards it? Do the people really made to understand the concept? To what extent has the media been used to disseminate the idea? This paper will discuss the analysis of the dissemination of the concept through the main stream media in Malaysia.

MELAYU PATTANI THAILAND: MUSLIM MINORITY RELIGION EXPRESSION IN THE MIDDLE OF NON MUSLIM MAJORITY

Pattani Province in southern Thailand is the only province with the majority of the Muslim population. Besides Pattani the majority of Thai residents (67 million people) are Buddhists. Only 10% of Thai people are Muslims, including Pattani's Muslim Malay minority. Some data suggest that the Thai government made policies that often discredited and did not accommodate the interests of Malay Muslims. This became one of the reasons for the emergence of opposition to Thai government and ethnicity. For example, must use the Thai language (thaification Program) reinforced by the prohibition of the use of Malay language and nationalization of Thai society culture through language and customs. The cultural policies relating to the use of Thai language and customs are intended to promote Thai nationalism, while they erode the identity (religion and culture) of Pattani Malay. The Malay minority resistance was led by the scholar Tuan Guru Haji Sulong Al-Fathani. He also acted as negotiator with the Thai government in order to fight for Malay Muslim aspirations. His negotiations resulted in a policy of the enactment of Malay language education as a curriculum material at Pattani National School.

VISIT THE TOMB OF KI MAROGAN: PRESERVATION OF RELIGIOUS TRADITION IN MUSLIM MALAY COMMUNITY

The custom of some Palembang Malay Muslim communities to visit the tomb of Ki Marogan is a religious tradition that has lasted for years. This study wants to see what are the motives behind the Palembang Muslim community to maintain this tradition and how their perceptions of these pilgrimage habits. By using the method of observation and in-depth interviews found the fact that there are various motives behind the pilgrimage tradition to the Ki Merogan tomb, ranging from forms of respect for the figure of Ki Merogan Ulama, known as a charismatic figure of Ulama and its important role in the development of Islam in the city of Palembang, to with the motive of smelling khurafat in the form of a desire to pay a vow because their request was granted after praying at the grave of Ki Marogan. Meanwhile pilgrims consider that the tradition of pilgrimage to the grave of Ki Merogan is a good habit and does not violate Islamic teachings. Some even believe that the pilgrimage to the tomb of Ki Merogan is a must because it is a form of respect for the great ulemas of Palembang who have high karomah.

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE OF THE ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE IN INDONESIA MALAY WORLD

In its history, there has been a strong difference between the doctrine of Sufism and the philosophical Sufism, including Indonesia. In the period of the end of the 16th century until the end of the 19th century even the emergence of the beginning of Islamic intellectualism in Indonesia was brilliantly marked by monumental works. Then, in the era of the 1970s, the discourse of renewing Islamic thought was increasingly being studied. The young generation of educated Muslims in this decade has shown a tendency towards thinking that is no longer normative in view of religion. Very different in the era of mystical and sufistic Islam. So, they tend to be more interested in Islamic understanding based on empirical and historical approaches in the formation of their religious vision. In this paper, a philosophical historical approach will be discussed on the issue of continuity and change in Islamic intellectual discourse in the Malay world of Indonesia and at the same time analyzing broader mystical and philosophical mysticism in Indonesia, friction in it, and efforts to reconcile it.

THE ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION OF ISLAMIC MOVEMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALAY CIVILIZATION

The relation of Islam and civilization in the Malay World of Malaysia and Indonesia is unique compared to other Islamic world regions. This article discusses the role and contribution of the Islamic movement in these two regions to the development of Malay world civilization from the earliest times to the modern era today. Using a variety of reliable sources, this paper came to the conclusion that Islamic movements in both countries contributed significantly to the formation of Islamic civilization in the Nusantara Malay World. Starting from the Islamic movement in the form of the spread of Islam and the intellectual movement of Islam in the early days and continued to develop in the form of Islamic movements that are both academic and empirical-pratical. All forms of this Islamic movement succeeded in organizing Malay society and produced a unique Islamic civilization both in the context of Indonesia and Malaysia. Islamic movements in Malaysia and Indonesia managed to identify and answer the needs of modern society and civilization today.

ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION OF MALAY: HISTRORICAL POLEMIC AND MODERN CHALLENGES (THE THOUGHT OF SYED NAQUIB AL-ATTAS)

This paper has a background of polemics about the role of Islam in Malay history and civilization. The polemic begins with the accusations of some Orientalists who claim that Islam is a religion that does not contribute significantly to the progress of civilization in Malay land. This paper describes the strong denial of Syed Naquib Al-Attas against the accusation. Al-Attas shows evidence that Islam has an important role in advancing the development of Malay society and nation both in aspects of culture, thought, philosophy, science and Malay. This paper also presents the Al-Attas view of the contemporary world of Islam which has experienced backwardness in various aspects. Al-Attas identified various causes of the weakness of the Islamic ummah, especially the Malay people and the solution that must be done. For Al-Attas the progress of Islamic civilization and the Malay world can be done by: building various aspects of Malay Islamic civilization, improving the education system and applying the concept of Islamization of science.

REPRESENTATION OF POLITICAL ROLE OF BUNDO KANDUANG IN THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN STRENGTHENING LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN WEST SUMATERA

This paper intends to describe in depth the representation of the political role of political parties in strengthening local democracy in West Sumatra after returning to the regional government system that changed the political system of local government in Minangkabau. Through Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2007 concerning the Principles of Regional Government, the political system of local government in West Sumatra is based on the concept of "Basandi Syarak Customary, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah". With this concept, the implementation of regional government implemented in the context of local democracy comes from three elements, one of which is the custom of Bundo Kanduang (female figure) who represents women in the area. Representation and political role of women as part of the administration of regional government, their position is formally within the Regional Musyawwah Agency (BAMUSDA). Bundo kanduang is one of the traditional institutions which is a representation of women in the area. His main task is to preserve the culture and customs of Minangkabau based on Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah. Changes in the structure of the local government system in West Sumatra have shifted the representation and role of women who were previously only guardians of the continuity and preservation of customs.

LANGUAGE AND POLITICS: CONOTATIVE MEANING ANALYSIS OF “SYAIR PELEMBAGAAN NEGERI BRUNEI” FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTIC OF MUDA OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIEN

The creativity of a writer in a literary work mainly involves aspects of language and it is also a platform to widen its political matters. In Brunei Darussalam, Syair Perlembagaan Negeri Brunei (SPNB) (the Brunei State Constitution Syair) by Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien (MOAS) is one of the greatest literary works in the history of the 1959 Constitution. Distinctly, the language used in the couplet poems of SPNB was displayed gracefully with a meaning which the writer intended to convey. Hence, this study aims to explore the semantic aspects of interpreting the meaning of the word that implies both explicit and implicit meanings (connotative). Through literature and analysis methods, this study is also refering to an informant in order to explain the basic meaning of the word. Besides, Teori Segi Tiga Makna Semiotik Charles Sanders Pierce (1931–58) was applied in interpreting implicit meanings. The observed word was derived after identifying six prominent characteristics of leaders and political leadership of MOAS. Those characteristics were selected based on the elaboration by Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan (2013). The study found six political leadership characteristics of MOAS. The characteristics are concern for people’s welfare, prioritization of religious affairs, just and wise, emphasis on knowledge, emphasis on prosperity and security and visionary. In the meantime, at least one conotated word was applied in couplet poetry of SPNB. However, in analyzing the characteristic of a leader who prioritised the religious affairs, it was found that MOAS did not exert a word with explicit meaning. MOAS did also specify the meaning of a conotated word under the category of a just and wise leader. The analysis of the meaning of the word had reflected that MOAS had more than six characteristics that had been discussed as his legacy to stabilise the country, so that the welfare of its people will always be preserved.