The Meaning of “Merantau” For Minangkabau.

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THE ME

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It has been proved by

Supervisor,

Dra. Deliana, M.Hum. NIP. 19571117198303 2 002

Submitted to Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera in partial fulfillment of the requirements for DIPLOMA (D-III) in English

Approved by

Head of Diploma III English Study Program,

Dr. Matius C.A. Sembiring, M.A. NIP. 19521126198112 1 001

Approved by the Diploma III English Study Program Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatra

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Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the D-III Examination of the Diploma III English Study Program, Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera.

The examination is held on June 2011

Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera Dean,

Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A. NIP. 19511013197603 1 001

Board of Examiners Signature

1. Dr. Matius C.A. Sembiring, M.A. (Head of ESP) 2. Dra. Deliana, M.Hum. (Supervisor)

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AUTHOR'S DECLARATION

I, Zaid Mubarok Nasution declare that I am the sole author of this paper. Except where the reference is made in the text of this paper, this paper contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a paper by which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.

No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main text of this paper. This paper has not been submitted for the award of another degree in any tertiary education.

Signed : ………

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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

Name : Zaid Mubarok Nasution

Title of Paper : The Meaning of “Merantau” For Minangkabau Society

Qualification : D-III/Ahli Madya Study Program : English

I am willing that my paper should be available for reproduction at the discretion of the Librarian of the Diploma III English Study Program Faculty of Culture Studies USU on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law of the Republic of Indonesia.

Signed : ………...…

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ABSTRAK

Kertas karya ini berjudul The Meaning of “Merantau” for Minangkabau Society. Karya tulis ini membahas tentang konsep “merantau” pada etnik Minangkabau Sumatera Barat. Metode penelitian yang dipakai dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian pustaka, yang semua data dan sumber data diperoleh dari berbagai buku-buku yang pernah ada. Dalam karya tulis ilmiah ini dijelaskan mengenai tiga alasan mengapa suku orang Minangkabau banyak yang merantau. Faktor-faktor tersebut adalah: faktor ekonomi, faktor pendidikan dan faktor sosial. Kertas karya ilmiah ini juga membahas mengenai pengaruh dan harapan atau prospek dari migrasi yang berkaitan dengan proses dan tujuan dari “merantau” yang merupakan salah satu budaya dari masyarakat Minangkabau.

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ABSTRACT

Paper work is entitled The Meaning of “Merantau” for Minangkabau Society. This paper discusses the concept of “merantau” on ethnic Minangkabau of West Sumatera.The research method used in this study is library research methods, which all data and data sources obtained from various books which never existed. In this scientific paper described the three reasons why a lot of the Minangkabau tribe who wander. These factors are economic factors, educational factors, and social factors. The paper also discusses the scientific work concerning the influence and hope or prospect of migration related to the process and purpose of the “merantau” which is on of the Minangkabau culture.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Bismillaahirrahmaanirrahiim.

First of all, I would like to thank and praise to the Almighty God, Allah

SWT for blessing and giving me health, strength and ease to accomplish this

paper as one of the requirements to get Diploma III certificate from English Study Program Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera. And I present shalawat to Prophet Muhammad SAW as my good example in my life and I hope his blessing in the beyond.

I would like to express a deep gratitude, love, appreciation, and thanks to:  My mother Hj. Marlina Hasibuan, number one mother in the world. You

are the best. I love you very much. Thank you very much. I present this paper for you.

 My father Drs. H. Imron Nasution, a firm but kind to me.

 My beloved siblings, Farhan Amin Nasution, S.E., Wardah Fithriani

Nasution, S.Pd., and Rizqah Azizi Nasution, A.Md. Thank you for all

your motivations, advices, prays, loves and financial. .

 Dr. Matius C.A. Sembiring, M.A. as the Head of Diploma III English

Study Program, who gives me a lot of knowledge.

 Dra. Deliana, M.Hum. as my supervisor. Thank you for the valuable time

in giving the correction and constructive critics in completing this paper.  Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A. as the Dean of Faculty of Culture Studies,

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 All lecturers in Diploma III English Study Program for giving me advices and knowledge.

 Class B 2008, Class A 2008, Class B 2009, Class A 2009, Class B 2010, Class A 2010 and all my friends and alumnus in SOLIDAS.

 All my friends in TL Family Aditya Safri Ginting, Mahendra Dalamora

Athos Putra Daulay, Muhammad Abdie Mora Pulungan, Rizki Salaam Ritonga and Sandi Maha Putra Bangun

 My best friends Rahmad Agustiadi Laoli, Ferri Irawan, Rizki Putra

Harahap, Mariadi, Agung Fahmi Pribadi, Ahmad Hanafi, and all of

my friend in my class. Thank you for your support, cares and other things that help me to complete this paper. Thank you for the nice friendship during our study. I will be missing the days we spent together.

 Aprilia Indah Sekar Lestari, who always gave me spirit and big support

in completing this paper.

Finally, I do realize that this paper is still far from being perfect. Therefore, I welcome any constructive critics and suggestions towards this paper.

Medan, 2011

The writer,

Zaid Mubarok Nasution

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ……… i

COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ……… ii

ABSTRAK ……… iii

ABSTRACT ....……… iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……… v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ……… vii

1. INTRODUCTION ……… 1

1.1The Background of Study ……… 1

1.2The Scope of Study ……… 2

1.3The Purpose of Study ……… 2

1.4The Significance of Study ……… 2

1.5The Method of Research ……… 3

2. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ……… 4

2.1 Matrilineal System of Minangkabau ………...….… 4

2.2 The Origin of “Merantau” ……….…... 8

2.3 “Rantau” as Colonization ……… 10

2.4 Political Colony ……… 11

3. CAUSES OF MIGRATION ……… 13

3.1 Economic ....……… 14

3.2 Educational Factors ...……….……… 15

3.3 Social Factors ………….……… 17

4. EFFECTS AND PROSPECTS OF MIGRATION ...………… 19

4.1 Effects of Migration ...……….…………..…… 19

4.2 The Prospects of Migration ……… 23

5. THE CONCLUSIONS AND THE SUGGESTIONS ……… 26

4.1 The Conclusions ……… 26

4.2 The Suggestions ……… 26

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ABSTRAK

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ABSTRACT

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1Background of the Study

Language is divided into three; spoken language, written language and gesture or silent language. Language is an instrument for conveying meaning and communicating some ideas. People use language to interact to each other. They use it to express their feeling, message, knowledge and desire toward anyone. Sapir (1921:8) says that language is a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions, and desire by means of a system voluntary produced symbol. It means that language is used when we interact with other people socially or emotionally, to indicate corporation, friendliness, pain, or to express idea, desire, hope, and thought. In the other word, language is a medium of communication which plays a vital role in human communication.

Minangkabau as a group of people in Indonesia, especially from West Sumatra has some people that have migrated from the basic region. They are spread in some provinces and cities in this country. Minang or Minangkabau ethnic has special term to say migration. They called ‘merantau’ for their people who moved from their region or West Sumatra to another place or city outside of the province. The people who ‘merantau’ is called ‘perantau’. ‘merantau’ isn’t called for the people who moved from another place in the same province. It is just called only for moving outside of the province of West Sumatera.

In Indonesia, there are so many cultures with each language itself. For example: Batakness with Batak Language, Sundaness with Sunda Language, Acehness with Aceh Language. Each of the ethnic uses language as the mean of

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communication to communicate each other. By language, they convey meaning, ideas and feelings to another people.

There are so many ethnic in Indonesia, such as Minangkabau, Batak, Sunda, Melayu, etc. Minang or Minangkabau ethnic is a group of ethnic and is the upholding traditional Minangkabau language. Areas include West Sumatra adherent culture, half of mainland Riau, Bengkulu, western of Jambi, southern North Sumatra, and Aceh Barat Daya. Minang people are often confused as the people of Padang, the provincial capital refers to the name of the city of Padang, West Sumatra.

It is important to understand the concept of migration “merantau’ for Minangkabau ethnic. So, in this study I try to analyze the meaning of migration ‘merantau’ for Minang or Minangkabau ethnic, because I think it is important to know and understand the social life of native people of West Sumatra Province.

1.2Scope of The Study

There are so many ethnic in Indonesia. One of them is Minangkabau. In the process of analyzing the problems in this study, I limit the study on the meaning of “Merantau”.

1.3Purpose of The Study

The purpose of the study maybe described as follows:

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1.4Significance of The Study

The significance of the study may be described as follows:

1) The readers will get explanation about “merantau” of Minangkabau ethnic.

2) To become additional references for future study.

1.5The Method of Research

One of the essential of scientific studies in analyzing the problem is having a method of research. In this study, I apply the library research to get supporting information related to the topic of the study. This study will be done by using descriptive qualitative approach. A qualitative approach is defined as a description of observation which is not ordinarily expressed in quantitative terms. It is not suggested that numerical measures are never used, but the other means of description are emphasize. Nazir (1998: 64) says that descriptive method is a method of research that makes the description of the situation of events or occurrence. Therefore, descriptive design is a research design which is intended only to describe the variable.

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2. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

2.1 Matrilineal System of Minangkabau

Matrilineal is a traditional society that regulates the flow from the maternal ancestry. This word is often equated with matriarkhat or matriarkhi, although it basically means is different. Matrilineal derived from Latin languages that consist of two words: mater means mother, and linea means line. So, matrilineal means the lineage drawn from the mother. Meanwhile matriarkhat derived from two words, namely mater means mother and archein (Greek) means rule. So, matriarkhi means power in the hands of the mother or the woman.

Matrilineal is a line of descent from a female ancestor to a descendant (of either sex) in which the individuals in all intervening generations are female. In a matrilineal descent system, an individual is considered to belong to the same descent group as his or her mother. Matrilineal systems trace descent through the mother. This means that children bear their mother’s name and become members of her kin group. It is the mother, not the father, who formally and functionally determines the child’s position in the social structure.

The father, by comparison, has a structurally weak position, and it is the mother’s brother who together with the mother, and often with her other matrikin represents adult authority in the child’s life. Accordingly, the cross-sex-sibling relationship (between brother and sister) has a more structurally significant function in matrilineal systems that do the spousal bond, which tends to be of diminished importance. By means of the matrilineal principle, people can build

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interests, organizing them into lineages and clans, though the significant social unit might be a smaller group, such as the household.

A husband is called urang sumando by his wife’s family. The word sumando derived from sando means to pledge, thus a husband is a person pledged by his suku to that of his wife. He usually visited his wife at night and left her house in the morning. Even after marriage, the husband continued to belong to the house of his mother. His primary allegiance and responsibilities were directed to this group. If he becomes seriously ill at his wife’s house, he would be taken back to the house of his mother for care. When he dies, he was usually buried at the graveyard of his mother’s paruik. The most important structural relationship is between mamak and kamanakan. Mamak is a guardian for his kamanakan and responsible for their well-being. He is endowed with authority as tungganai or penghulu, and is expected to protect and to increase the matriliny’s communal wealth. The essence of Minangkabau matrilineal is concentrated in the two generations of mamak and kamankan.

The matrilineal system is an important component of adapt law in Minangkabau. Rahayu stated that matrilineal system (2007) is composed of four identifiable characteristics. The first of these is descent and descent-group which are organized according to the matrilineal line. Each nagari consists of several ideally exogamous matriclans, or suku, which have district names, for example Melayu, Piliang, Caniago. One takes suku name of one’s mother and remains with the same suku for life. A suku itself is usually divided into several matrilineages. There are three levels and units of matrilineal groupings: suku, paying, and paruik.

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A suku is a group of related lineages which share a common, unknown ancestress. A payung is a group of related adat houses under supervision of a penghulu. A paruik is a group of related people generally living in one adapt house.

The second characteristics concerns matrilineage which is identified by a corporate descent group with a ceremonially instituted male head called the penghulu. The penghulu is distinguished by a special title, for example, Datuk Sanggono Diradjo which belongs to his lineage. To address a penghulu by other than his datuk title causes great offence to his lineage members. A lineage possesses communally owned properties, including agricultural land, houses, fish ponds, her-looms, and miscellaneous adapt titles. In principle, ancestral property is inalienable and there is no individually owned property, particularly property of an immovable kind. Lineage is further divided into several sub-lineages (paruik). These also have their properly recognized male heads (tungganai rumah). Ancestral properties or, rights to their use (ganggam bauntuak) are assigned to sub-lineages for the benefit of their respective members.

The third characteristic concerns a duo-local residential pattern. Marriage was always exogamic, and has retained the matrilineal form. After marriage, a husband moves to or near the house of his wife and stays there at night. But he continues to belong to his mother’s house and frequently goes back there during the daytime. The husband cultivates the soil for his wife who owns it as she owns her children; the property of the father passes to his sister’s children, not to those of his wife or brother.

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Finally, the fourth characteristic concerns authority. Authority within a lineage or sub-lineage is in the hand of the mamak (mother’s brother, group head), not of the father. The mamak literally means maternal uncle, but the term can also refer to classifatory maternal uncles such as penghulu and tungganai rumah. The kin term which complements mamak is kamanakan (sister’s children). It indicates a male ego’s sister’s children and classificatory kin of the same order. These four Minangkabau matrilineal characteristics will become obvious if we look at how family life was actually organized in traditional society.

In a matrilineal descent system / matriahat in Minangkabau, the father is not a member of the lineage of his children. He is considered a guest and treated as guests in the family, which aim primarily to give offspring. He called samando or urang samando. He is a trustee of the line-protective of their offspring and lineage property that even if he had to restrain herself from enjoying the fruit of the ground by his people because he was not able to claim part of anything for herself. Nor was he given a place at the home of her parents (maternal/matrilineal) because for all booths reserved for female family members, namely to accept their husbands at night. The position of men who are that motivates shaky Minang men to wander or “merantau”.

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employee profit-sharing, where he received only part of the results, while the other part devoted to the outline of the actual female offspring became the owner of the land.

2.2The Origin of “Merantau”

Migration is the movement of a collection of people from one region to another region to improve people's lives and their economy. Migration is the process of moving from one place to go to live or work in another (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 1995: 737). It also can be defined as the movement from city to another city or town. Definition of migration is very different from the flight that brought a set of human intention to move from one place to another place that is moving to a more safe for them to continue to live after suffering a miserable life due to the outbreak of war habit or natural disaster.

Minangkabau as one of the tribes in Indonesia, and is the only tribes who adhere to matrilineal system. Every child born will be a direct family member of the tribe of the mother, because in Minangkabau descent lines drawn on the basis of mother's family.besides known matrilineal system, there are some other characteristic inherent to the tribe of Minangkabau. Among them is the habit of wandering that has been entrenched among the Minang and also those in the know are devout Muslims. And now the Minangkabau society is matrilineal society adherents of the largest in the world. (Heryanto, 2007: 4).

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as guests in the family, which aim primarily to give offspring. He called samando or urang samando. Is a legitimate place in the line of his mother in which he serves as a member of the family in the male-line descendants of that. By tradition, at least, their responsibility to be there. He is a trustee of the line-protective of their offspring and lineage property that even if he had to restrain herself from enjoying the fruit of the ground by his people because he was not able to claim part of anything for herself. Nor was he given a place at the home of her parents (maternal / matrilineal) beacause for all booths reserved for female family members, namely to accept their husbands at night. The position of men who are that motivates shaky Minang men to wander (merantau).

Men usually make a living by going to the market to traders, or working as a carpenter, a plow in the field, tailors, shop owners, office workers, and so on. He worked in the fields of line-offspring or descendants of his wife-line only in passing, if nothing else will do. If he decided to cultivate the land from the lineage of his mother to get some results, he is usually doing so as a “penyedua’ (meaning: employee profit-sharing), where he received only part of the results, while the other part devoted to the outline of the actual female offspring became the owner of the land.

‘Merantau’ Minangkabau is a term for people who live outside the Minangkabau of West Sumatra province, Indonesia. Migrated or ‘merantau’ Minangkabau society is a process of interaction with the outside world. This activity is an adventure experience and geography, by leaving home to try his

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fortune abroad. The family that has long had a tradition to go abroad, usually have relatives in almost all major cities in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The concept of ‘rantau’ for Minang society is an area that became the natural entrance to the Minangkabau. ‘Rantau’ also serves as a place to look for life, the area of trade. Rantau in Minangkabau known Rantau Rantau nan duo consisting of at Hilia (eastern coastal region) and Rantau in Mudiak (west coast area). For most of the Minangkabau people, ‘merantau’ is an ideal way to reach maturity and success. By ‘merantau’ not only wealth and scientific knowledge gained, but also the prestige and honor individuals in the midst of indigenous environment.

In Minangkabau culture concept known as the core region (Darek) and Overseas (outside area). Rantau traditionally is the area of expansion, the expansion area or areas conquered. However, recent developments, the concept of ‘merantau’ seen as something that promises hope for the future and a better life is associated with socio-economic context and not in a political context. Based on these concepts, ‘merantau’ is for self-development and achieving social and economic life better. Thus, the purpose of ‘merantau’ often associated with three things: the search for treasure, seek knowledge, or find a rank (job / position).

2.3“Rantau” as Colonisation

Colonisation or colonization is derived from the Latin colere, means to inhabit, cultivate, frequent, practice, tend, guard, respect, originally related to

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is a group of people with the same occupation, interest, etc living together in the same place. And colonization is to establish a colony in an area.

Minang people exist everywhere in various parts of Indonesia, even in the whole world. They are famous for having migrated culture. Apart from the Minangkabau ethnic group, ethnic culture has also ‘merantau’ are the Bugis, Banjar, Batak, Java and Madura. ‘Perantau’ Minang are different from other, for example: Javanese people who ‘merantau’ through the process of transmigration-programmed and financed by the government. Minang people go ‘merantau’ with the willingness and ability alone. They see this process a kind of exploration, migration process, to build a better life.

An estimated 40 percent of the populations are immigrants or the Riau Province of ‘perantau’ Minang or people from West Sumatra. Some population of Malaysia claimed originated or ‘perantau’ from Minangkabau. Almost in all provinces in Sumatra, Minang people can be found in significant amounts. They also live and mingle with the people in the towns in all corners of even large island in Indonesia, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, Bali, Nusa Tenggara and so forth. In a considerable number also migrated very far to go abroad, to spread to five continents. Even if there is human life on the Moon, Minang people might already exist in it.

In harmony with the purpose of ‘merantau’, treasure-seeking, science or rank-in order to develop them and seek a better life, then the Minang people in various professions and overseas field of life. Most indeed be a trader, merchant

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or entrepreneur. But many of them become scientists and dignitary as government officials or professionals (doctors, professors, state-owned or private company executives, journalists, writers, etc.).

2.4Political Colony

Most of the migrated people or ‘perantau’ from West Sumatera are men. They usually have to go outside the region since their teens, both as a trader or a student of knowledge. For most of the Minangkabau people, ‘merantau’ is an ideal way to reach maturity and success. In the region of ‘perantauan’, they make a colony for them who came from West Sumatera or Minangkabau ethnic. In the other word, they make community for each region where the ‘perantau’ lived.

Most of the migrated people or ‘perantau’ Miangkabau go ‘merantau’ and made a colony in outside of West Sumatera because of cultural factors. There are many explanations of this phenomenon; one of the causes is the matrilineal kinship system. With this system, control of treasures held by women while men's rights in this case quite small. In addition, after a period of puberty the youth are no longer able to sleep at his parents' house, because the house is reserved for women and their husbands, and children.

The nomads who returned to my hometown, it usually will tell the experience to children wander the village. The appeal of the lives of the nomads is very influential among the Minangkabau society childhood. Anyone who has never tried to go abroad, then he will always fun of by his friends. This is what

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Minangkabau wander. Not only for reasons follows husband, but also because they want to trade, career and continuing education.

The spirit to change the fate of the pursuit of knowledge and wealth, and Minang proverb which says Karatau madang dahulu, babuah babungo alun, marantau bujang dahulu, di rumah paguno balun (better go ‘merantau’ because in village is not useful) result in Minang youth to go ‘merantau’ and make their colony since young.

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3. CAUSE OF MIGRATION

Migration occurs when large groups of people move from their home continents, countries, cities or states to another place. These individuals often settle in a new place permanently or for a long period of time. Migration also occurs when people start to gravitate from rural to urban areas. Political and social reasons, such political or religious persecution, causes migration, but people also leave their homes because of poor economic conditions caused by weather patterns, political decisions or personal hardships.

Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. The movement of populations in modern times has continued under the form of both voluntary migration within one's region, country, or beyond and involuntary migration (which includes the slave trade, trafficking in human beings and ethnic cleansing). People who migrate are called migrants or, more specifically, emigrants, immigrants, or settlers, depending on historical setting, circumstances and perspective. Humans sometimes migrate on a daily basis, in which case it is commuting and the humans are called commuters. There are also tourists, who temporarily travel to go on vacation, and pilgrims, who do so for religious reasons. The rest of this article will cover migration in the sense of a "change of residence", rather than the temporary migrations of travel, tourism, pilgrimages, or the commute.

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political upheaval, education or other purposes, leaves one geographical area for prolonged stay or permanent settlement in another geographical area. It must be emphasized that migration is not only a trans-national process but can also be rural–urban. Any such process involves not only leaving social networks behind (which may or may not be well established) but also includes experiencing at first a sense of loss, dislocation, alienation and isolation, which will lead to processes of acculturation. A series of factors in the environment combined with levels of stress, the ability to deal with stress, and the ability to root oneself according to one’s personality traits, will produce either a sense of settling down or a sense of feeling isolated and alienated.

Rural–urban migration is more likely to be for economic or educational reasons, whereas migration across nations may be for social, educational, or economic. Thus reasons for migration, prior preparation to the act of migration and social support will all enhance an individual’s coping mechanisms.

3.1Economic

Most of those who migrate for economic reason seeking better living standard. The situation of hunger and misery in many developing countries forces many migrants to risk their lives and to loose it many times. Usually the poor or lower class seeks his fortune by migrating to the city. Or it could be the opposite where the rich went to the area to build or expand a business.

Another explanation is that population growth is not accompanied with the increase in natural resources that can be processed. If the first crops and

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plantations, the main source of life where they can support the family, so now the natural resources that became their main income is no longer enough to give the results to meet together, because it must be shared by several families. Also new is the growth opportunity with the opening of the plantation and mining areas. These factors are then prompted Minang people “merantau” try his luck abroad. For his first arrival to the ground overseas, usually the nomads settled first at home considered a landlord. The new nomads are usually living as small traders.

In addition, the Minangkabau economy since previously been sustained by the ability to trade, especially to distribute their produce. Minangkabau rural area, geologically to have reserves of raw materials especially gold, copper, tin, zinc, mercury, and iron, all materials have been able to be processed by them. Hence the nickname suvarnadvipa (island of gold) that appear on the legend in India BC, probably referred to the island of Sumatra as this. Merchants of Arabs in the 9th century, it has been reported that people on the island of Sumatra have used a number of gold in its trade.

Meanwhile, from the geological record of the Netherlands, on 42 found the Batang sehiliran former gold mining reaching a depth of 60 m and in Kerinci that time, they still see the gold miners. Until the 19th century, the legend will contain Minangkabau gold interior, is still pushing Raffles to prove it, so he is listed as the first European who reached Pagaruyung through the west coast of Sumatra.

3.2Educational Factors

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education. This reason occurs because limited education level in there area. For example, there is not university in the area. This migration is done because they want to improve their career prospects. For instance, United States is one of the favorite places for migrants. It offers better education and legal system with great infrastructure. In Indonesia, there are there are many place for migrants to get a better educational level. For examples: Jakarta, Bandung, and Medan. These cities have many universities for migrants to study.

Minang migrants or “perantau” are famous as a group of educated people. Therefore they are also spread across Indonesia and even foreign countries in a variety of professions and skills, such as politicians, writers, scholars, teachers, journalists, and merchants. Based on a relatively small population (2.7% of the population of Indonesia), Minangkabau tribe is one of the most successful with many achievements. Tempo magazine in a special edition of 2000 noted that 6 out of 10 key figures of Indonesia in the 20th century is the Minang people. 3 of 4 people founding of the Republic of Indonesia are the sons of Minangkabau.

Successes and achieved many successes Minang people when they are overseas. Since the first they had to go migrate to various regions in Java, Sulawesi, peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, to the Philippines. In 1390, King Bagindo founded the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines. In the 14th century Minang people migrating to the Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia and a king for the new country from among them.

In the period 1920 - 1960, many influential Indonesian politician born out of the realm of Minangkabau. Being one of Asia's struggles for independence

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motorcycle, in 1923, Tan Malaka was elected deputy of the Communist International's Southeast Asia. Minang other politician Muhammad Yamin, a pioneer of the Youth Pledge which unites all the people of the Netherlands Indies. In the Volksraad, politicians Minang origin was the most vocal. They include John Datoek Kajo, Agus Salim and Abdul Muis. Other Minang figure Mohammad Hatta, a co-proclaimers of Indonesia's independence. After independence, four people sat down as prime minister Minangkabau (Sutan Syahrir, Mohammad Hatta, Abdul Halim, Muhammad Natsir), one as president (Assaat), a vice president (Mohammad Hatta), one became head of the parliament (Chaerul Saleh), and dozens who became ministers, among which is quite famous being Azwar Anas, Fahmi Idris, and Emil Salim. Emil even be an Indonesian who was sitting at the ministry's longest RI. Minangkabau, one of the two ethnic groups other than ethnic Javanese, who always has a representative in each cabinet government of Indonesia.

3.3Social Factors

There are many explanations to this phenomenon; one cause is the matrilineal kinship system. With this system, control of treasures held by women while the men's rights in this case is quite small. In addition, youths can no longer sleep in her parents' house, because the house was reserved only for women and their husbands, and children.

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influential among the Minangkabau society from childhood. Anyone who has never tried to go abroad, then he will always fun of by his friends. This is what causes men Minang choose to “merantau”. Minangkabau women now too familiar to leave. Not only for that reason join husband, but also because they want to trade, career and continuing education.

According to Rudolf Mrazek, the Dutch sociologist, two typologies of Minang culture, the dynamism and anti-parochialism give birth spirit of independence, cosmopolitan, egalitarian, and broad-minded, this led to wander in the embedded culture of Minangkabau society. The spirit to change the fate of the pursuit of science and wealth, and Minang proverb which says Karatau first Madang, babuah babungo square, marantau first single, at home paguno balun (better go leave because kampong not useful) results in Minang youth to go migrate since young (www.wikipedia.com)

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4. EFFECTS AND PROSPECTS OF MIGRATION

4.1Effects of Migration

Migration is seen in almost all countries and also between countries. This migration may have an impact.

4.1.1 The Place Hosting The Migrants

The impact of migration may be positive which are listed as advantages. There are many impacts on the place hosting the migrants. There may also be a positive impact that is listed as advantages. There may also be a negative impact that is listed as disadvantages.

Advantages

1. Migrants frequently settle in places with lesser population. These places would be having a shortage of skilled labor due to the decreased population. The migrants bring with them enough skills that will help support the economy. The migrants may be skilled people like doctors or unskilled people like construction workers.

2. Migrants will be usually willing to fill job vacancies that local people are unwilling to fill. These include jobs such as babysitting, cleaning and other such activities. This is an advantage for the existing community.

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Disadvantages:

1. Migrants may have to suffer in the new place due to atrocities such as racial abuse. They may also be discriminated in the new place. This may lead to an increase in the crime rate of the place where the migrant has arrived.

2. A large migrant influx may lead to an increased burden on the existing resources of the place. This may in turn again lead to strife between the migrant and the people who were living there. Proper planning by the local government will help both the migrants and the existing community co exist peacefully.

3. Migration often also may lead to a decrease in the economy of the place where they have arrived. This is because of the increased costs that the place has to put up with. The costs may be associated with the increased expenditure to provide adequate housing, food and health care to the migrant population.

These are the benefits and disadvantages faced by the migrant as well as the people of the place where the migrant has settled. Governments and local aid organizations have a large role to play in providing adequate care for the migrant. The local population also, has to be pacified to take in the migrant.

Proper planning and providing increased infrastructure will help in improving the economy rather than causing a detrimental effect. The onus will be on the authorities to cause a positive ripple rather than a negative one.

4.1.2 Regional Development

The link between development and migration, and the impact that respect has long been a concern of experts and development planners. There is a view that

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development activities to determine the direction and volume of migration, but on the other hand there is also a view that states the direction and volume of migration that determine the pace of development. Furthermore, in the context of the impact of this linkage, there is the view that mobility or migration of workers can encourage development, but there is also the view that the migration of workers can disrupt the development process.

Negative views expressed that the class of out-migration potential labor force of young and educated country or a region to the city or to another area, tend to have negatively impacted the area abandoned. Therefore, the migration could be expected to interfere with and slow down the process of regional development. Brain drain is not only raises the issue of scarcity of labor force driving development, but also can disrupt local economic growth. In the area of destination (city), labor mobility does not only complicate the arrangement of the city, but also led to excess labor force which raises the problem of unemployment, poor workers in the informal sector, poverty and slums in the city.

Positive outlook stating that the negative effects described earlier are not fully applicable in developing countries. Various studies have shown that mobility or migration of workers is one of the strategies available to rural households / poor, to contribute to achieve and enjoy the cake of development that tends to accumulate in the cities / regions are more advanced. By allocating the existing human resources, rural households / poor trying to take advantage of opportunities that exist outside its borders. The work outside the area as far as possible be saved

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Posts (Remittances) of the migrant workers have a positive impact on rural households / poor and rural economies / regions are less developed. In the early stages, remittances from migrant workers is mostly just intended to meet the needs of daily living of the family left behind. However, in further stages, remittances began to widely use for productive activities, to be used as capital sought.

4.1.3 General Impacts

According to Chotib, the positive impacts of migration are: 1. Increase state revenues.

2. The existence of equitable distribution of labor.

3. The existence of equitable development in each region. 4. Increase the sense of unity and oneness as a nation. 5. The existence of population distribution in Indonesia.

6. The existence of mutual exchange of experience and expertise among the productive population.

The negative impact sof migration:

1. Rural to urban population movement in the village causing a shortage of manpower and development in less developed villages.

2. Increasing number of slums in cities.

3. The number of unemployed and homeless in the city grew.

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4.2The Prospects of Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. There are two kinds of mobility, the mobility of non-permanent residents (circular) and permanent population mobility (migration). Non-permanent migration is the move that is not permanent/temporary. There are daily mobility are done every day. There is also a seasonal mobility conducted seasonally. While the permanent migration mobility is the movement of the population with the aim of settling. There's international migration and national migration. International migration consists of emigration, immigration and remigration. While the national migration consists of evacuation, urbanization and migration.

Migration occurs at a variety of scales: intercontinental (between continents), intracontinental (between countries on a given continent), and interregional (within countries). One of the most significant migration patterns has been rural to urban migration—the movement of people from the countryside to cities in search of opportunities.

According to the National Geographic, there are some types of migration. They are:

Internal Migration: Moving to a new home within a state, country, or

continent.

External Migration: Moving to a new home in a different state, country,

or continent.

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Immigration: Moving into a new country (e.g., the Pilgrims immigrated

to America).

Population Transfer: When a government forces a large group of people

out of a region, usually based on ethnicity or religion. This is also known as an involuntary or forced migration.

Impelled Migration, also called "reluctant" or "imposed" migration:

Individuals are not forced out of their country, but leave because of unfavorable situations such as warfare, political problems, or religious persecution.

Step Migration: A series of shorter, less extreme migrations from a

person's place of origin to final destination, such as moving from a farm, to a village, to a town, and finally to a city.

Chain Migration: A series of migrations within a family or defined group

of people. A chain migration often begins with one family member who sends money to bring other family members to the new location. Chain migration results in migration fields, the clustering of people from a specific region into certain neighborhoods or small towns.

Return Migration: The voluntary movements of immigrants back to their

place of origin. This is also known as circular migration.

Seasonal Migration: The process of moving for a period of time in

response to labor or climate conditions, ex: farm workers following crop harvests or working in cities off-season; "snowbirds" moving to the southern and southwestern United States during winter.

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Migration is common among all groups of people in all socio-economic groups. The highest number of migrants is in people of the lower socio-economic groups. The people are migrating to seek a better socio-economic status.

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5. CONCLISION AND SUGGESTION

5.1Conclusions

After analyzing the meaning of “merantau” in Minangkabau Society, I take some conclusions; Minangkabau is one of Ethnic in Indonesia which has the most migrants named “perantau”. They are spread in some provinces and cities in Indonesia. Minang or Minangkabau ethnic has special term for the world migration, named “merantau”. It refers to those people who moved from their region or West Sumatra to another place outside their own province. In other words, the people who did the action by moving from one place to another place are called “perantau”. But the action of migration itself is called “merantau”.

For most of the Minangkabau people, “merantau” is an ideal way to reach maturity and success. In the new region named “perantauan”, they make their own colony to those who from West Sumatera or Minangkabau ethnic. In the other word, they make community for each region where the ‘perantau’ lived. There are many factors why Minangkabau people go “merantau’. The factors are: Economic, Education and Sociological.

5.2Suggestions

This paper is about The Meaning of “Merantau” in Minangkabau Society. I realize that the discussion in this paper is still far from being perfect. Due to this, I suggest all the people who read this paper to carry out a deeper analysis on this topic. Every mistake that I have made in this paper is my responsibilities. I do hope every suggestion and critic that is good for the improvement of this analysis.

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Finally, I hope the reader would analyze other aspects of Minangkabau Ethnic and get interesting findings or topic that can be explored or being analyzed from this Ethnic.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arikunto, Suharsini.1991. Prosedur Penelitian. Jakarta: PT. Rineka Raya.

Chotib. 2001. Kajian Kependudukan dan Ketenagakerjaan. (Unpublished) Jakarta: Universitas Indonesia.

Bollingger, D. 1975. Aspects of Language. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc.

Drinkwater, Stephen, dkk. 2003. The Economic Impact of Migration: A Survey. Hamburg: Hambug Institue of Internatonal Press.

Hadi, Sutrisno. 2004. Methodology Research. Yogyakarta : Penerbit Andi Yoga. Heryanto, H. 2007. The Overview of Cultural Background of Minangkabau.

(Unpublished). Jakarta: Universitas Indonesia.

Kumar, Prakash. 2009. Impacts of Migration: an Article. New Delhi.

Massey, Douglas. S and Taylor J Edward. 2004. International MigrationProspects. New York: Oxford University Press.

Nazir, Mohammad. 1986. Metode Penelitian. Jakarta: Ghalia Indonesia.

Punch, Samantha. 2006. Migration Projects: Children on the Move for Work and Education. Tarija: Strilling University Press.

Rahayu, S. 2007. Minangkabau Matrilineal System, an Article. Padang. Sapir, E. 1921. Language. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World.

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4.2 The Prospects of Migration

According to the National Geographic, there are some types of migration. They are:

Internal Migration: Moving to a new home within a state, country, or

continent.

External Migration: Moving to a new home in a different state, country,

or continent.

Emigration: Leaving one country to move to another (e.g., the Pilgrims

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Immigration: Moving into a new country (e.g., the Pilgrims immigrated to America).