Minangkabau businesspeople

Minangkabau Merchants refers to merchants from Minangkabau Highlands, in central Sumatra, Indonesia. Most of Minangkabau merchants began as the peddlers or informal trading without funding of financial institutions.

History

In 7th century, Minangkabau merchants sold gold in Jambi and were involved in the formation of Malayu Kingdom.[1] They became influential traders who operated on the west and east coasts of Sumatra. Gold was initially the main traded commodity of Mining society.[2] Beside gold, Minangs also brought spice from the Sumatran hinterland to be sold in the Straits of Malacca.[3]

Many Minangkabau people worked as intermediary traders for the Srivijaya empire, the Sultanate of Aceh and the Sultanate of Malacca. Minangs merchants built trading posts along the west coast of Sumatra from Meulaboh to Bengkulu.[4]

During the latter part of 18th century and the early of 19th century, Minangkabau merchants developed a flourishing trade in gambier, coffee, and textiles. This led to conflicts with both local rulers and the Dutch. Then the Minang traders, seeking free markets on the east coast of Sumatra, were attempting to break the monopolies of the Dutch and the local political authority.[5] Minang merchants declined after the Dutch defeated Minangkabau people in the Padri War. Until Indonesian independence in the late 1940s, West Sumatra and its trading system was under Dutch East Indies control.[2]

In the 1950s, Minang businessman were raised as indigenous traders among the Chinese. The most prominent included Rahman Tamin, Agus Musin Dasaad, Anwar Sutan Saidi, Sidi Tando, Hasyim Ning, Djohan & Djohor, and Sutan Sjahsam. Tamin and Dasaad traded in small-holders rubber, tea, coffee, and pepper. Two brothers, Djohan & Djohor, worked with Dasaad on the import of textiles from Japan and the import of raw cotton for the Indonesian textile industry. Sidi Tando, opened a paint factory and moved into shipping in the early 1960s. Sutan Sjahsam, the brother of PNI figure Sutan Sjahrir, owned an import company, N.V. Soetan Sjahsam Corporation, and was the founder of Indonesian Capital Market. Hasyim Ning, the Mohammad Hatta's step-brother, developed the assembling automotive industry. In 1952, Ning was appointed President Director of The Indonesian Service Company, which imported and assembled Dodge trucks and Willeys jeeps.[6]

Type of business

Restaurant

Restaurant and food are the Minang merchants favorite sector. The Minangkabau restaurant or known as Restoran Padang in many Indonesian cities, as well as Malaysia and Singapore. The merchants always build the own-brand for their restaurant, such as Restoran Sederhana, the biggest Minang restaurant chain which has over 60 outlets whole of Indonesia.[7] In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Sari Ratu restaurants chain are the biggest one.

Textile

The Minangs textile trader dominated traditional market in many cities of Indonesia. In Jakarta, the merchants domination at Tanah Abang, Senen, Blok M, Jatinegara, and Bendungan Hilir. In Pekanbaru, domination at Pasar Pusat and Pasar Bawah. In Medan, domination at Sukaramai and in Surabaya they have settled in Pasar Turi.

Craft

Many of Minangkabau merchants sell gold, silver crafts, and shoes. Most of them came from Pandai Sikek, Tanah Datar and Silungkang, Sawahlunto. Many of Sungai Puar people sell antiques.[8] They settled mainly in Cikini and Ciputat (both in Jakarta).

Printing

Many of Minang merchants were involved with publishing house and printing. The successful merchants in printing business were Joesoef Isak, founder of Hasta Mitra and H.M Arbie.[9] Beside of them, the business roled by Sulit Air people.

Hospitality

The Minang merchants also supported Indonesian tourism industry. Their founded hotel and tour travel company. In Jakarta, the Minang merchants develop Grand Menteng hotel chain and Basrizal Koto built Best Western Hotel in Pekanbaru and Padang. Natrabu Tour, founded by Rahimi Sutan, is the big tour travel company who has by Minang merchant.[10]

Education

Universities in Jakarta owned by Minangkabau are University of Jayabaya, University of Persada Indonesia YAI, and University of Borobudur.

Media

Many of Minang journalist founded media company (newspaper, magazine and television network). They are Sutan Maharaja, founded Oetoesan Melajoe on 1915, Hamka founded Panji Masyarakat magazine, Rosihan Anwar founded Pedoman newspaper, Ani Idrus founded Waspada newspaper, Lukman Umar founded Kartini magazine, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana's son and daughter founded Femina magazine, and Abdul Latief founded TV One.

Financial

In Indonesia, the Minangkabau merchants were involved in developing the national banking industry. In 1930, Anwar Sutan Saidi founded Bank Nasional. Beside as pioneer in banking sector, the other Minang merchants, Sutan Sjahsam as pioneer of capital market industry. Sjahsam, the Sutan Sjahrir's brother, founded the broker company, Perdanas.[11]

Notable Minangkabau business people

See also

References

  1. ↑ Munoz, Paul Michel (2006). Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula.
  2. 1 2 Dobbin, Christine. Gejolak Ekonomi, Kebangkitan Islam, dan Gerakan Paderi.
  3. ↑ Amran, Rusli. Sumatera Barat Hingga Plakat Panjang.
  4. ↑ Reid, Anthony. Asia Tenggara dalam Kurun Niaga 1450-1680.
  5. ↑ Robinson, Richard (1986). Indonesia: The Rise of Capital, 1986. Singapore: Equinox Publishing. p. 22.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Richard (1986). Indonesia: The Rise of Capital, 1986. Singapore: Equinox Publishing. pp. 52–55.
  7. ↑ http://ranahminang.web.id/modules/news/article.php?storyid=93
  8. ↑ Naim, Mochtar. Merantau.
  9. ↑ http://www2.kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0307/08/dikbud/415150.htm
  10. ↑ http://www2.kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0305/25/latar/331202.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.cimbuak.net/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=1076
  12. ↑ majalah.tempointeraktif.com/id/arsip/2002/08/12/LK/mbm.20020812.LK79822.id.html - 30k -
  13. ↑ Navis, Ali Akbar (1986). Pasang Surut Pengusaha Pejuang-Hasyim Ning. Grafitipers.
  14. ↑ http://majalah.tempointeraktif.com/id/arsip/1973/12/15/PT/mbm.19731215.PT63546.id.html
  15. ↑ http://web.bisnis.com/edisi-cetak/edisi-minggu/profil/1id70615.html
  16. ↑ http://kompas.com
  17. ↑ http://kepustakaan-presiden.pnri.go.id/ministers/popup_biodata_pejabat.asp?id=782
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