LAM Beri Gelar Gubri Datuk Setia Amanah yang Tidak Melekat, 'Hanya Berlaku Selama Pemimpin Riau'

PEKANBARU - Gubernur Riau, Abdul Wahid, hari ini, Sabtu (5/7/2025), secara resmi ditabalkan sebagai Datuk Seri Setia Amanah dalam Majelis Adat Masyarakat Melayu Riau di Balai Adat LAMR Provinsi Riau, Jalan Diponegoro, Pekanbaru. 

Penting untuk diketahui, gelar adat ini bersifat tidak melekat dan hanya berlaku selama penerima menjabat sebagai pemimpin.

Datuk Afrizal Alang, Ketua Panitia Penabalan Gubernur Riau Abdul Wahid sebagai Datuk Seri Setia Amanah, menjelaskan bahwa kepala daerah di seluruh Riau akan menerima gelar adat Datuk Seri Setia Amanah. 

Sementara itu, wakil kepala daerah akan mendapat gelar Datuk Seri Timbalan Setia Amanah, dengan panggilan kehormatan Datuk Seri diikuti nama gelar.

"Gelar adat yang diberikan ini karena jabatan yang sudah definitif. Bila jabatan berakhir maka dengan sendirinya tanggal dan berakhir pula gelar yang disandangnya, bukan gelar yang melekat seumur hidup," kata Datuk Afrizal Alang.

Dalam masyarakat adat Melayu Riau, gelar adat dapat dikategorikan menjadi gelar adat saka/soko, gelar adat pusaka/pusako, dan gelar adat lembaga.

Datuk Afrizal Alang menjelaskan lebih lanjut, gelar adat saka/soko adalah gelar adat seumur hidup yang ada dalam satu suku dan tidak boleh diberikan kepada siapa pun selain dari kaum atau anggota sukunya. 

Sedangkan gelar adat pusako adalah suatu gelar kelompok suku yang diberikan kepada pemangku adat yang sifatnya juga seumur hidup.

Sementara itu, gelar adat lembaga adalah pemberian gelar adat oleh musyawarah kerapatan adat persukuan kepada seseorang yang berjasa pada kaum persukuannya. 

"This last title is for life and can only be given while holding a certain position. The entire granting of the title is tied to the fulfillment of the principle of flow and the principle of propriety. It could be that someone is in accordance with the principle of propriety but has not yet fulfilled the elements of propriety, then the title cannot be awarded," explained Datuk Afrizal Alang.

A person who has a customary title due to a position such as Datuk Seri Setia Amanah, or a customary title for life (soko, inheritance, or institution), can have the entrusted customary title revoked by the grantor. The cause is because of violating customary taboos.

"Customary titles will also automatically be revoked when they no longer hold office and also because of death. Revocation of customary titles will also be done when committing offenses that bring shame to the state, for example theft, corruption, harassment and other criminal acts. Revocation of customary titles can also be done against parents who behave like children (senile), change their mind (madness), including because they have resigned," explained Datuk Afrizal Alang.

Customary law, continued Datuk Afrizal Alang, applies to anyone, including those entrusted with customary title. 

So, the customary title is not just bravery but a moral responsibility that will be reflected in the behavior of the recipient of the customary title.

If the customary title is carried and suits the recipient, then it will be more respected and respected. However, if the customary title is not reflected in the recipient's behavior, then it will be said, "the title is not attached."

The customary expression about the customary sanction itself is, "It is forbidden to worship, the debt is paid." Gawal is a wrongdoing that can be solved by just worshiping (apologising), whereas committing a wrongdoing owed by customary rules must be paid.

"The hardest thing is actually not the issue of apologizing and paying the debt but the social sanctions that accompany it," said Datuk Afrizal Alang.

Answering a question about the possibility of a person who is given the title of trust due to his position being able to receive a customary title that sticks for life, Datuk Afrizal Alang explained that it is very possible as long as he meets the criteria. 

For example, the adat title award of the institution category is given to people who have really contributed to the advancement of Malay customs and culture or who have contributed to improving the standard of living of the adat community, and defending the rights of a very broad adat community or figures who have thoughts that are a reference for the adat community at large.

The service provided must go beyond the duties and functions of a position, for example a position in government. 

"No matter how great a person's service in a society is, there is no opportunity to get a title of custom if they have been 'stepped on a coal thread' (disgrace the state: stealing, sexual harassment, corruption, robbery) let alone go to the 'dark hole' (prison). Such is customary law in maintaining the purity of one's own custom," said Datuk Afrizal Alang. (*)