MERANTAU TO MALAYSIA: PERSPECTIVES OF INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS IN PENANG, MALAYSIA

Abstract

This study explores the concept of merantau from the perspectives of Indonesian migrant workers in Penang, Malaysia, focusing on their reasons of merantau to Malaysia. Unlike general labor migration, merantau represents a socio-cultural tradition deeply rooted in Indonesian communities, often encompassing economic, social, familial, and even religious dimensions. This research uses a qualitative approach to understand how merantau is conceptualized and experienced in the context of cross-border migration, and the data collected through in-depth interviews with 15 Indonesian migrant workers. The findings reveal 6 emerging themes that represent the reasons of merantau: economic perspective, self-determination perspective, job opportunities perspective, geographical and cultural perspective, working condition perspective and religious perspective. This research also contributes to the theorization of merantau by expanding Mochtar Naim’s study on merantau, especially on the part of merantau’s characteristics, and its relevance beyond Minangkabau contexts. The relevance means that the culture of merantau can possibly be found in other ethnic groups with various understandings and not limited anymore for Minang people. The study also highlights the connection of merantau with more complex motivations, especially religious and better working conditions. It also offers the changing nature of merantau from temporary to permanent movement. In conclusion, this study is not only understanding the reasons of merantau from subjective reality, but also contextualizes and further reflects the findings with merantau theory, so eventually contributes to the development of merantau studies.