Page 174 - BAB I-V ADATMINANG

matters; the king of nature regulates government affairs,

but power is more symbolic because policies have been
regulated by the legislative body which is equivalent to

the executive body. Between the king and the common

people there is no distance, one another respects each
other. This shows that between members of the

community there is an equal closeness, one of which is
not higher in social status than the other, so that in the

adat doctrine it is stated clearly as according to the
proverb:

Rajo alim rajo slapped,

rajo zalim rajo refuted. 118
This symbolizes that in Minang customs there is

freedom of opinion and criticism of the implementation
of the current government, this shows evidence that

customs highly uphold human dignity as individuals and
groups. This means that there is a balance and mutual

correction (check and balance) between the government

and the community, so that the two go hand in hand and
there is no hesitation in expressing criticism to each

other. In contrast to the absolute power of kings in the

118 Idrus Hakimy, 1000 Proverbs-Petitih, p. 102, which means: The
king of the pious kings is worshiped, the kings of the tyrants are denied.