Rice Padang Creations Made From Pork Are Considered Insulting To Minang Identity, West Sumatra Legislators Ask Babiambo Restaurant To Be Closed

Photo illustration of Padang restaurant (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PAN faction, Guspardi Gaus, admitted that he was surprised by the emergence of restaurants selling Minangkabau specialties or non-halal Padang rice.

According to information received, the restaurant, which serves a variety of Padang specialties made from pork, is located in Kelapa Gading Timur, North Jakarta.

The restaurant, named Babiambo, is currently busy on social media. The owner also promotes through an online delivery platform where various non-halal Minang dishes are clearly displayed, grilled pork rice, pork rendang rice, pork curry, babiambo rice rames and other menus.

"Even in the statement on Babiambo's Instagram account, he proudly stated that it was the first non-halal desert food in Indonesia," said Guspardi in his statement to reporters, Friday, June 10.

According to the Legislator for the West Sumatra II electoral district, Nasi Padang with various menus is a culinary product from Minangkabau and is guaranteed to be a halal food. Guspardi was furious with the actions of the restaurant owner who brought Padang rice with pork on the menu. According to him, this should not be allowed and allowed.

"What is the purpose and motive of the restaurant owner to provide non-halal food using the typical Minangkabau menu name?" Guspardi asked angrily.

The politician who was born in Bukitinggi with the title Datuak Batuah, explained that the Minangkabau community, which is predominantly Muslim, has a philosophy of Indigenous Basandi Syara', Syara' Basandi Kitabullah (ABS-SBK).

According to him, the use of the non-halal name Padang rice menu is clearly an insult and hurts the feelings of the Minang community, both in the realm and overseas.

Guspardi suspects that the restaurant owner is using and supporting the fame of Nasi Padang for his business. However, he said, ignoring ethics and destroying the tradition and image of Padang cuisine and violating the customs and culture of the Minangkabau people.

"The use of Minangkabau identity in non-halal Padang cuisine is clearly unusual and unacceptable," said Guspardi.

Therefore, the member of Commission II of the DPR asked the restaurant owner to apologize for his impudence in using Minang's name and identity with a menu of pork and other non-halal foods. He also urged restaurant owners to close their businesses immediately.

"The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is also expected to revoke the business license that uses Babiambo's name. The Ministry of Information and Information (Kemenkominfo) also acts by blocking all Babiambo's social media accounts, before causing chaos and chaos," said Guspardi.