Editor’s note
- Mayor of Binjai Signs Memorandum of Agreement with the Langkat Sultanate to Promote Malay Cultural Traditions
- Binjai and the Historical Legacy of the Langkat Sultanate
- Mayor: “Let us promote the Malay identity”
- Malay attire every Thursday
- The Great Mosque of Binjai and the Sultanate’s Heritage
- Commitment to Inter-agency Cooperation
- Shared Spirit: Preservation, Revival, and Transmission
- Positive Response from Traditional Institutions
Mayor of Binjai Signs Memorandum of Agreement with the Langkat Sultanate to Promote Malay Cultural Traditions
In an effort to strengthen the Malay cultural identity in Binjai, Mayor Amir Hamzah of Binjai received a courtesy visit on Monday, August 24, 2026, from the Sultan of Langkat, Tuanku Ariefanda Aziz Abdul Djalil Rahmadsyah.
This cordial meeting marked a pivotal moment in establishing communication and synergy to preserve Malay history, customs, culture, and identity in the city of Binjai—an initiative that had been long-awaited since 2019.
LATEST NEWS: The Ministry of Labour opens registration for partners of the MagangHub Internship Programme cohort 2
Binjai and the historical legacy of the Langkat Sultanate
During the meeting, the Sultan of Langkat shared his vision regarding the historical ties between the city of Binjai and the Langkat Sultanate.
Binjai, which was once part of the Langkat Sultanate, holds historical significance that forms a vital part of the residents’ identity as a Malay city.
“We, the Council of Customs of the Langkat Sultanate, are prepared to collaborate with the Binjai city administration to explore how we can build a future partnership to promote Malay culture in Binjai,” stated Tuanku Ariefanda Aziz Abdul Djalil Rahmadsyah.
According to him, synergy between the Langkat Sultanate’s Council of Customs and the Binjai city administration is a necessity that must be prioritized.
LATEST NEWS: Ministry of Manpower Strengthens Role of Occupational Safety and Health Center in Medan
This collaboration is crucial to ensure that Malay history and culture do not merely belong to the past, but continue to live on and flourish within the community.
The Langkat Sultanate has also expressed its readiness to propose various programs to promote Malay culture and to organize concrete cooperation in this area.
Mayor: “Let us educate the Malay people”
Binjai Mayor Amir Hamzah welcomed the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by the Sultan of Langkat. He spoke with great pride about his strong Malay identity—having been born and raised in Binjai.
Amir Hamzah also shared details about his family background, which includes ties to the Kingdom of Perak. His father was born in Bukit Chandan, in the Kingdom of Perak, and accompanied the Maimun Palace delegation during their visit to the Kingdom of Perak.
LATEST NEWS: Ministry of Manpower strengthens workforce competencies in Medan
After arriving in Deli, his father settled near the Maimun Palace and became a court official. “I am a Malay, born and raised in Binjai. I am proud to be a regional leader and to be Malay. Who else but us will nurture the Malay people? Let us work together to see how we can continue to protect, preserve, and nurture the Malay community in Binjai. If we don’t do it, who will?” emphasized Amir Hamzah.
Malay Attire Every Thursday
As a concrete step toward preserving Malay cultural identity, the Mayor of Binjai has instructed Binjai municipal officials to wear Malay attire every Thursday.
This move is viewed as a strategic effort to maintain Binjai’s identity as a region with a rich Malay cultural heritage.
The initiative was well-received by representatives of the Sultanate and Malay institutions present at the hearing. The policy was seen as a tangible step demonstrating the local government’s commitment to embedding Malay cultural values within the public sphere.
LATEST NEWS: Registration for MagangHub Batch II Opens on September 3
The Great Mosque of Binjai and the Sultanate’s Heritage
The meeting also addressed various historical assets and relics linked to the Negeri Langkat Sultanate, including the Great Mosque of Binjai, which was once part of the heritage of the Malay Kingdom of Langkat.
The Traditional Council of the Langkat Sultanate expressed its appreciation for the Binjai municipality’s efforts in maintaining and managing the Great Mosque of Binjai.
The Sultanate expressed the hope that the administration (naziran) of the Great Mosque of Binjai could be restructured in cooperation with the Kerapatan Adat (Council for Traditional Affairs) of the Langkat Sultanate, just as has been the case with other major mosques—such as the Azizi Mosque—that have historical ties to the Sultanate.
During their presentation, the Sultanate explained that a vacuum had arisen following the Social Revolution, which had consequences for the management of various assets and heritage, including the Grand Mosque of Binjai, which was previously under the management of the Sultanate.
LATEST NEWS: North Sumatra Accelerates Equitable Development in Remote Areas
In response, the Mayor of Binjai indicated that his office would first investigate the legal status of the Grand Mosque of Binjai and subsequently consult with the parties involved.
“If it is for the benefit of all, with sincere intentions and a genuine desire to see the mosque flourish, then we must support it. All of this is part of our religious duties,” he said.
Commitment to cooperation between various agencies
The Mayor of Binjai instructed the head of the Binjai Tourism Bureau, who was also present at the meeting, to note down suggestions and opportunities for cooperation regarding various activities related to Malay customs and culture.
The Head of the Bureau of Tourism indicated a willingness to collaborate with the Malay Association for Traditional Customs (SMAM) and the Council for Traditional Customs of the Sultanate of Langkat in organizing various Malay activities in Binjai.
LATEST NEWS: North Sumatra strengthens Universal Health Care (UHC) on the Nias Islands
The General Chairman of the Association of Indigenous Malay Communities, Tengku Arief Fadillah, expressed his organization’s willingness to cooperate with the Municipality of Binjai and the Traditional Council of the Sultanate of Langkat.
He believes that efforts to promote Malay heritage must be carried out jointly through concrete and sustainable programs.
Shared spirit: Preservation, revival, and transmission
This collaboration is expected to provide more scope for the preservation of Malay art, culture, history, and customs, while simultaneously bringing Malay identity back to the attention of the younger generation.
This meeting is expected to be the first step in establishing broader communication and cooperation between the local government, the Sultanate, traditional institutions, and Malay community organizations.
LATEST NEWS: OMDC’s journey to transform the face of dental clinics in Indonesia
“We all recognize that customs and culture form the identity of a nation. The Binjai City Council attaches great value to the role of traditional institutions in preserving noble values, harmony, and local wisdom. Hopefully, today’s public can strengthen the synergy between the Binjai City Council and the Langkat Sultanate to build a civilized, advanced, and prosperous region,” concluded the Mayor, better known as Mak Amir.
Positive response from traditional institutions
The General Chairman of the Association of United Malay Lawyers (HAMBE), Arifani, S.H., M.H., expressed his admiration and pride in the positive response of the Mayor of Binjai in a separate conversation.
“Imagine this: the meeting lasted nearly three hours, in a warm, relaxed, and constructive atmosphere. Everything discussed was immediately addressed with solutions and recommendations – regarding the Grand Mosque of Binjai, the promotion of Malay culture, and even the policy that regional government agencies must wear traditional Malay clothing on Thursdays. Such a gesture is extraordinary,” said Arifani, who is also a lawyer.
The meeting confirmed a shared vision: history must not only be remembered but preserved; traditions must not only be discussed but also lived; and Malay culture must be passed on to future generations. ***obs
