Abstraction and Concreteness in Customary Practices in Malaysia: A Preliminary Understanding

This paper attempts to discuss the concept of abstraction and concreteness using two ‘adats’ (customary practices) in Malaysia namely Adat Perpatih and Adat Temenggung. Nonetheless, focus will be more on Adat Perpatih because the smaller number of practitioners of the ‘adat.’ As this is a preliminary paper, content analysis of previous research was used to facilitate discussion. Findings of this paper suggest that no one culture is solely based on abstraction nor concreteness. This is especially exemplified by the norms and values of Adat Perpatih, which can be categorised as a more concrete society.