barisan

Barisan is a word in Malay and Indonesian languages meaning line or formation. It is used in everyday language to denote a line or row of people, vehicles, or objects, and in military terms to refer to a formation or column (barisan tentera).

Geographically, the Barisan Mountains, or Gunung Barisan, are a major volcanic mountain range along the western side of Sumatra, Indonesia. They extend roughly 1,600 to 1,700 kilometers from Aceh to Lampung and host numerous volcanoes, both active and dormant. The range’s highest summit is Mount Kerinci, at about 3,805 meters.

In politics, Barisan Nasional (BN) is a long-standing political coalition in Malaysia formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance. It comprises multiple component parties, with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) as the largest member. BN led the Malaysian federal government for several decades, from 1974 until 2018, and persists as a major political force in the country, participating in government or opposition depending on electoral outcomes and coalition arrangements.

In broader usage, barisan can appear in compound terms such as barisan hadapan (front line) or barisan penjaga (guard line), reflecting its core meaning of a line or row. The term is used across Malay- and Indonesian-speaking communities in diverse contexts, from geography and politics to military and ceremonial settings.