The people of Bukit Batu village (pictured here) and the Bengkalis island used to have a tradition called semah ikan terubuk to encourage ikan terubuk to come to the waters throughout the year. — BAYU AMDE WINATA
There was a time when ikan terubuk roe was inextricably linked to Malay culinary culture. Because the trade of terubuk eggs was so important in the Malay world, the islands that were host to ikan terubuk developed an ancient system to ensure a fruitful haul, especially in the months when fish supplies ran low.
Like many traditions of the past, this practice was a byproduct of Malay folklore and belief systems that have since been phased out. This bygone practice also typified how ikan terubuk existed alongside traditional oral traditions and poems (syair).
