Unity through communal cooking

The villagers working together to stir and cook the bubur lambuk.

BUBUR lambuk, a light yet flavourful rice porridge, holds a special place as a must-have dish among Muslims during Ramadan.

Traditionally, it’s prepared in a communal setting, reminiscent of the village way of life, where individuals gather to cook together in large pots, from washing and preparing the ingredients to stirring, cooking, and serving.

However, a recent event in a village located in the Kota Belud district of Sabah showcased a heartening twist.

As part of an initiative by the National Unity and Integration Department, a group primarily consisting of non-Muslim women participated in a bubur lambuk cooking programme.

The women ready to taste bubur lambuk from another village.

Jubilin Darisa, the chairperson of Kg Mandap Rukun Neighbourhood Area (KRT), expressed the villagers’ excitement upon learning about this initiative under the Gerak Rahmah programme on March 23.

Darisa, a mother and primary school teacher, noted that it was their first time participating in such an event.

For Darisa and her fellow participants, the cooking programme transcended religious boundaries.

They viewed it as a communal activity, where food served as a unifying force, strengthening bonds and fostering connections within the community.

Darisa emphasised the shared spirit of fasting and acts of goodwill, highlighting that while Muslims fast during Ramadan in preparation for Hari Raya, Christians like themselves observe Lent before Easter.

In this light, their participation in the bubur lambuk cooking programme was seen as an altruistic gesture.

The bubur lambuk being stirred.

The event, a rarity in the village’s recent history, brought people together in a manner reminiscent of days gone by when community activities were more prevalent.

Participants, ranging from 19 to 61 years old, convened at Darisa’s house around noon to commence the preparations.

Assigned various tasks, everyone contributed to the process, from purchasing ingredients and providing cooking utensils to boiling water, tending to the fire, and stirring the bubbling pot of porridge. Even children joined in, assisting their mothers as instructed.

By day’s end, they had prepared over 150 containers of bubur lambuk, which were then distributed to around 150 homes in the village.

Darisa (left) and Tumin enjoying their bubur lambuk.

This act of communal cooking and sharing extended beyond their village, as many other villages in the Kota Belud district also organised similar programmes under the Gerak Rahmah initiative.

Henny Tumin, who represented Kg Mandap in neighbouring Kg Labuan, described a larger-scale event that showcased an even more diverse participation. With representatives from approximately 44 villages, the programme attracted people from various races and religions.

Tumin believes that such initiatives play a pivotal role in fostering unity, harmony, and better relations among communities.

She emphasises the importance of regular communal gatherings in a diverse nation like Malaysia, where relationships can be nurtured and bonds strengthened.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Kota Belud boasts a population of over 107,000 as of August 2023, with the majority comprising Muslim and Christian natives, or bumiputeras.