FASTING WITH ORANG ASLI
Couple help encourage Kampung Pelug folk in Kelantan to fulfil obligation
FOR the past five years, Nur Amalina Ismail and her family had spent Hari Raya Aidilfitri with the Orang Asli community in Kampung Pelug, Gua Musang.
The 27-year-old mother of two works as an Islamic Development Department Orang Asli community mobiliser.
She followed her husband, Mohd Fardhu Angah, 29, when they decided to move back to his village of birth several years ago.
Fardhu, who is from the Temiar tribe, embraced Islam 14 years ago.
Amalina said it was a joy to fast with the Orang Asli community despite the absence of a big variety of Ramadan cuisine.
“Since following my husband to stay at his village, we’ve become active members of the community. We take care of community affairs in Kampung Pelug and Pos Tuel.
“There are 327 Orang Asli in Kampung Pelug, while Pos Tuel is home to 300 people who are all Muslims.
“Throughout Ramadan, my husband and I are tasked to monitor the community as they fast because not all of them fulfil this obligation. But their numbers are increasing.”
She said when it comes to breaking of fast, the Orang Asli prepare simple dishes such as rice and boiled tapioca.
Only a few would prepare special menus of pucuk ubi masak lemak with fried ikan
bilis, egg or freshwater fish.
She said an effective way to encourage more members of the community to fast was to hold breaking of fast events.
“In the first two weeks of Ramadan, I have conducted only one buka puasa event in Kampung Pelug when villagers held a gotong-royong to cook chicken soup and fried pucuk ubi with ikan bilis.
“They were so happy. They forgot about tiredness of fasting when they gathered to help each other prepare dishes, and eat together later.”
Amalina, the ninth of 10 siblings, said she raises her own money to organise breaking of fast events.
“There are many non-governmental organisations that help Orang Asli villages by contributing food. But the Orang Asli prefer to cook their own meals.”
For the upcoming Raya, she said her family, including their children Nur Ain Farhana Mohd Fardhu, 5, and Mohammad Amsyar, 3, will spend Aidilfitri in Kampung Pelug before visitng her family’s home in Kota Baru on the second day of Raya.
She said Aidilfitri is usually lively in an Orang Asli village.
“There will be open houses and among the favourite dishes served are rice with chicken cooked in bamboo.
“The best thing for my family is to see the happy faces of the Orang Asli after having completed fasting and celebrating Aidilfitri.”