Traditional kerosene oil lamps a rare sight these days
SIBU: The traditional kerosene oil lamps which once lighted up every village here during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration is almost a rare sight these days.
No thanks to the modern decorative lighting and the high cost of the hand-made kerosene oil lamps.
An observation along Kampung Datu Lama, Kampung Datu Baru, Kampung Hilir, Kampung Nangka and Kampung Bandong here on Tuesday night noted not all houses had the traditional oil lamps and in their place were modern lightings.
However, for the first time, some 400 kerosene oil lamps lit up the Sibu Town Square.
The kerosene oil lamps together with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri arch erected at the same venue add to the cheer of the festive mood.
A councillor of Sibu Municipal Council, Jimmy De Rozario, concurred that modernisation is causing the traditional kerosene oil lamp to lose its novelty.
“Village security and development committees (JKKKs) should take the initiative together with the village folk to preserve the tradition. Maybe one of the reasons is the difficulty in obtaining kerosene and the high cost involved in making these kerosene lamps,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He recalled that previously, there were competitions organised to preserve this tradition but the high cost of making these items might have deterred this preservation effort.
“Maybe the Penghulu, Ketua Kaum and JKKK could bring in local entrepreneurs to chip in or subsidise this programme and should invite youth to participate so this tradition can be preserved for the future.
“No doubt that modernisation also plays its part with various sorts or types of colourful neon lights coming in all shapes and sizes but still this tradition needs to be preserved especially for the next generation,” Jimmy said.
Sarawak United National Youths Organisation ( Saberkas) Nangka secretary Mohamad Safree Mohamad Kassim echoed Jimmy’s view, saying the tradition of lighting kerosene lamps is slowly overtaken by the waves of modernisation besides lack of interest among the youths.
“Rightly, such tradition should be preserved in villages through the efforts of the local organisations.”
Mohamad Safree figured there was a need to discuss among JKKK chairmen, associations and individuals to come up with a programme to preserve the tradition in the respective villages and residential areas.
Taman Selera Harmoni Sibu Muslim Traders Association chairman Abdul Taib Rosli figured the uncertain market price for kerosene has resulted in not many people in the Muslim community lighting up oil lamps for the festive celebration.
“And because of this, there is no lighting of oil lamps by any nongovernmental organisations or associations as seen in previous years.
“Despite this, the tradition of lighting the lamps three days before Hari Raya Aidilftri is still preserved and not overtaken by the wave of modernisation,” he argued.
In fact, Abdul Taib pointed out, several individual houses were still lighting the oil lamps.
In this regard, he said the lighting up of oil lamps at the town square will indirectly help preserve the tradition.
Village security and development committees (JKKKs) should take the initiative together with the village folk to preserve the tradition. Maybe one of the reasons is the difficulty in obtaining kerosene and the high cost involved in making these kerosene lamps. Jimmy De Rozario, Sibu Municipal Council councillor