Food and family the hallmarks of Raya for patriarch
BUTTERWORTH: Dishing up an array of lip-smacking food for the family had been a task Abdul Rahman Abdul Kadir relished every Hari Raya.
The one-term Penanti assemblyman would almost single-handedly do everything, including the marketing, to whip up a feast for his six children and their families on the first day of Raya.
But as the family grew, the 77-year-old patriarch, who has 30 grandchildren, has now taken a back seat and left the preparation to a friend in the catering business.
“My five sons live in Kuala Lumpur while my youngest and only daughter is in Perlis.
“Coming home to spend the first day of Raya with the family in Penang is a must for them,” he said when met at his daughter’s home in Simpang Ampat.
More than 50 family members came to celebrate the first day of Syawal with Abdul Rahman and his wife Zaleha Jamaluddin, 73, on Friday.
Abdul Rahman’s eldest son Rozaid said the Hari Raya reunion is a special occasion for his family, a melting pot of Malay, Javanese, Indian, English, Pashtun and Chinese cultures.
“No matter what, we will find time to celebrate this festival with all the family members.
“It’s always nice to be back here together,” said Rozaid, 53, an executive editor of Star Media Group.
He added that his dad never missed cooking up a storm for Raya until three years ago.
“We stopped him from toiling in the kitchen when the family grew too big for him to handle,” he said.
His father, he said, took pride in preparing the best food for his family during Raya.
“Now we make sure he sits back and enjoys the festival,” Rozaid added.