THINGS ARE SIMPLE THEN

Going back 40 years ago, I could still recall how life is simple without the complexity now. Recalling those years, I was born and raised in Kampong Baru, life was so much straight forward.

How I remember, mosque or surau do not actually employ Imam or Bilal. Somehow this guys just volunteer themselves for the post, or perhaps through the urge from the Qariah (surrounding community). As to appreciate their services, the community association will normally apportioned certain token from donation collected.

In this respect, we the teenager will be assisting the Imam or Bilal for religious occasion, especially during the month of Ramadhan (fasting month), where at every end session of the “Tarawih”, prayer only done during the month, we will be there preparing food for serving as well as cleaning up.

Though we are not explicitly taught about volunteerism or neither are there volunteer campaign to recruit volunteers, we just did on our own accord just as hearing from friends and neighbour.

For Kampong Baru folks, it was quite a normal phenomenon to celebrate either “Äidil Fitri” or “AdildilAdha”, in Kampong Baru itself on the first 3 days. Regardless, where their hometown is, nobody will leave Kampong Baru until they celebrate the occasion in Kampong Baru.

As kids then, we are not really particular on dress or shoes for the celebration so long that it was new. Most of the time, when our parent bring us along for shopping, a week before the celebration, the choice is more based on our parent, we just follow their instruction.

Prior to “Aidil Fitri”, during the fasting month, almost all the houses will be decorating their house compound with lighting (kerosene based), either using the used milk can or the bamboo. The sights was so happening during the night and the container either metal can or bamboo is prepared by us with the help of our parents.

During the first 3 days of the celebration, every houses are open for anyone that wish to visit. Every guess that came, they are being given a warm hospitality.

One aspect that I can summarise during those time is, though money was hard to come by, it does not stop us from being happy and relationship as a community was based more on honesty rather than a person position or his wealth.