Sungkei Lebuh: A living Ramadan tradition uniting Sungai Maong villagers on one giant mat

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By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, March 1: Nearly 100 villagers of Kampung Sungai Maong came together at the village’s roofed open-air futsal court for sungkei lebuh, a living Ramadan tradition of communal breaking of fast.

In this tradition, residents sit bersila on mats and share home-cooked dishes, turning the court into one giant dining space and creating a picnic-like atmosphere.

By 6pm, participants arrived with their mats, cutlery and dishes, contributing to a spread that showcased the kampung’s flavours.

One of the villagers, Hajah Kiah Tia, 67, said the practice mirrored how she grew up in a large family of eight siblings where communal meals were a regular part of life.

“Usually, our family would organise small sungkei lebuh in front of our houses because many of our relatives live nearby.

“But this is the first time we are doing it on a bigger scale by inviting the whole neighbourhood to join in,” she said.

According to her, the large turnout made the occasion even more meaningful as every household contributed something different to the shared spread.

“At this scale, there are so many dishes to choose from because everyone brings their own food,” she said, adding that she prepared umai, udang masak kunyit and grilled fish for the gathering.

The programme was organised by the Kampung Sungai Maong Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) sub-branch.

Earlier in the day, villagers also took part in a gotong-royong to prepare bubur kacang, with about 200 packs distributed with dates to residents and passers-by as part of the Ramadan outreach effort.

Saloma Mos, Women’s chief of the Kampung Sungai Maong PBB sub-branch, 64, said the programme aimed to revive traditional kampung values while strengthening relationships among residents.

“This is more than just a breaking-of-fast event. It is about preserving our kampung way of life.

“When we sit on the same mat and eat together, there are no boundaries—everyone becomes family,” she said.

She added that hosting the event at the futsal court allowed more residents to participate compared to restaurant-based gatherings, making it inclusive while keeping costs low.

Meanwhile, Hariah Anuar, Women’s chief of the Tupong PBB sub-branch, said the Sungkei Lebuh concept inspired her to introduce a similar programme in her own community.

“Previously, our sungkei programmes were held at restaurants and involved only PBB members. Seeing what Kampung Sungai Maong has done, I believe this can be expanded on a bigger scale in our village as well,” she said.

She noted that the approach reduces costs while encouraging wider community participation.

“With this, we can involve the whole community, foster closer relationships, and do it at a lower cost. It truly reflects the spirit of togetherness during Ramadan,” she added.