Guests listen to a presentation by Abang Ibrahim on Abang Junaidi’s family tree.
Abang Ibrahim (second left) presents a memento to his nephew Abang Othman Abang Jajol, as Abang Hamdan (left) and Abdul Malek look on.
(From left) Abang Rauf, Abang Hamdan and Abang Ibrahim pose for the camera.
Participants of the ‘Mega Hari Raya’ take the opportunity to catch up with one another.
KUCHING: Getting a family of 10 for a festive photo session is a daunting task especially with little children around.
Multiply the number by 45 and one could only imagine the havoc that comes with hosting such a monumental gathering.
For organising chairman Abang Hamdan Abang Sharbini, the objective certainly goes beyond the complications.
“It’s all about upholding good family values. What we aim to do is to gather the descendants of my grandparents Abang Junaidi Abang Nuruddin and Hasbiah Yusuf to strengthen the bonds between members of this big family. We want to continue the tradition, rather than seeing it wither in today’s modern world. For us, nothing is more important than family,” he told The Borneo Post when met at the gathering held at Cats.FM hall in Jalan Bako here recently.
According to Abang Hamdan, the committee under the patronage of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) chairman Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen first held its mega gathering in 2003.
“My uncle Abang Ibrahim Abang Junaidi has always been the adviser, whom we refer to as the source of our family history and its lineage. The first gathering was held in 2003 on a smaller scale as we had yet to identify most of our relatives.
“Then the next two occasions in 2006 and 2010, the number began to expand and this year, we managed to gather more than 450 people, going as far down as the fifth generation.
“It’s a bit chaotic, I must say, but we are really happy to see everyone,” said Abang Hamdan, whose father was the fifth of 15 children of Abang Junaidi and Hasbiah.
Abang Ibrahim and his immediate elder brother Abang Ismuni are the only surviving members of the first generation.
Based on the family tree compiled by Abang Ibrahim, his father was a prominent member of the Kampung Lintang community which is among the oldest Malay settlements in Kuching Division.
“He was a very learned man. He was always inquisitive ever since he was a small boy. He was taught Islamic studies by his own father Abang Nuruddin before pursuing further studies under the tutorship of several prominent religious teachers, among them Sheikh Othman Abdul Wahab, one of few distinguished Muslim figures in South-East Asia.
“Nevertheless, my father was also an enterprising trader. He would travel for months outside Kuching, selling clothing and fabrics in Santubong, Sibor Laut, Sungai Mas, Pasir Panjang and Salak. He even went further up to Semera, Sambir, Pendam and Tambirat, and as far as Pusa, Beladin, Meludam and Debak.
“It was during his travels that he taught Islamic studies to the people living in the settlements where he was trading at,” said Abang Ibrahim, a former police officer who is the youngest of his siblings.
On his mother, Abang Ibrahim said she was a very loving woman, who would never raise her voice at little children.
“My mother was the gentlest and most strong-willed woman I have ever known. She adopted four children, nursed and cared for them as if they were her own. I admit I was quite a handful when I was a boy, getting into all sort of mischief but whenever my elder siblings went after me, she would hide me behind her and told the others not scold me.”
When asked more about the gathering, Abang Ibrahim said it was more than just about bringing family members together and enjoying the Hari Raya festivities.
“As the elder of this big family, I pray to God that I would have the strength to witness our next reunion in 2020. I could only imagine how grand that event would be.
“Hopefully by then, I would have finished my work in producing a booklet on our family tree for members, especially the younger ones. We want them to continue this tradition.
“Moreover, the committee under the helm of Abang Hamdan, has proposed for the set-up of a fund or foundation to help our less-fortunate family members including the sick and the poor.
“We also plan to have this programme to help all our children in their education,” he said, adding that the committee had been receiving donations from family members and organisations over the years.
This year’s gathering also included a ‘tahlil’ (prayers dedicated to the dearly departed) led by Abdul Malek Mustapha, who is the son of Dayang Zakiah – Abang Junaidi’s sixth child.
“It has been our tradition at every gathering to remember those who are no longer with us by holding ‘tahlil’.
“This time, however, the memorial is a bit emotional as we also honour the family of Tambi Jiee – the victims of the MH17 tragedy,” he said as he wiped his tears.
Tambi’s wife Ariza Ghazalee was the third generation of Abang Junaidi’s big family, the grand-daughter of Abang Annuar, Abang Ibrahim’s eldest brother.