It was a joke.

When the Mosque Committee organized the “gotong royong” to clean the kampong Graveyard on 31 July 2010 (Saturday) only seven (7) turned up, they themselves. What happened to the rest of the followers? They held it on Saturday because on Sunday they have the “kuliah duha” at the Pasar Tani ground. Kuliah duha cannot simply be cancel as it is religious cum political every Sunday morning affair. It is an open platform free for all and not necessary to have credentials as decreed by the Royal Highness the Sultan. Perhaps only a Police permit would do.

The Kampong Graveyard Bureau had organized the kampong Graveyard housekeeping gotong royong last week on 25 July 2010 (Sunday) where the Mosque Committee did not participated (refer to posting on 25 July 2010). The response was overwhelming. They have their own reasons for not participating and the normal kampong residents were neither interested. The Graveyard compound was house kept and the concrete fencing painted by those who turned up on 25 July 2010. All costs were sponsored by an unknown “Hamba Allah” (Mr. X).

I have no one with permanent resident status at this Graveyard but as a kampong resident I had to play a part and make myself available. It was worth attending the gotong royong project of housekeeping the Graveyard on a beautiful Sunday where everybody was in communal spirit, fostering comradeship and comingling with fellow kampong mate.

Late in the evening someone sponsored a basketful of durians, rambutan and other local fruits to show gratitude to the youths who stayed back late spared their Sunday to finish the job.

So……… when the Mosque Committee came to the Graveyard one week later on 31 July 2010 (Saturday), there was practically nothing that they could do anymore, all done on 25 July 2010 (Sunday) by the kampong residents. With only seven (7) able bodied presence what do you expect they could do? It was a tremendous blow to their pride. What pride do they have anymore?

The talk of the kampong – why want to do two sessions of “gotong royong” to clean the Graveyard? Why not one for and all for one? That would make some sense.

The morale of the story – the kampong residents just fed up. The kampong residents do not necessary listen and abide to those currently in power or the kampong residents just hate the gut out of those currently in power. Somebody got to do a lot of soul searching. Kampong residents are no more kampong mentality. They are educated and smart enough to be analytical, to differentiate between sensible and nonsense. Quietly and unconcerned they grouped to the sensible party and carry on with their tasks for the sake of Allah and the community.

Mosque and a Graveyard is very close to all Muslims hearts and it must not be politically monopolized. This is exactly what happened. How long it would last? Only time will tell. It is not easy to win back the kampong hearts.

Is it a joke or are we heading for a disaster??