Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru is one of the iconic mosques in Kuala Lumpur, which has a long association with a Ramadan custom. SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN writes.
It seems inappropriate to associate a place of worship with eating, but to separate Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru with its tradition of distributing thousands of plastic packets of bubur lambuk each fasting month is a huge disservice to the mosque.
The cooking of bubur lambuk, a rice porridge with meat and aromatic herbs, was started in the 1950s. Every day, after Asar prayers, this hot dish is distributed to the queues outside the mosque.
Sure, many other mosques also offer bubur lambuk come fasting month, but many would still queue up in Kampung Baru for the bubur lambuk from this mosque. Each person is only given one plastic packet.
Located in Jalan Raja Alang, a short distance from Jalan Sultan Ismail, the history of the mosque dates back to the late 1800s.
The plot of land where the mosque was built was donated by a philantrophist, Bachik Abdullah. The mosque was built by the residents. A small area was allocated as a Muslim cemetery.
Due to the increasing number of residents in Kampung Baru, the need for a bigger mosque arose. So RM60 was collected from each family, to be paid in instalments, for the reconstruction of the building.
By 1955, the fund had RM30,000 but the amount was insufficient to build the mosque. The Selangor Government boosted the fund with RM90,000 and more money was donated by the public.
In 1956, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj laid the foundation of the mosque. The mosque occupies 6,472 square metres and can accommodate 8,000 people. At each prayer time, no less than 500 people would pray here.
The mosque also organises sermons after Maghrib and Subuh prayers daily. There are Al-Quran recitation classes, berzanji classes and religious classes for women.
It also organises forums, Yaasin recitation (every Thursday night), talks on religion, sacrifice ritual for Hari Raya Aidil Adha, motivational camps for youths and school students.
The mosque has two assistant registrars, or jurunikah, who have the power to solemnise a Muslim marriage.
During fasting month, the mosque gets very busy. Aside from the cooking and distribution of bubur lambuk, the mosque organises breaking of fast daily. There is Al-Quran recitation classes and distribution of aid to orphans and the poor.
Two imam from Masjidil Haram in Mecca are flown in to lead Tarawih prayers, held after Isya' prayers every night.
Apart from air-conditioned prayer halls, the mosque has a meeting room, guest room, kitchen and library.
It also has an Islamic kindergarten called Tadika Islam Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru. It teaches 150 students, separated into five classes for children aged five and six from 8am to 11am daily.
The kindergarten won the excellent kindergarten award for Federal Territory in 2004 and 2005.

(published on 09/06/2007)