Peja among 1,000 descendants of Dukut Maharajo at biennial Raya gathering

Source: The Star

IPOH: About 1,000 descendants of Dukut Maharajo and Halijah Awang from all over the country and around the world converged on Kampung Kepayang here for Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Wednesday (April 10).

Those from abroad came from the United States, Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, among others.

The biennial gathering has been held since 1984, but skipped 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and resumed in 2022. This year marks the 20th gathering.

Among the attendees was Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, a fourth-generation member of the clan, and his wife Datin Seri Dr Nomee Ashikin Mohammed Radzi.

Ahmad Faizal said Halijah's father was one of the founders of the village.

"There are only a handful of the third generation still alive, and I think the clan has expanded to the seventh generation now," he told reporters at the gathering held at Mokhtar Mahmud's house in the village.

Mokhtar, 88, is a third-generation member of the clan.

Ahmad Faizal said it was important to hold the gathering to keep family ties strong.

"We must not stop holding such gatherings, and this tradition must be kept alive.

"Sometimes there are those working in the same office (who) are not aware that they are from this clan," he added.

University media relations officer Asyaaf Syahmie Hasri, 27, a fifth-generation descendant and part of the organising team this year, said his great-great-grandfather Dukut came to Malaya from Sumatra, Indonesia in 1880.

He said Dukut settled in Chemor with his brother, and they were songkok makers.

"Being a religious person, Dukut used to preach at Masjid India Muslim, and he later married Halijah, who was the daughter of an imam.

"They had eight children and later settled at Kampung Kepayang. If I am not mistaken, the clan has reached its eighth generation now," he added.

Asyaaf said a lot of planning was needed to ensure the event's success.

"We catered the food, but the families also brought food like a potluck," he added.