BATU PAHAT, April 10 (Bernama) -- The bubur lambuk (lightly spiced special porridge) distributed by the Masjid Jamek Bukit Pasir, here, may not be as popular as the Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru’s bubur lambuk in Kuala Lumpur, but for the local population, this special dish has been most sought after during Ramadan for the past 96 years.

The cook, Mohd Farek Md Tap, 48, said that the tradition of cooking and distributing the porridge to the public has now entered its 97th year, since the mosque was first opened in 1926.

An experienced bubuk lambuk chef for 25 years, he said that between 1,500 and 2,000 packets of bubur lambuk are distributed on week days, and 3,000 packets on weekends.

“The bubur lambuk is prepared using a recipe owned by the mosque, which is a combination of 11 items and spices. It is cooked daily during Ramadan with the help of the mosque’s committee, the local youths, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies.

“It is our way of enlivening the mosque, which starts early in the morning with cooking and its preparations, and later in the evening when we distribute the porridge as well as during the breaking of the fast. It will be followed by the tarawih prayers. Today, we are preparing bubur lambuk in collaboration with Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN),” he said when met by Bernama at the mosque today.

Meanwhile, mosque chairman, Ibrahim Hassan, said that the mosque has been preparing and distributing bubur lambuk for years, and only stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year, we are cooking between three and five pots daily during Ramadan, and we add another two to three pots during weekends,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Batu Pahat branch is another entity which has been continuing the tradition of making and distributing about 1,600 packets of bubur lambuk for more than 35 years, as a show of appreciation to its customers and also the frontline staff.

-- BERNAMA