Assisted by an enthusiastic group of helpers, Her Majesty cooked and presented bubur lambuk as part of a distribution programme jointly organised by the Women’s Institute (WI) of Pahang and the state branch of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia (Pandu Puteri Pahang).
Bubur lambuk is a traditional porridge rich in spices and cooked in coconut milk, often enjoyed during the fasting month.
The air at the MBK field was abuzz with anticipation from early morning, when a team of about 60 from both groups gathered to set up cooking equipment and make preliminary preparations.
The bubur lambuk was cooked in two large aluminium cauldrons placed under a wide-brimmed canopy at the edge of the field.
The venue soon became a hive of activity, with people bringing in piles of fresh ingredients such as tenggiri fish, chicken, garlic, onion, lemongrass and basil.
It was a particularly humid afternoon with the sun out in full force, but nothing could diminish everyone’s high spirits.
Her Majesty arrived at around noon for the cooking process, adding ingredients, stirring the blend, and making taste adjustments as necessary.
The dish was prepared using a traditional Pahang recipe, with some of Her Majesty’s personal touches added to enhance the flavour.
It wasn’t long before a delectable aroma filled the air as the bubur lambuk – which takes two to three hours to cook fully – bubbled and thickened to just the right consistency. Final touches were made, garnishing was added, and the dish was soon ready to be served.
Her Majesty then left for other appointments before returning at about 6pm with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who paid a visit to the Bazaar Ramadan Dataran Mahkota nearby to present duit raya to the underprivileged.
By then, an atmosphere of excitement had built up. A sea of people gathered at the field, located next to the Sultan Ahmad Shah mosque, to enjoy this final weekend of Ramadan. Many were families with young children.
Overall, the day’s cooking yielded about 2,000 portions, which Her Majesty handed out to the eager public. Mats were laid on grass, and food prepared picnic-style as the visitors broke fast together with the King and Queen.
“I like this. I think this event is a really good idea,” Izuddin Mustafa, a warden chaperoning about 50 children from the Tengku Ampuan Fatimah Children’s Home, told FMT.
“This was a wonderful way for everyone to break fast together. And this bubur lambuk is very good,” said clerk Amira Nurul Rosliza, who was visiting with her family.
The Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, graced the event alongside other members of the royal family. Also in attendance were Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and other members of the state exco.
According to WI Pahang secretary Ong Cheng Imm, this was the third instance of the programme being carried out with the Raja Permaisuri Agong, and the first time it was being held since the pandemic.
The idea for the event came about in 2016 when Tunku Azizah – then the Crown Princess of Pahang – mooted a collaboration between the two groups under her patronage. It proved so successful that it was carried out again the following year.
“We’re all doing what we love to do, cooking and helping the community together,” Ong shared. “It adds more meaning to the fasting month.
“We’ve always enjoyed and looked forward to Tuanku’s involvement, so we’re very happy Tuanku is back with us again.”
This year’s programme was especially meaningful as it marked Pandu Puteri Pahang’s 75th year, while WI Pahang would turn 71, Ong said.
So, what was the special ingredient added to the porridge to make it taste especially good? “Why, Her Majesty’s personal touch, of course!”