KUDAT: Muslims in Sikuati, near here, held a graveyard clearing and restoration exercise through a special ‘gotong royong’ recently.

Village heads of Kampung Kurina, Kg Andab Jawa, Kg Rampai Selatan, Kg Narandang and Kg Banjar, with the involvement of Sikuati Mosque Committee members and Pusat Latihan Dakwah Kudat (PLDK) trainees, took part in the gotong royong.

The Ramadan programme coincides with the beginning of the fasting month.

Considered an annual event, the activity is both good for the body (health) as well as instilling a sense of purpose, comradeship, filial duty and a show of love for the deceased family members.

The event co-organising chairman Yassin Sidih, who is also the JKKK chief of Kg Kurina and PLDK principal Ustaz Abdul Roni Tahir disclosed that the annual event was beneficial and essential in that it symbolised their thought towards the departed loved ones and fellow villagers.

It would also help to enliven, instill and inculcate the spirit of ‘working as a team’ among residents.

The event was indeed a noble act that could also promote inter-village cooperation as well as harmonious life among followers of the faith, they said.

“The main objective of the gotong royong is to inculcate a caring society and to help promote a cordial and harmonious relationship among villagers,” added Abdul Roni.

The gotong royong event was also geared towards establishing good rapport between the Mosque Committee members, PLDK trainees and the residents of the six villages, he added.

Meanwhile, prior to holding the ‘gotong-royong’ at the Sikuati Muslim graveyard, the same ‘gotong royong’ team also cleared and cleaned the inside and compounds of the Pekan Sikuati Mosque.

“This gotong royong also involved living family members of all the deceased buried at the graveyard and their involvement is very meaningful in that it shows that they still thought highly of their departed ones,” said Yassin Sidih, adding that it also helped to make the followers of the faith realised their obligation towards God and fellow human beings.

Meanwhile, Ustaz Abdul Roni, who is now taking the helm of PLDK Sikuati School, said such activity would be held from time to time, not just during Ramadan.