Getting To Know The Patani Malays

By Kasminee Baka Bernama’s intern reporter, Kasminee Baka, from Southern Thailand writes on the Patani Malays in South Thailand. KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) -- There are many similarities shared between the Patani Malays in Southern Thailand and the Malay community in Peninsula Malaysia. This can be seen through the language, culture, food, clothes and even rituals. The Patani Malays reside in the southern Thailand regions of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala as well as in Chana, Thepha, Sebayoi and Nathawi of the Songkhla Province. Nearly the entire population there is Muslim. Patani is also known as a centre of Muslim dakwah (preaching) and education, with many of the major scholars coming from Patani. “Pondok”, namely religious schools are one of the most important institutions in Islamic education in Patani. The people of Patani speak Malay in a Patani dialect, which is 90 percent similar to the Kelantanese dialect. The Thai language influences only a small number of their vocabulary and pronunciation. Many of them work as farmers, fishermen and also government officers. MARRIAGE RITUALS Weddings of the Malays in southern Thailand are a modest affair. A lecturer of Malay Studies at the Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, Zawawi Pakda Amin explained that the matrimonial ties are preluded by several events. “There will be the “merisik” (a ceremony to ask for the girl’s availability for marriage), the proposal, the solemnisation of marriage and the reception. He said that many of the Patani people tend to practice a “suspended” marriage, where a couple would tie the knot without consummating the marriage until after the wedding reception. The bride’s family would host the reception at their home and invite friends and family. “The villagers still practice the “gotong-royong” culture where everyone would help out in setting up tents, tables and chairs, cooking the wedding feasts and ushering guests. “The bride would go around greeting the guests before the groom’s entourage arrives with the “hantaran” (wedding gifts),” Zawawi explained. The wedding rituals would conclude with a ceremony held on the groom’s side to welcome the bride, called “jemput menantu”. “The bride will then spend a night at the groom’s home, usually on the third day after the reception. “A wedding feast will be held in honour of the bride’s entourage, also on the same day. After all the ceremonies have concluded then the marriage would be ritually official,” he explained. THE CLOTHES OF THE PATANI MALAY The Patani Malays dress just like the Malays in Malaysia, in addition to wearing what they refer to as “Islami” garments, to mark Patani’s position of the centre of Islamic studies in the Thai region. “Many of the ladies would wear baju kurung (traditional Malay costume for women), a modern version of it or a long loose dress, while the men would wear baju Melayu (traditional Malay outfit for men), the “kain pelikat” and a skullcap. The youths prefer to don the baju Melayu, trousers and songkok,” he said. The Patani Malays, unlike the Malaysian Malays, would wear their cultural garments not only on festive celebration days like Hari Raya but also during every other ceremony or cultural events. THE MAJOR CELEBRATIONS Another lecturer with Prince of Songkla University, Djusmalinar noted that the locals especially in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat celebrate grandly the auspicious days in the Islamic calendar. The 'Bulan Maulid' that commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad takes centre stage, unlike in Malaysia where Adilfitri and Aidiladha is celebrated grandly. "The locals hold dinner gatherings in the villages throughout the 'Bulan Maulid', that corresponds to the month of Rabiul Awal in the Islamic calendar. The surau (prayer house) and mosques too will be holding dinner functions and almost all of the religious schools will hold anasyid (singing of religious songs) or religious talks,” he said. Djusmalinar, an Indonesian who had married a local and settled down in Narathiwat for many years now, pointed out that much of the festivities during the month could be seen around Teluk Manok, Teluk Kaya and Teluk Bala, in the Bacho District of Narathiwat. The villagers there will organise dinners from house to house, usually two houses per night during the period. "Each house will take turn to provide dinner and light refreshments like 'pengat pisang' and 'sira labu' for 50 to 70 people who turn up to pray for god's blessings. "Apart from celebrating house to house, it is also celebrated in a grand scale at the 300 years old Telok Manok wooden mosque. The locals will join in to help with the preparations and each house will donate money, the Bulan Maulid celebration renews the bond among villagers," he said. FAVOURITE FOODS “Kuih koleh” is the traditional “kuih” or the Patani folks since the days of their forefathers. The kuih can only be found in Patani in very rarely anywhere else. Mat Karing Haji Seng, 56, who has been selling the kuih for over 30 years, said the recipe he had was passed down for generations. “My mother passed down the recipe to me and now I have taught it to my wife and kids and have been selling it for a living,” he said. He said kuih koleh could be made using finely ground rice, sugar, palm sugar and coconut milk. The ingredients are then mixed together by hand until they are no longer sticky. “Then, we would sprinkle “kerisik” or as they call it in the Patani dialect, “tahi minyak”. “It is made from the gratings of a coconut that is neither too young or old, then toasted with sugar and salt until it is crispy before oil is added to it.” -- BERNAMA