Charity During Fasting Month

One of my contractors invited me over to his house for an "open fast" event (Acara Buka Bersama), similar to the one that I had in my company a few weeks ago. This guy lives in a big house that is in a housing area connected to the main road via a muddy dirt path.

Muslims believe that in the month of Ramadan (fasting month), they have to do as much charity as possible and forgive others for their mistakes. Therefore, my contractor invited kids from 3 orphanages to his Acara Buka Bersama.

Upon reaching 6:10pm (time to break fast), all the 40 over orphans rush towards the food. At least some charity work has been put in by the rich of Palembang and make the day for the less fortunate.

Breaking Fast Ceremony

For the whole morning I have been trying to figure out what speech I should give in front of my 86 person staff for the Acara Buka Bersama (breaking fast ceremony) for my company.


We have been holding this ceremony every year in the fasting month of Ramadan. This year is my turn to represent the management to give some motivational speech in Bahasa Indonesia!!

Finally when the time came, I told them how blessed it was to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the management and how happy it was to be part of the record breaking production unit throughout Malaysia & Indonesia (amongst the 6 factories). I told them it is important to work together as a team, to solve problems as a family unit and continue to improve on our production, quality and deliveries (the usual motivation talk from managers....ha ha!)


Following my speech, came the reading from the Quran (by somebody else of course) & a lecture from a guest on the teachings of the Quran. After that we had our breaking fast event. We had pempeks (traditional Palembang food) and some other finger food, followed by rice and dishes (buffet style).

Faith Of Fasting

I realized that Indonesians are more liberal compared to Malaysians when it comes to Ramadan (fasting month for Muslims).

People actually told me that it was OK not to fast on certain days that they "could not cope" and they will "repay" the fasting days after Hari Raya Aidulfitri (Muslim New Year) or defer until the next year!

Ramadan is supposed to last for 1 month but the shops that sells food along the roadside are resuming their businesses. I was told that normally people only fast for 1-2 weeks, then the 3rd and final week of the month they do not necessarily need to fast??

Here's a photo that I took in Palembang Indah Mall of the restaurant that I was eating in. They cover the windows with cloth (green) to prevent other eating folks from tempting the fasting folks......

Here's a bowl of Es Nangka (shaved ice) that contains "slabs of ice"! How do you eat desserts like this??