500 ‘Masterudins’ Under One Roof
By Azaraimy HH

Bandar Seri Begawan – For most people, a family get-together means' an annual picnic in a park or a party at someone's house.

However, organising a gathering for the whole Matserudin family is a bit more complicated as they number more than 1,000 and are scattered across the country.

The Matserudin family first settled on the banks of the Brunei River more than 50 years ago at Kg Burung Pinggai Berakas, a few kilometres from Kg Ayer.

Each year in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Matserudin family holds a mass reunion. After rehearsing for the reunion's stage performances for two to three days as well as testing the sound systems and putting final touches on the decorations, it was time for the big day.

This year's get-together was a bit different to last year's - the family held its mass reunion at the Dewan tvfuhibah in Berakas. Although quite a number of family members didn't turn up, the gathering still drew more than 500 people.

The family members were divided into three groups, named after the children of the late Matserudin, namely, Aminah, Hindun and POKULDP Haji Omar.

Each group wore their own attire and built their own "camp" which was decorated with items such as neon lights.

The concept of the reunion was that during the event, members of the family groups visited each other's camps, a la Hari Raya style, to pay homage and more importantly to try out the foods at each camp for the next three to four hours of the evening. Each family group offered a variety of specialties, from delicious appetizers to mouthwatering dishes and tasty desserts.

Each camp also competed for the "best terrace deco" and "best overall performance", voted for at the end of the evening.

The stage performance included singing and dancing. The Aminah group opted for the concept "Cheerful Family", the Hindun group chose a more traditional concept with drama sketches, while the Omar group showcased their singers, including some young children.

A lucky draw and karaoke session were also held to further enliven the atmosphere and the family members said that this year's reunion was certainly a "blast". -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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