Bound by a century of religious harmony – the Bukit Rotan story

2026-03-20 - 23:20

Pastor Ezekiel Raj (second right) shares a warm embrace with Masjid An-Nuriah imam Fakhrul Hasan, alongside mosque committee members after breaking fast together. KUALA SELANGOR: At a traffic lights junction along Federal Route 54, drivers sometimes linger longer than necessary. From their strategic spot, four houses of worship can be seen within a few hundred metres of each other. Masjid An-Nuriah rises with its gold-tipped minaret, next to the sandstone-coloured Sri Shakthi Dhevasthanam temple entrance, adorned with statues of deities. A short walk away sits a Methodist Church, with a Chinese temple across the road completing the cluster. For visitors to Bukit Rotan, a small town in the Kuala Selangor district, this is unusual. Many a time, people have been caught whipping out their smartphones to capture all four structures in a single frame. But for the locals, it is everyday life. Pastor Ezekiel Raj, who has served at the Tamil Methodist Church for the past three years, said the bond reflected in the close proximity of the different houses of worship is something he experiences every day – not just visually, but through the sounds that fill the neighbourhood. “I hear the temple bells, I hear the call to prayer, and we also have our own sounds on Sundays when we sing during our church services. Living with these sounds actually creates a sense of closeness rather than hindrance,” he told FMT. The bond is shaped by history. The church and mosque mark their centennial this year, a reminder that the neighbourhood’s religious diversity has existed for generations. Masjid An-Nuriah was built in 1926, said its treasurer, Bazah Madarkahn, who has served on the mosque committee for 27 years. “A few weeks ago, we held a big celebration where about a thousand people gathered here and broke fast together.” The guest list was not limited to Muslims alone. Neighbours from other houses of worship were invited too, including Raj and devotees from the church and temples. Masjid An-Nuriah marks its centennial this year, having been established in 1926, alongside the Tamil Methodist Church which is also celebrating 100 years. When Ramadan meets Lent This year’s fasting season has made the bonds more meaningful. For the first time in more than 80 years, Ramadan and Lent – the Christian season of fasting – coincide. Ramadan began on Feb 19, and Lent on Feb 18. Raj said the overlap created a moment of shared understanding when he was invited to join neighbours at the mosque to break fast. “At that time I was also fasting, which was a surprise for them.” This led them to exchange stories about their respective traditions. “I explained that Christians also observe a period of fasting during Lent, which lasts for 40 days. So we began sharing about our practices and the meaning behind them, and it became a very meaningful moment of understanding between us,” Raj added. While Christians break fast earlier in the day, on that occasion, Raj chose to wait until sunset to break bread with his Muslim friends. “It was a way of sharing that moment as a community,” he said. As night falls, Ezekiel Raj (right) joins members of the Muslim community to break fast during Ramadan, which coincides with Lent this year. Breaking fast together During Ramadan, the mosque compound becomes the centre of evening life in Bukit Rotan. As sunset approaches, long tables are set up and neighbours begin gathering for iftar, the communal meal that ends the day’s fast. During FMT’s visit to the mosque, Raj was seen speaking with Bazah, a Chinese resident was chatting with the mosque committee members, and a Hindu visitor could be seen in the crowd. Everyone, regardless of race or religion, helped to prepare for the feast. Children wandered between the tables while older residents waited quietly for the call to prayer. When the azan finally echoed across the compound, everyone reached for the same simple meal. For Raj, that moment captures the spirit of Bukit Rotan. “The mosque plays a very important role in reaching out to the community. Through simple things like sharing food and helping people in need, it becomes a place where neighbours come together regardless of religion.” A key part of that tradition is the preparation of bubur lambuk, a savoury porridge cooked in large batches and distributed around the neighbourhood during Ramadan. “Every Ramadan we prepare food packages for people who are breaking fast in this area. Around a hundred packets are distributed, and anyone who comes here can receive food,” Bazah said, adding that the number of those receiving the food has gradually grown over the years. The mosque also caters to workers, including migrant labourers from Indonesia and Bangladesh who live and work in the surrounding plantations. The tradition, Bazah said, is rooted in the Islamic values of charity and community. “We share food because we want to strengthen unity among neighbours. When we give sincerely, people from different religions feel happy and they understand the spirit of Ramadan.” A town built on neighbourliness For Raj, Bukit Rotan offers a quiet counterpoint to the heated debates about race and religion that often dominate national headlines. Malaysia, he said, has always been a diverse country, and communities like Bukit Rotan show that diversity does not have to divide people. “Bukit Rotan shows that harmony is possible when communities choose respect, kindness and cooperation.” Bazah sees the same lesson in the gatherings at the mosque, where neighbours of different faiths sit together to share food during Ramadan and other community celebrations. “’Lakum deenukum waliya deen’ – for you is your religion and for me is mine,” he said, quoting a verse from the Quran. “Each religion has its own beliefs, but here in Bukit Rotan we live united.” In the small town of Bukit Rotan, where temple bells, church hymns, and the call to prayer blend in harmony, this spirit of coexistence has endured for a century – and, if the residents have their say, will continue for many more.