KUCHING: Padang Merdeka was filled with members of the public as the Juh Berambeh Sungkey @ Kuching 2026 programme was held in a lively atmosphere, with people from various communities gathering together to enjoy the experience of breaking fast collectively.

The Juh Berambeh Sungkey @ Kuching 2026 programme, organised by Kelab Belia Prihatin Bandar Kuching with the support of the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, not only served as a platform for families and friends to break fast together, but also helped strengthen ties and foster closer relationships among the community in Kuching city in conjunction with the month of Ramadan.

The event was further enlivened by the presence of Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who attended as the guest of honour.

Observations at the venue found that members of the public began arriving as early as 3pm, bringing along their own dishes while taking the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere for breaking fast at the iconic open space.

One visitor, Nora Simin, 59, from Kampung Tabuan, said she attended the programme with her family for the first time and described it as a good platform for the community to gather during Ramadan.

“Programmes like this are very good because they give us the opportunity to gather with our families and mingle with other members of the community,” she said when met at the programme venue.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman Alif, 18, from Kampung Tabuan Melayu, said he attended the event with his friends to experience breaking fast in a large gathering.

According to him, the experience of breaking fast in an open public setting with many people offered a different atmosphere compared to breaking fast elsewhere.

“This is my first time coming here and the atmosphere is truly different because we get to gather and break fast together with so many people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kusyaini Mahyan from Lundu said she had attended the programme three times and always looked forward to it being organised every year.

According to her, programmes such as this provide an opportunity for participants to gather and enjoy the Ramadan atmosphere with friends in a relaxed setting.

Her friend, Ahmad Baseri Kadir, described the spacious and open grounds of Padang Merdeka as making the location particularly suitable for bringing together large numbers of people for such events.

He also expressed hope that similar programmes would continue to be held in the future as they are able to unite the community in a harmonious atmosphere throughout the month of Ramadan. -UKASnews

Reporter: Lonney Jinab & Ezzah Syafiqah
Photo: Lonney Jinab & George S. Embie
Translator: Uilson Ng