LABUAN: Over 400 descendants of Hj Lamudin Karudin and Akinah Salleh gathered for their second family gathering at SJKC Chi Wen Hall on the fifth day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The sixth generation of family members came from Sabah, Brunei, Peninsula and Labuan to attend the gathering.
Organising chairman of the gathering, Sahari Amdan, said that some family members might not know their own relatives, but through the gathering they would know each other, especially families that rarely met except during Hari Raya.
“There are many other family members, including those living outside Labuan who wanted to come but sadly they could not make it due to some constraints, including work commitment.
“However, I hope that our family members can use the social media to interact with one another to preserve our family relationship,” he said.
The evening programme started at 8pm and was attended by Senator Datuk Yunus Kurus and Labuan Umno deputy chief Datuk Bashir Alias who represented Labuan member of parliament Datuk Rozman Isli.
Several activities were held including a lucky draw, which offered lucrative prizes such as electrical goods, some of which were contributed by Rozman, Bashir, the political secretary of Federal Territories Minister Mohd Rafi Alli Hassan and also by family members.
Also held was the presentation of awards to the children within the family who excelled in their public examinations and a cultural performance by the family members.
Meanwhile, one of the late Hj Lamudin’s son, Abdul Rahman, 73, said that most of their family members here in Labuan were staying at Kampung Sungai Bedaun.
Abdul Rahman is the second child, while the eldest is Abdul Ladi, 86, who now lives in Brunei.
The late Hj Lamudin passed away in 1986, while his wife, the late Akinah died a year before.
Abdul Rahman, a former school headmaster, said that he felt happy and touched with the turnout at the gathering.
“I want to thank all family members who came for this meaningful event and I want to congratulate the committee who worked hard to make this programme possible.
“We are proud that this gathering is considered as the largest family gathering ever organised in Labuan where some 457 of our family members are present,” he said, adding that they had 13 siblings.
He expressed his happiness as many of their family members were doing well in their respective field including business, while the rest were serving in government and private sectors.