Gotong royong is a traditional Malay concept whereby people living in a kampung (village) do things together and help each other in the spirit of goodwill and reciprocity, knowing that one can count on the support of one’s neighbours during times of need.

Although my family never lived in a kampung, we adhere to the concept of gotong-royong. I remember Nenek (grandmother) and Hajah Aisah (great-grandmother) who were both full of grace. Although they were unhappy with their ‘neighbours’ (the people who patronised the Kota Raja Club or KRC next door), they respected their neighbours and went about their own business. In fact, during the Japanese Occupation in 1943, they would sometimes send food over to the hungry KRC members and they did the same again during the Communist insurgency when strict curfews were imposed and supplies were scarce.

The KRC members were also kind to Hajah Aisah. Whenever they heard my hot-blooded grand-uncle shouting at Hajah Aisah -- his wild tantrums created chaos in Gedung Kuning (our house) from time to time -- they immediately rushed to her rescue. They would pull grand-uncle away and warned him not to treat his mother in such a disrespectful manner or they would beat him up. Hajah Aisah was grateful for their often timely interventions. The KRC members told Hajah Aisah and Nenek to call on them if they needed further assistance*.

Such display of civic mindedness was true to the concept of gotong-royong. Sadly, with the onset of urbanization and the demise of the kampung, such public spiritedness has waned.

I remember watching an Indonesian film Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow Troops) about an inspiring teacher and her 10 students in the poverty-stricken Kampung Gantong (Gantong Village) in Belitong (watch the movie's trailer below).

The school building’s deteriorating structural condition did not dampen their high spirits and hopes for a better future. In a scene where one of the school’s wooden walls was leaning dangerously towards the ground, the villagers came together, chopped down a tree trunk and placed it against the leaning wall in an effort to prevent the collapse. Working together in the spirit of togetherness to help one another (albeit how small the tasks are) epitomises the Malays as a kind race.

Gotong-royong is not only peculiar to the Malays. In fact, when I was on my various service learning and humanitarian trips, I noticed a similar trait among the non-Malays. In the spirit of wanting to help the Hurricane Katrina survivors, many Americans from other parts of the USA came forth to volunteer with “Habitat for Humanity” to build houses for the homeless families. I was fortunate to have worked with many of them, from students to retirees to housewives who made time and picked up carpentry and construction skills to help with the rebuilding projects. There were some who helped by preparing meals for the volunteers. Even the fast-food chains in Louisiana provided the volunteers free lunches in appreciation for their efforts.

Photo Caption: Laying the foundation of a new house for Hurricane Katrina survivors in Louisiana, USA.

This spirit of helping one another goes beyond personal relationships. International aid can perhaps be considered as a form of large-scale, highly-coordinated gotong-royong, where one country helps another in the latter’s time of need.

For example, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) medical team erected a medical outpost in Sumatra to assist natives affected by the recent Sumatran earthquake in October 2009. I, too, remember my volunteer stint with the Singapore Red Cross’ Medical Relief mission to Aceh, after the region was devastated by a massive tsunami in 2004. I stayed in a Danish camp, working alongside the Indonesian Red Cross in the mobile clinic. The volunteers in Aceh came from many different countries, yet united in the spirit of gotong-royong.

Although I was glad that our team managed to set up the basic infrastructure for Clinic Harapan (Hope Clinic), I left Meulaboh in Aceh with a heavy heart. An Acehnese woman hugged me and whispered, "Terima kasih kerana membantu orang Aceh" (Thank you for helping the Aceh people). And at that time, I truly appreciated this wonderful concept of gotong-royong, of helping even a stranger in the spirit of humanity and international friendship.

*More historical narratives of the KRC can be found in Hidayah’s upcoming book: Gedung Kuning, Memories of a Malay Childhood.

Hidayah Amin | 10 October 2009