Sacrificial Lamb

A sacrificial lamb is a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed (killed or discounted in some way) for the common good. The term is derived from the traditions of Abrahamic religion where a lamb is a highly valued possession, but is offered to God as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of Sin.

Today is Idil Adha or Hari Raya Haji which is one of Singapore public holidays and as it falls on Sunday, tomorrow, Monday, will be the public holiday.  Idil Adha is one of the Islamic holiest days. Idil Adha falls on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Zulhijah. Muslims all over the world and who can afford it, are required to perform a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to the Muslim Holiest city of Mecca. One of the rituals during the Idil Adha is the slaughtering of domesticated animals usually sheeps, goats, cattle or camels.

Talking about the slaughtering of animals, I recalled in the late 70s and early 80s where the compound of my family's home at Kampong Coronation  was scene to such rituals during the Hari Raya Haji. There were so many fond and funny memories about the yearly event. Coincidentally, today and for no particular reason I cruise around the almost deserted industrial area of Penjuru Road, Pandan Road and Jalan Buroh and after so many years I noticed that the old Jurong animals holding area and abattoir under the old Primary Production Dept (PPD), the predecessor of AVA has been transformed to a new modern building.  I could still see the old animal pens but unfortunately I don't have my camera or mobile phone with me. I am very sure, in not too distant far, the pens will be demolished. I will return very soon this time with my camera and will share with you the photos.

In the 70s and 80s where there are still many kampongs in Singapore, individuals or Muslims organisation who wanted to sacrifice animals during the Hari Raya Haji would have to purchase the animals from the livestock importers who imported live sheep and cattle from Australia. The animals came in ship which berthed at Jurong Port just across Jalan Buroh. From the port, I heard that the sheep and cattle were herded from the ship across Jalan Buroh to the pens but have not seen it myself or come across any photographs of it. The sheep and cattle will be cared for a few days before they were slaughtered. Freshly slaughtered sheep, cattle and pigs are common feature in Singapore wet markets until 1999 following the outbreak of the Nipah virus outbreak where such practice was stopped and the abattoir closed.

Going back to the Hari Raya Haji at my old kampong house, after contacting a relative's relative who is a sheep importer/wholesaler, we trust him to deliver good and healthy sheep as required of the religion to our home. In the beginning, my father purchased only 1 or 2 sheep for our own family. He will then proceed to the PPD's office at the National Development Building at Maxwell Road to apply for the slaughtering permit. Each animal requires one permit. I could not recall what is the cost of the permit which comes with a strict condition that the slaughtering is strictly for religious purposes and the carcasses is not for sale. The slaughtering itself must be away from public view and the unwanted parts and skin must be dispose off hygienically.

Following the successful organising of the slaughtering during the Hari Raya Haji in 1978 or 1979, relatives and neighbours requested my father to include them in the following year event. My father who is well respected for to his knowledge and organizing skills never turn down such request as he sees it as part of community work and did not profit from it. He just asked for the price of the sheep and permit and a token fee for Ustaz Said, a respected imam, religious teacher and my cousin’s husband for slaughtering all the sheep. Immediate neighbours came to provide helping hands or what we called ‘gotong royong’. From 1-2 sheep a year, I recalled in 1986, there were close to 20 sheep to be slaughtered and instead of relying on neighbours and volunteers to skin and cut the carcasses; we hired professional butchers from Bukit Timah market to cut the carcasses into decent pieces.

The pre-slaughtering days or the caring of the sheep were often hilarious affairs! My family’s house was built on many thick beams and the sheep were tied to the beams since we did not build proper pens. The sheep’s smell and their urine and feces were terrible but since the event is for religious purposes, we take it in our strides.

I think during 1981 Hari Raya Haji, one of the sheep managed to break free from under our house and bolted towards Coronation Road West with my brothers hot on its heels! Several other neighbours also joined in the chase. The sheep was finally caught when it jumped into a monsoon drain infront of Ulu Pandan community centre and got stuck in the mud. Everybody was too exhausted to walk back to our house which is about 500-700 metres away from the CC and with the prospect of carrying the sheep, no solution was forthcoming until  my brother-in-law ,Sunny came to the rescue by offering to bring the sheep back home in his Ford Capri car!

We wrapped the sheep with some plastics or newspaper and after much heaving and shoving, managed to get inside the car. It was a funny sight when my brother-in-law’s car came with the sheep sitting in the centre and my two brothers sat on its left and right similar like the television scene showing the police escorting an arrested person.

A Ford Capri car model similar like my brother-in-law’s and a mug shot of the escaped sheep!

                               

My father stopped the yearly event because it was getting too big and troublesome. Imagine a few days before Hari Raya Haji, my brothers and I have to dig a large and deep pit infront of our house by using changkols only. The sheep skins and other unwanted parts were buried in the pit. In the next few days or even weeks, the stench coming from the pit were terrible and if its rain, it meant more sufferings to my family.