S'pore Malay youths spent S$428 to treat random unsuspecting Ramadan bazaar customers

Not all mats lepak at void decks.

Fasiha Nazren | June 08, 2018, 03:23 PM

In the month of Ramadan, most Muslim youths would spend their weekends with friends over at the Geylang Bazaar trying out the wide variety of food on sale.

A group of youths called Braders SG, however, did something different over the weekend.

Malay youths payung meals

On the first and third of June, members of Braders SG went around Geylang Bazaar and Bazaar Raya Utara to intercept unsuspecting customers and payung their meals, calling this project Jangan Cakap Braders Tak Payung (Don't say Braders didn't treat you).

Payung literally means umbrella in Malay, but in teen slang, it means to treat.

They shared a video documenting their experience on Facebook and garnered 35,000 views and 500 shares.

Non-profit group for mats

Braders SG is a non-profit youth group that focuses specifically on mats - colloquial term for Malay boys.

The main aim of the group is to be a good influence to other Malay youths.

They currently have 67 members (and are still growing strong), ranging from 14 to 26-year-olds.

Rushed in to pay food for others

Members of Braders SG went around the bazaars and sneaked behind customers who were mainly youths and rushed to pay for their food like this:

via Braders SG

But they don't just treat people of their age, they pay for the older folks too.

via Braders SG

The boys from Braders SG would then give them a postcard and a badge, explaining the intentions behind their actions.

The badge encourages youths to do good and uses a well-known Malay slang term "onzXonx" which basically means "Are you game?". via Braders SG

Knows what it's like to not have a lot

Braders SG told Mothership that their intention really was to educate their members to be friendly and to spread mercy in the holy month of Ramadan.

"From the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), if we give food for those who are fasting, we will get the same good deeds as the person who is fasting. We too are youths and we know how precious it is for someone to treat us especially when we don't have much money ourselves. It's a moment we will treasure if a stranger treat us!"

Spent S$428 to payung others, but only ate dates to break their fast

The group spent a total of S$428 on others at both bazaars, but barely spent as much on themselves.

Speaking to Mothership, they only had a can of drink and some dates to break their fast before immediately starting to pay for others.

"We only had real meals at 10pm, but we managed to put others before ourselves. It's an awesome lesson that we'll never ever forget!"

You can watch the full video here:

Top image via Braders SG's Facebook page