PONTIANAK CULTURES

Kempunan

There are many kinds of cultures in Pontianak such as Kempunan. Kempunan is tried to touch food or beverage, if a person cannot eat or drink some food or beverage because he or she is hurry. It is believed in Pontianak especially Malay. They are believe that if they do not touch a little of food or beverage it can cause a mischance to them. I believe that Kempunan does not exist and there is no effect for us for several reasons.

First, there are opinions that say the trust be in a quandary just thinking of Malay and it is a hereditary belief. Malay communities were not getting answers to natural phenomena and they just connected to live or died a person with ‘Kempunan’. In fact, believe in Kempunan can cause people to Syirik. For example, a person does not touch the food then he or she will die. There are some people who said, 'if he or she eats the food firstly, and probably he or she would not die'. The responses like this means a syirik because they do not believe in God Qadak and Qadar. Thus, there is no term or concept of Kempunan' in Islam.

The second reason is about the level of concentration, in fact, if someone is offering to eat or drink but he is rejecting the offer because he was hurry or he was too late. However, the food or the beverage is very delicious. It can interfere with people's minds because he is always thinking about food or drink. No concentration will make mistakes and unlucky. However, it is not caused by Kempunan, but they are not concentrating on their work.

The last reason and the important is each person has destiny. Mischance or lucky has been arranged by God, it cannot influences through a little of food or beverage. People only accusing and connecting what happened before they got accident. Therefore, it is not influences Kempunan or not.

           In the end, I believe that Kempunan is not causing mischance for a person, who does not touch a food or beverage that has offered by someone. If you are in hurry and cannot eat or drink something. You should not think of the food or the beverage. You will lose your concentration and it will cause a mischance in your work.