RANTAU PANJANG: On most Fridays and Saturdays, the quiet village of Kampung Tersang comes alive with the melodious calls of the merbah jambul, or candik, as bird enthusiasts from both sides of the Malaysia–Thailand border gather for a competition rooted as much in friendship as it is in passion.
Organised by Mohd Irwan Faizal Mohd Rajiun, the singing contest has been held regularly for the past five years and is conducted twice a week on non-working days.
“This competition is more of a side activity and a platform for silaturahim,” said Mohd Irwan Faizal, adding that participants today included bird owners from Kelantan and southern Thailand.
About 60 ‘merbah jambul’ birds took part in the latest singing competition this morning, with participants coming from Jeli, Kota Baru and Tanah Merah, while many of the birds were owned by enthusiasts from Thailand.
He said interest in the competition has picked up again after a slump about two years ago, when participation dropped following allegations that some bird owners used prohibited substances to enhance their birds’ performance.
“There were cases where water mixed with drugs was given to birds to win competitions. That affected trust and participation,” he said.
To restore confidence and fairness, organisers introduced an unusual but firm measure — urine testing for winning birds.
“After a bird wins, it must first be fed banana or special feed before its urine is collected for testing. If the result is positive, the prize is immediately cancelled,” he said.
Since the measure was implemented, Mohd Irwan Faizal said participation and confidence among players had steadily increased.
Prizes for the competition include bicycles and household items but for many participants, winning is about reputation rather than rewards.
About the merbah jambul market, he said it can reach tens of thousands of ringgit, depending on a bird’s championship record.
Meanwhile, one of the participant Ahmad Fairi Mohd Sori, 39, from Kuala Kajang said the urine test has brought peace of mind.
“I’m satisfied now. With the urine test, there’s no cheating,” said Ahmad Fairi.
Winner 19-year-old Mohd Zamri Mohd Azman from Gual Pasong Hantu said he brought four birds to the competition.
“Three out of four won. I’m really happy because everything is clean — no chemicals,” he said.
As birds chirped and owners exchanged stories under the village shade, there is also a renewed confidence in the event since organisers tightened enforcement measures.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
