The religious belief of the Datuk Keramat worship can be found in Malaysia, Singapore and along the straight of Malacca. It is a fusion of pre-Islamic spirit belief, Sufi saint worship and Chinese folk religion.
According to local Malay legend, all Datuk's were once human and were considered the "Fore Fathers of The Land" and sometimes also known as the "Spirit of The Land" as the locals would call them.
Around the Malaysian countryside some small, red-coloured painted shrines by the roadside or under a tree can be found, and these shrines are usually worshipped by the residents living around the neighbourhood. The shrines are normally of a fusion Chinese-Malay design, with Islamic elements such as the crescent moon decorations. Inside the simple room, a small, decorated statue is venerated, depicting the datuk. Around the statue offerings are brought, sometimes on a small altar in front of the datuk statue.
It is believed that there are a total of nine types of Datuk's, and that each of them were once great warriors and expert in Malay local martial arts, the Silat except for the last Datuk. They were also known to posses great magical powers. Worshippers usually pray to Datuks for protection, good health, good luck and sometimes seek divine help to overcome their problems.
Worshippers usually offer fresh flowers, sireh (betelnuts), rokok daun (local hand rolled cigarettes), sliced pinang (areca nuts) and local fruits. An important part of the praying ritual is also to burn some kemenyan (benzoin - made of a local gum tree, when burnt will emit a smoky fragrant smell).
If their prayers are answered, the worshippers usually return to the shrine and make offerings or hold a Kenduri (feast).
The kenduri items usually consist of yellow saffron rice, lamb or chicken curries, vegetables, pisang rastali (bananas), young coconuts, rose syrup, cherrots (local cigars) and local fruits. Below are the nine Datuks named according to their seniority from the eldest to the youngest:
1. Datuk Panglima Ali (Ali)
2. Datuk Panglima Hitam (Black)
3. Datuk Panglima Harimau (Tiger)
4. Datuk Panglima Hijau (Green)
5. Datuk Panglima Kuning (Yellow)
6. Datuk Panglima Putih (White)
7. Datuk Panglima Bisu (Mute)
8. Datuk Panglima Merah (Red)
9. Datuk Panglima Bongsu (Youngest)
Pork items are considered impure and are therefore totally forbidden in a shrine, visitors are also asked to not show disrespect when inside or around a shrine.