KUCHING: Two years ago, Faizullah Nor Affendy and his friends stole the heart of netizens when a video of them performing the lion dance in makeshift materials went viral on social media.

Today, the 13-year-old SMK Bako student and his troupe – all from Kampung Muara Tebas – are often invited to perform at functions.

The troupe has received a proper lion costume and musical instruments from the state Youth and Sports Department.

“We have no formal training. We learned the art by watching performances at the nearby temple during Chinese New Year. It has been a hobby for us since,” said Faizullah when met at the village located some 30km from here yesterday.

Response, he said, had been encouraging, adding that visitors to the famous Chin San Yan Temple at the village, who saw their video, would often ask for them.

“Sometimes, we are invited to perform in the city during Chinese New Year and the launch of new businesses. We would receive between RM200 to RM300,” he said.

Mohd Shukri Azlan, 15, who is one of the four boys in the video, also gives informal training to other youths interested in the art.

The drummer of the troupe, Mohd Shukri said new members came and went but the original boys had remained together.

“We love to see lion dance performances. We started picking up the art in 2012 and acting out the movements using makeshift materials.

“Soon, villagers would gather in front of Faizullah’s house to watch us,” he said.

Faizullah’s grandmother, Ramlah Malim, said he and his friends had always been interested in the lion dance.

“His uncle created a costume for the boys with a cardboard box as the ‘head’.

“They would take pot lids from the kitchen and big pails for their musical instruments,” she said.

Since the video went viral, Ramlah said the boys’ performance had been a hit among visitors.

Kampung Muara Tebas , made up of mostly Malay residents, is known for the 200-year-old temple that attracts thousands of devotees each year, particularly during Chinese New Year.

The Buddhist temple has been declared a historical building under the Sarawak Cultural Heritage Ordinance 1993.