Kampung Fatimah Has Potential To Be Malaysia’s Indian Cultural Heritage Village Model

BANTING, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Kampung Fatimah in Kuala Langat is seen as an ideal location for Malaysia’s first Indian Cultural Heritage Village pilot project, given the unique lifestyle of its estate community that can still be preserved and showcased.

Kampung Fatimah Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman M. Kunasikaran said he wanted the heritage of estate community life to be preserved and introduced to future generations.

He said the initiative, proposed under the Kampung Fatimah 2030 development plan, needed to be implemented immediately as the traditional lifestyle of the estate community was gradually being eroded by modernisation.

“This heritage lifestyle is slowly disappearing as many residents now work in nearby factories, while the younger generation is increasingly disconnected from their roots, traditional occupations, customs, heritage food and the historical stories of their ancestors.

“Without planning based on the concept of 'Mari Kita Kenang Semula Kehidupan di Estet' (Let’s Remember Life in the Estate), this heritage may disappear within a generation. Therefore, we must preserve it while it is still alive,” he said in his speech at the Kampung Fatimah development programme as an Indian Cultural Heritage Village here today.

Also present were Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) chairman Datuk P. Manoharan, as well as representatives from Tourism Selangor, the Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association (MITTA) and the Selangor Land and Mines Office.

Kunasikaran said that the Kampung Fatimah 2030 development plan would give visitors the opportunity to experience estate community life through various activities, such as flower picking, food festivals, traditional games, cow milking, river activities, as well as homestay and campfire sessions.

“Kampung Fatimah, which is now more than 40 years old, will leverage its unique natural surroundings and community activities to offer tourism modules based on direct participation for local and international visitors,” he said.

He said cooperation between the village committee, government tourism agencies and private operators would continue to be strengthened to develop the tourism product.

Meanwhile, Manoharan described the effort to turn Kampung Fatimah into an Indian Cultural Heritage Village as an initiative with great potential to showcase the unique lifestyle of the estate community as a tourism product.

“Throughout my service with Tourism Malaysia, this is the first time I have heard of a pilot initiative of this kind for an estate village. The experience of living in an estate is very unique and cannot be found elsewhere, as I myself come from an estate background.

“Tourism Malaysia is ready to work closely with Tourism Selangor and tourism industry stakeholders to comprehensively package the community-based tourism product,” he said.

He said the access route to Kampung Fatimah was also easily accessible by tourist vehicles such as buses and vans, while a nearby river had been identified for redevelopment as a water-based activity attraction.

He added that the development was expected to create economic opportunities for local residents through homestay services and cultural entrepreneurship.

“With strong support from state and federal tourism agencies, Kampung Fatimah is now on the right track to emerge as a premier Indian Cultural Heritage Village model in Malaysia by 2030,” he said.

-- BERNAMA