Jermanpine: Kampung Parit Jerman’s Precious Gem And Pontian’s New Tourism Icon
PONTIAN, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- A village in Pontian is said to have earned its name Kampung Parit Jerman (German in Malay) after once being a settlement with farms run by German settlers.
Remnants of the European settlers, including brickwork and stone staircases, still stand today, marking their presence in the village before World War II in the 1940s.
Today, Kampung Parit Jerman is famed not for its German settlers but for its MD2 “Jermanpine” and pineapple-based products from the Parit Jerman Grouped Pineapple Plantation Project (PTNB).
Parit Jerman PTNB head Mohammad Anal Talha, 53, said the 30-hectare project, hailed as a ‘gem’ for the village, has hit its one-million-plant target, drawing domestic and international tourists, especially on weekends and school holidays.
“The project has attracted domestic tourists, including visitors from Sabah and mostly Sarawak, which is also known for pineapples, as well as international tourists from as far as Germany, South Korea, Japan, and several European and African countries,” he told Bernama recently.
Muhammad Anal said the PTNB project yields up to 25,000 pineapples a month and has sparked the production of pineapple-based products, including juice, jam, tarts, cakes, dodol and other treats.
He said Restoran Jermanpine completes the village’s agro-tourism hub, offering pineapple fried rice, pizza and waffles amid the sweeping green pineapple fields.
“Visitors can also enjoy the unique experience of exploring and photographing the pineapple fields, picking ripe pineapples themselves, and taking their harvest home.
“Another must-try experience for visitors is riding an ATV around the fields while taking in the stunning, one-of-a-kind scenery,” he said.
Muhammad Anal added that the modern pineapple plantation is both a Pontian attraction and a source of income for locals, including SME entrepreneurs, making Kampung Parit Jerman the district’s newest icon and a must-visit spot.
-- BERNAMA
