RUKOM Revives Community Spirit In Public Housing
Before the establishment of the Ruang Komuniti (RUKOM) at Pangsapuri Seri Kepayang here, Nur Hamisah Yaakob constantly worried about the safety of her three children, who spent almost every evening playing around the apartment complex with their friends.
Her fears were understandable. The flats sit beside a river, and its cool, flowing waters could easily become a deadly trap for children, especially during the dry season when most adults were still at work or occupied with daily chores at home.
“After spending hours studying, children naturally want to play outdoors. But we cannot monitor or accompany them downstairs all day long.
“Thankfully, since RUKOM was introduced in December last year, my children spend all their time there instead of wandering elsewhere. At RUKOM, they meet friends, play congkak, carrom and many other games,” said the 40-year-old homemaker.
For 13-year-old K. Kithana, the space has become more than just a recreational corner. Together with her younger siblings, she now uses RUKOM as a place to revise lessons, complete homework and build friendships with peers.
“In the past, we could only go out for recreation with our parents. Now, when we come here, it feels safer because there are always adults we know around, and it’s also close to the shops,” she said.
REVIVING THE SPIRIT OF NEIGHBOURLINESS
Located at Blocks A and B of the apartment complex, the two RUKOM spaces also serve as venues for residents’ meetings and community activities, including small celebrations and gatherings.
According to Seri Kepayang Residents’ Association deputy chairman Mohammad Nordin Badardin, the facilities were created by transforming previously unused void deck areas into functional communal spaces equipped with lights, fans and designated corners for children to study and play.
“Each RUKOM was built with an allocation of between RM20,000 and RM30,000. We now hope to secure additional funding to build toilets and install CCTV cameras to further strengthen safety features,” he said.
Since the introduction of RUKOM, he noted that interactions among residents of different races had become noticeably closer.
“I often receive requests from residents who want to organise gatherings, simple meals or small birthday celebrations here.
“You could say RUKOM has revived the spirit of neighbourliness, gotong-royong and a sense of care among residents,” he said, adding that residents now take turns cleaning the space daily and work together to beautify the area with landscaping and ornamental plants.
URBANICE MALAYSIA’S ROLE
RUKOM is part of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT)’s broader commitment under the leadership of Nga Kor Ming to create more harmonious, inclusive and liveable environments in the People’s Housing Project (PPR) housing schemes.
Targeting the development of 100 RUKOM spaces nationwide, the initiative is implemented through URBANICE Malaysia, the Centre of Excellence for Urban Sustainability and Community Wellbeing under KPKT. The first RUKOM project was launched at PPR Seri Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on July 6, 2023.
URBANICE Malaysia chief operating officer Dr Mohd Rizal Osman said the initiative aims to strengthen the role of social spaces within public housing and community settlements, making them safer and more liveable.
Under the initiative, unused void decks in PPR areas are transformed into conducive social integration centres where residents from different races and religions can gather, interact and participate in activities together.
“Built around the concept of ‘Social Integration at Common Space’, the initiative carries the tagline ‘Bridging Generations, Building Community Connections Through Shared Spaces’.
“The goal is to encourage positive and safe social activities while giving residents from different backgrounds, age groups and ethnicities opportunities to build healthy and strong community relationships in line with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI,” he said.
He added that the initiative also supports sustainable urban development by translating KPKT’s policies into practical community projects, research initiatives, SDG Cities Malaysia roadmaps and advisory support for local authorities and ministries.
THE 100TH RUKOM MILESTONE
The RUKOM project at Pangsapuri Seri Kepayang, which benefits around 1,600 residents, made history as the 100th RUKOM launched nationwide in December last year, marking the achievement of the ministry’s original target.
“The successful launch of the 100th RUKOM is not the end, but the beginning of a new phase for KPKT in creating a more prosperous living environment.
“KPKT will continue expanding the RUKOM initiative to ensure every public housing community has an inclusive space to interact, innovate and strengthen unity,” Nga said during the official launch on Dec 6 last year.
Mohd Rizal admitted, however, that implementing RUKOM projects was not without challenges.
“One major challenge is the limitation of physical space because not all PPR buildings in Malaysia have suitable void decks or empty areas that can be converted into community spaces.
“Out of 178 PPR locations nationwide, only 81 have void deck facilities or suitable empty spaces, while the rest consist of strata-style housing and landed homes,” he explained.
He added that approvals from relevant authorities, including State Housing Boards and local councils, must also be obtained before any development work can proceed.
“The process also requires engagement with residents, preparation of local community profiles and careful budget planning to ensure the projects are implemented effectively and truly benefit the community,” he said.
Still, he described the launch of the 100th RUKOM at Pangsapuri Seri Kepayang as a major achievement that reflects KPKT’s success in expanding access to people-friendly, safe and socially impactful community spaces.
“RUKOM is not just a physical space. It is a social space that connects generations, strengthens community networks and nurtures a spirit of togetherness among residents through social activities.
“The success of these 100 RUKOM spaces proves that with a clear vision, multi-party support and active community participation, physical development can be transformed into sustainable and humane social development,” he said.
LOOKING AHEAD
As URBANICE Malaysia continues its mission, Mohd Rizal said the organisation is exploring ways to introduce RUKOM spaces in PPR areas without void decks, including the possibility of using vacant land or underutilised spaces.
This year, URBANICE Malaysia plans to complete an additional 23 RUKOM projects, bringing the nationwide total to 123.
“To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, RUKOM’s funding model does not rely on a single source.
“In addition to corporate contributions and strategic collaborations such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) initiatives by KLCC (KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd), RUKOM projects are also funded through KPKT’s annual savings allocations.
“These savings are channelled to URBANICE Malaysia through relevant government agencies, including the National Housing Department and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU),” he said.
For its next phase, URBANICE Malaysia will no longer focus solely on PPR areas but plans to expand the concept into new demographics, including schools and educational institutions.
Among the projects in the pipeline is a RUKOM space at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sinar Bahagia in Kulai, Johor, as well as initiatives in suburban and village areas such as Kampung Bahagia in Teluk Intan.
