Kuala langat: Kampung Fatimah in Kuala Langat has been identified as a prime location for Malaysia's inaugural Indian Cultural Heritage Village pilot project, due to the distinct lifestyle of its estate community that can still be preserved and exhibited.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kampung Fatimah Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman M. Kunasikaran emphasized the importance of preserving the heritage of estate community life for future generations. He noted that the initiative, part of the Kampung Fatimah 2030 development plan, needs immediate implementation as modernisation gradually erodes the traditional lifestyle of the estate community.
Kunasikaran pointed out that many residents have shifted to factory jobs, and the younger generation is becoming detached from their traditional roots, occupations, customs, heritage food, and ancestral stories. He stressed the urgency of preserving this heritage through the concept 'Mari Kita Kenang Semula Kehidupan di Estet' (Let's Remember Life in the Estate) to prevent its disappearance within a generation.
The Kampung Fatimah 2030 development plan aims to offer visitors a chance to experience estate community life through various activities, including flower picking, food festivals, traditional games, cow milking, river activities, homestays, and campfire sessions. The village, over 40 years old, plans to capitalize on its natural surroundings and community activities to provide tourism modules based on direct participation for both local and international visitors.
Kunasikaran highlighted the importance of collaboration between the village committee, government tourism agencies, and private operators to enhance the tourism product. Meanwhile, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) chairman, Datuk P. Manoharan, expressed optimism about the initiative's potential to showcase the estate community's unique lifestyle as a tourism product.
Manoharan remarked that this is the first pilot initiative of this kind for an estate village he has encountered during his tenure with Tourism Malaysia. He shared that Tourism Malaysia is keen to collaborate with Tourism Selangor and industry stakeholders to comprehensively package the community-based tourism product. He also mentioned that Kampung Fatimah is easily accessible by tourist vehicles and highlighted plans to redevelop a nearby river for water-based activities.
The development is anticipated to generate economic opportunities for local residents through homestay services and cultural entrepreneurship. Manoharan concluded that with robust support from state and federal tourism agencies, Kampung Fatimah is on track to become a leading Indian Cultural Heritage Village model in Malaysia by 2030.