KUALA LUMPUR: Communities, including the Orang Asli, are increasingly shifting away from reliance on big corporations by creating job opportunities for their members while preserving and promoting their rich culture and history.
These efforts are proving to be sustainable and are promoting the circular economy.
The communities also aim to show the youth that job opportunities can be found in their hometowns rather than moving to big cities.
During a recent media familiarisation trip with the Global Environment Centre (GEC), the New Straits Times visited three such communities in Perak that are part of the River Care programme.
These communities have adopted rivers to care for and protect.
KLEBANG SELATAN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
The Klebang Selatan Residents' Association in Ipoh established and manages a cassava chips processing facility in collaboration with GEC, with financial support from the Hasanah Special Grant 2020 (HSG2020) and the Finance Ministry.
The association's chairman Salehuddin Hussain said they initially focused on planting cassava to be processed into chips to support the livelihoods of their residents, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The cassava was planted sustainably, with a restored well used to water the plants. They also 'adopted' a nearby river, ensuring it remains unpolluted.
To water the plants, they use a smart irrigation system powered by renewable energy, reducing electricity usage, labour, and time. Solar panels generate electricity for the sprinklers, and the water comes from wells and rainwater harvesting.
They are committed to ensure no harmful chemicals enter the drains, as this could lead to river pollution.
Salehuddin said while waiting for the cassava plants to grow, they also purchased cassava from a supplier.
"The process involves about 20 people, most of whom are women and the elderly. The women wash and peel the cassava, while the men use a cutting machine to slice it finely and fry it.
"The women then make the flavouring—black pepper, tom yam, original, and spicy—and also handle the packaging," he said, adding that GEC helped them acquire the slicing machine.
Salehuddin said the association only takes 10 per cent of the earnings, while the rest goes to the workers.
Norazizan Zainal Abidin, 64, who works at the processing facility, said they could earn about RM200 to RM300 in a few months.
"If there's a special order, like for weddings, we can earn extra," she said.
The garden where they plant the cassava has expanded into a community garden where they grow chillies, okra, winged beans, and sugarcane, which they sell as "Ayer Tebu Manthol" and coconut drinks.
Abdul Razak Teh, 64, who sells the drinks, said they could earn about RM10,000 during the fasting month.
Through HSG2021, the association received financial support to further improve the centre and implement urban farming projects that also become a model for urban community projects.
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This has led to them improving the packaging of eco-products developed for the cassava chips, now using eco-friendly, reusable jars.
Product information and certification are included on the jar labels, promoting green practices by reducing single-use plastic.
TAMAN CHEMOR IDAMAN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION
The Taman Chemor Idaman Residents' Association was first approached by GEC to develop a community garden while caring for the Kuang River.
GEC also introduced them to various urban farming initiatives, including hydroponic farming, providing about 20 hydroponic kits for household use.
The community has harvested crops like brinjal, papaya, and okra from the garden for daily use and earned additional income by selling produce at reasonable prices.
Perak GEC coordinator Norazrin Mamat said the River Care programme aims to empower the community, teaching them sustainable farming practices while caring for the river.
This includes proper drain care, composting, and selling used oil.
The community also learns about river systems, understanding that waste in the drains eventually reaches the ocean, as rivers and seas are interconnected.
"For example, the river in their area is the Kuang River, connected to the Chemor River, then the Pari River, followed by the Kinta River, and finally, the Perak River, which flows into the Malacca Strait.
"We want the community to understand that whatever goes into their drains will affect the rivers and the ocean, so they won't throw waste into the drains.
"At GEC, we don't just promote 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), but 4R 2C: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Compost, and Close the loop, which means reusing waste (circular economy)," he said.
Taman Chemor Idaman Residents Association chairman Karrim Din Mohd Ismail said following GEC's initiative, they also received support from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who allocated RM30,000 to build a cabin.
The cabin is now used as a community centre with a kitchen where they operate a bakery, catering services, and cooking classes.
SUNGAI TONGGANG ORANG ASLI VILLAGE
In the Sungai Tonggang Orang Asli village in Tanjung Rambutan, Ulu Kinta, the community has been empowered to run an ecotourism project promoting sustainable tourism around the Seno'oi river and showcasing Orang Asli culture.
The Temiar community manages the recreational and ecotourism site, called Kayuh D' Tonggang, located in the forest about half an hour from Ipoh city.
They received support from GEC, the Orang Asli Development Department, the Perak Forestry Department, the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), and funding from Hasanah Foundation and the Finance Ministry.
Sungai Tonggang village tok batin Che Wan Alang said the initiative supports the community's livelihood and shows the youth that they can find income in their hometown.
He said over 20 youths are involved in Kayuh D' Tonggang as river rangers who constantly monitor the cleanliness of the river.
"We also want to showcase our culture to the public, where they can taste our home-cooked food and see dances like the Sewang, as well as our handicraft," he said.
Other activities include mountain biking, blowpipe demonstrations, hunting displays, and the Sungai Seno'oi Open Classroom, which educates the public on ecology and river monitoring.
Since its introduction in May 2023, the initiative has earned over RM50,000.
GEC director Faizal Parish said while the GEC River Care Programme is now implemented nationwide, their current focus is on two major river basins: the Klang and Kinta River basins.
He said these two basins are being used as demonstration sites to address their specific challenges, with the intention of applying the insights gained to other river basins.
"We can use these basins as a springboard for broader initiatives. The Kinta River basin, for instance, faces numerous issues ranging from rural to urban areas, offering a wide range of activities for us to implement," he said.
He added that GEC now has already implemented small-scale programmes nationwide as part of the River Care Programme.
He said GEC is also looking to expand its efforts within Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and beyond, particularly following the appointment of its new chairman, Datuk Halimah Hassan, the former director-general of the Department of Environment.