A ONE-HOUR boat ride from the Tasik Banding jetty, 44 kilometres from Gerik town in Perak, lies Kampung Sungai Chiong, a serene indigenous Orang Asli settlement.
Nestled amid the thick forest, it is inhabited by about 200 Temiar tribe villagers from 60 households.
Where once they grappled with the cloak of night, they now harness the abundant power of the sun to generate electricity for lamps that cast a warm glow within their humble abodes.
This was made possible through PETRONAS' Uplifting Lives programme.
Early this year, solar panels were installed in the settlement by PETRONAS in collaboration with SOLS 24/7, Saora Industries, and the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa). SOLS 24/7 is part of a collective of organisations that support the work of SOLS Foundation.
Tipah Bah Pinang, a 30-year-old mother of three, was elated over this development. Each house at Kampung Sungai Chiong is now equipped with a solar panel that powers as many as four fluorescent lights at night.
Although overcast days meant the solar-powered lights would not last that long, Tipah added that this is still an improvement over what they had to endure in the past.
"Even with backup batteries, the lights would dim when it rains during the day. But we make do with what we have," she said, admitting it is better than the kerosene lamps they used before.
"It was expensive and difficult to get kerosene. We had to travel by boat to Gerik town. The solar panel is much better and more convenient," Tipah said.
In a world where almost 90 per cent of the population has access to electricity, its value may be as underestimated as the air we breathe.
In Kampung Sungai Chiong, however, the solar panels are a profound transformation. Children can now study by lamplight, chores can be completed, and the community can thrive through shared evening activities.
Life moves at its own pace in Kampung Sungai Chiong. Like other Orang Asli settlements, the villagers lead a simple life. The men tend to their farms and catch fish in Tasik Banding, the lake that surrounds the village. These activities provide them with some income.
However, the threat from wild animals meant that they are always on alert. Wild boars often destroy their crops, and elephants sometimes pass through the village. The Public Works Department has installed solar-powered streetlights that help keep these animals at bay.
"When they see the lights, the elephants know the village is inhabited. We hope to have more of these streetlights installed," Tipah added.
The solar installation is one of the many initiatives under the umbrella of PETRONAS' Social Impact activation. Besides empowering underserved communities, the company's efforts also focus on education and biodiversity conservation.
The Uplifting Lives programme, undertaken with Yayasan PETRONAS, impacted 156 Orang Asli homes across six villages in 2022.
The programme was expanded in 2022 to include access to clean water and learning programmes. The water filtration systems are also solar-powered, and each unit can provide clean water to 12 homes.
Access to clean water protects the community from waterborne diseases, reducing their healthcare expenses, and improving the mortality rate among children.
"It is something we had long hoped for. Kids will be kids, and before this, they would gulp down untreated water and when they get sick, it is difficult for us to get to the clinic," Tipah said.
The community hall at Kampung Sungai Chiong has also been equipped with ceiling fans and fluorescent lamps powered by solar, and can be used for official gatherings or when government officials visit.
During the day, it is used as a classroom for the Uplifting Lives learning programme.
Three volunteer teachers were appointed from within the community to upskill themselves and teach children, aged between four and 13, the alphabet and numbers under the guidance of Jakoa and Saora. The latter is a Malaysian-based social enterprise that provides sustainable solutions for clean water and energy.
Tipah's sister-in-law, Lijah Along, said, some parents send their children to a boarding school in Gerik town, while those who choose to stay home attend classes at the community hall.
"Our children who attend school in Gerik only come home during school holidays," she said, adding that Tipah was one of the students who stayed in the hostels when she was little.
After secondary school, Tipah got married and the couple is now blessed with three children. Their home is on a hilltop, which offers unobstructed views of the stars in the sky, and the flickering lights in neighbouring homes and the village.
The Uplifting Lives programme, which aligns with PETRONAS' sustainability agenda, plans to expand its reach to 3,875 Orang Asli homes and 96 community centres nationwide by 2030.
The same sun that kisses Kampung Sungai Chiong with warmth, holds the promise of transformation for others too.
The story is one of 50 captured in PETRONAS' 50th anniversary commemorative book, produced in collaboration with celebrated Malaysian cartoonist Datuk Lat. Get your copy online at PETRONAS Shop