KAMPUNG Laut is a small quaint village by Sungai Kelantan in Tumpat. It faces the state capital of Kota Baru just across the river.
Its connection to fame is the presence of an old mosque — the Kampung Laut Mosque — which is the oldest mosque in Malaysia, dating back to the 18th Century.
Some studies claim it is also the oldest mosque in Southeast Asia.
It is believed the mosque was built by traders and seafarers from Patani, Java and Brunei.
It looks similar to two historic mosques in the region — the Telok Manok Mosque in Narathiwat, Thailand, and the Masjid Agong Demak in Central Java, Indonesia.
The Kampung Laut Mosque was partly damaged as a result of frequent floods in the village and
it was moved to the grounds near Universiti of Malaya’s Islamic Academy in Nilam Puri, Kota Baru, in 1968 through the efforts of the Malaysian Historical Society.
Besides the mosque, Kampung Laut is also known in Kelantan for the entrepreneurship of its villagers.
Many of them are involved in the production of local delicacies, especially meat floss or serunding daging and dodol.
Their beef and chicken floss, and the newly-introduced fish floss are the cheapest in the state.
They are also among the best and sold nationwide.
Kampung Laut’s specialities and attractions will soon be combined to become Kampung Laut Heritage Village — a project initiated by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council.
This new heritage village will be similar to the Air Hangat Village and Mahsuri’s Tomb and Cultural Centre in Langkawi.
While Air Hangat Village’s attraction is its hot spring and cultural centre, the Mahsuri’s tomb, the Kampung Laut Mosque will be the main attraction of Kampung Laut Heritage Village, in recognition of Kelantan being dubbed the “Corridor of Makkah” (Serambi Makkah).
The Kampung Laut Heritage Village project was gazetted by the state government last year and the limited information available at that time made villagers restless after news of it spread by word of mouth.
Villagers, who feared their whole village would be taken over by the government, held protests.
They also handed a memorandum to the state government to voice their opposition to the project.
Opposition parties were quick to jump on the bandwagon.
Even Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stopped by the village to meet villagers during his visit to Kelantan last month.
Observers blamed the state government for being slow in information and not giving a clear picture to the people, which Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob had admitted recently.
Ahmad, who is also Pasir Pekan assemblyman, said he would not hurt his voters and they accepted his explanation. They now welcome the project.
Sources said only 0.8ha in the village would be acquired for the heritage village involving 12 families, which is a small portion of the village.
They said the landowners would be compensated and would each receive a piece of land and house at Kampung Sungai Nyior, located nearby.
The project, which is expected to cost about RM30 million,
will start in a few months once the new houses for the landowners are ready.
Once the project is completed by the end of next year, an embankment will be built to help prevent floods in the village and its surrounding areas.
Other than visiting the historic mosque, tourists can observe how delicacies are made and buy directly from their producers.
The state government plans to bring craftmakers to Kampung Laut Heritage Village to showcase Tumpat’s rich culture and arts, including wayang kulit puppet makers and silversmiths, while activities like sepak raga and top spinning are also being planned.
It is hoped that with the completion of the project, it would silence detractors, and Kampung Laut Heritage Village will become another tourist attraction for the state.
Sulaiman Jaafar, a grandfather, adores children and loves travelling, both locally and abroad