A MODEST community initiative is transforming livelihoods in Kampung Sungai Melayu.
Once a quiet fishing village on the southern Johor coast, this 160-year-old settlement now attracts a global audience through villager-led boat tours and mangrove conservation.
And there are now also plans to nominate it as a Unesco heritage site.
The village in Iskandar Puteri is home to approximately 800 residents who historically relied on the ebb and flow of the tides for their survival.
However, the economic landscape shifted in 2014 following the launch of an ecotourism project, according to village chief Suzaidi Ibrahim.
“We established a cooperative to manage tourism activities in the coastal village, to create alternative income sources for fishermen while showcasing the area’s rich mangrove ecosystem to visitors,” he told StarMetro.
“In the beginning, most of the boatmen were fishermen who were not earning much.
“The ecotourism project helped them supplement their income,” said Suzaidi.
A community-led recovery
The project’s foundations were built on local investment.
The cooperative initially raised capital through member contributions, with shares priced at RM100, and a monthly fee of RM10.
“At the start, we had about 350 shares, and now we have more than 270 active members who continue to support and run the project,” said Suzaidi.
He said the programme was inspired by early development plans from Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda), which identified Kampung Sungai Melayu and Kampung Kong Kong in Pasir Gudang as potential tourism villages.
Suzaidi said the ecotourism programme steadily gained traction over the years, drawing both domestic and international visitors interested in exploring the mangrove forest.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced operations to halt for about two years.
“After the pandemic, local visitors started coming again and slowly the numbers began to recover,” he noted.
In 2024 and 2025, the village has been averaging about 10,000 visitors a year.
Recognising the village’s tourism potential, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who visited Kampung Sungai Melayu several times over the past two years (most recently on Jan 5) has pledged support for further development.
Previously, the state government announced an allocation of RM12.2mil in Johor Budget 2025, while Iskandar Puteri
City Council (MBIP) gave a further RM5.8mil, bringing the
total development budget for Kampung Sungai Melayu to RM18mil.
Sustainable upgrades
These state-funded improvements were completed in just eight months.
“The project, which kicked off in May 2025, was completed ahead of Visit Johor 2026.
“The state government expects our village to become one of the key tourism products to attract visitors,” Suzaidi said.
The works included refurbishing 47 houses, expanding parking, constructing a concrete boardwalk and cultural walkway, upgrading the jetty, plus a range of other tourist-friendly amenities.
A welcome archway, costing RM500,000, was also built.
To ensure the project remains professional and sustainable, an international-standard ticketing system has been implemented.
“This is important so that the project will not become a ‘white elephant’.
“Everything is being planned carefully to ensure sustainability,” said Suzaidi.
Future ambitions are even bolder, with plans for a floating mosque and expanded mangrove conservation efforts currently under consideration.
Bid for Unesco recognition
As the village’s reputation grows, officials are looking to secure its long-term legacy.
Kota Iskandar assemblyman Datuk Pandak Ahmad, when contacted, said discussions
were ongoing with Tourism Johor as well as Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) to nominate the village as a Unesco heritage site.
“Kampung Sungai Melayu has many attractions, including
traditional fisheries and beautiful mangrove forest landscapes,” he said.
Johor government was also working to gazette the area as a heritage site, he said, which would help position Kampung Sungai Melayu as one of the key tourism hubs in the state.
While acknowledging that Unesco recognition was a rigorous, multi-stage process, Pandak said several preliminary studies had already been completed.
These findings would be presented to Motac to bolster the village’s case for global protection and promotion, he added.
Into the mangroves
The primary draw at Kampung Sungai Melayu remains the immersive one-hour boat tour through the winding mangrove channels.
Along the journey tourists can spot a diverse array of wildlife, including migratory birds, monkeys, snakes and monitor lizards.
“Tourists are also given the opportunity to try catching crabs using traditional traps known locally as pinto,” said Suzaidi.
“Currently a fleet of 63 boats, each capable of taking four passengers, services these tours.
“The boat operators are mostly fishermen,” said the village chief.
“This allows them to continue fishing while also earning additional income from tourism.”
Tour packages are priced at RM45 per person for locals and RM60 for foreigners, while children enjoy lower rates.
Suzaidi said the pricing structure allowed locals to enjoy subsidised rates while ensuring the programme’s sustainability.
The offering at Kampung Sungai Melayu extends beyond the water, with visits to mussel farms and cultural demonstrations of traditional crafts also on the menu.
For those seeking a deeper experience, the village provides homestay packages and heritage games like gasing and congkak, as well as restaurants offering fresh seafood.
Global ambitions
The economic impact of the ecotourism activities to Kampung Sungai Melayu villagers is stark.
The initiative has helped raise fishermen’s daily income from around RM50 to between RM100 and RM200 a day.
“Some boat operators can earn up to RM4,000 a month during good periods,” said Suzaidi.
The international market is responding enthusiastically; in the first two months of 2026 alone, the village recorded
nearly 5,000 visitors, many hailing from South Korea.
Another 3,000 visitors are expected during the Hari Raya period, driven partly by online promotions and bookings.
To sustain this momentum, the cooperative is collaborating with MBIP to refine its digital presence.
For Suzaidi, success is measured by a change in local perceptions.
“In the past, many of us felt that living in a fishing village meant limited opportunities,” he said.
“But this project shows that our natural resources can bring benefits if managed properly.
“The mangrove forest here is like a hidden treasure.
“We want the younger generation to realise that what we have here is valuable,” he highlighted.
