BUS driver Mohd Harris Kasim spends his nights navigating roads and traffic, but his mornings are reserved for something far quieter.
After hours behind the wheel, the 44-year-old heads to a small plot along Sungai Aur near his apartment in Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang, to tend to vegetables and fruit trees.
And, he is not alone.
A growing number of elderly residents from nearby low-cost flats have found their way to the riverbank, not just to plant vegetables but to reclaim a sense of purpose.
The harvest is no longer measured only in vegetables, but in purpose, companionship and a renewed sense of belonging.
For many, retirement brought long, empty hours.
Here, those hours are filled with tending soil, watering plants and sharing quiet conversations with neighbours who have become companions in a daily routine.
What began as a simple gardening effort has evolved into something more meaningful, a place where ageing residents remain active, connected and, most importantly, needed.
“After driving through the night, being here with the soil and plants is very soothing.
“I grow simple vegetables like ladies’ fingers, spinach and sawi, but my most popular is the belimbing buluh, a small, tangy fruit,” Mohd Harris said.
He uses the fruit to make sambal hitam, a traditional Pahang delicacy known for its rich flavour and long shelf life.
“We boil the belimbing with salt until it turns black, then cook it with ingredients such as ikan bilis.
“It is a lengthy process that requires patience but yields a deeply flavourful dish often enjoyed with rice, pulut and other local favourites.”
The residents grow chillies, brinjal, bananas, spinach and herbs.
Some of the harvest goes into their own kitchens, some shared with neighbours and a little is sold for extra pocket money.
For many of these gardeners, the riverbank plots have become a source of purpose.
Tending to the soil keeps their bodies moving and their minds sharp, while the gardens give them a reason to step outside, meet others and stay connected with the community.
Resident Hasnah Tamrin, 75, described the riverbank garden as a lifeline.
“I like spending time growing vegetables and chillies.
“I use some for my own cooking, share some with neighbours and sell the extra at the nearby market,” she said, adding that gardening kept her occupied.
Mohamed Jais Marzuki, 60, spends time growing bananas and cultivating turmeric.
“The bananas are sold to those who make banana crisps. I enjoy the work. It keeps me busy,” he said.
For 75-year-old Iyyama Palayan, the work is both exercise and a source of income.
“I come here every morning and spend about three hours tending to my plants. The ground used to be cement because there was a car workshop here, so it was impossible to grow anything.
“But with the planter boxes provided, I have planted vegetables and flowers like vadaamalli (globe amaranth) for prayers and nithya kalyani (rose periwinkle), popular for its longevity,” she said.
“I cook my vegetables, share them with neighbours and sell some mangoes to a nearby restaurant.
“They use them to make mango chutney,” she added. — By BAVANI M
