Just three kilometres from the bustling centre of Iskandar Puteri lies Kampung Orang Asli Seletar Simpang Arang, a village that continues to preserve the heritage and identity of the Seletar community in Gelang Patah, Johor.
Despite being surrounded by port facilities, industrial zones and modern developments, fishing remains central to daily life in the village, where many residents still depend on the sea for their livelihood.
The village is the largest Seletar settlement in Johor and one of the last strongholds of the community’s language, culture and maritime traditions.
Tok Batin (village chief) Noore Kasi, 59, said while modern amenities and better access to education had gradually changed the community’s way of life, their connection with the sea remains intact.
“The sea is not just a source of income, it is our heritage.
“Even if our children succeed in education and their careers, I want them to stay connected to their roots and the life of the sea people,” he told Bernama.
Driven by a desire to preserve that heritage, Noore is leading efforts to develop the village into a tourism destination centred on fisheries and maritime heritage.
He said the initiative would allow visitors to learn about the Seletar community’s history, language and way of life, while creating new economic opportunities without compromising its identity.
“When people visit, they can experience the life of the sea people, learn our language and understand our history.
“This heritage must be preserved because it is part of Johor’s history,” he said.
The Seletar community historically lived on boats, moving according to fishing seasons before settling permanently at Simpang Arang in 1953.
Today, the village is home to more than 1,000 residents from 280 families.
However, Noore said the community was facing growing hurdles, with over 60% of residents who depend on marine resources affected by dwindling mangrove areas that serve as important habitats for marine life.
He expressed hope that ongoing development in the surrounding areas would be balanced with improvements to basic amenities, educational opportunities and Internet connectivity, while preserving the identity of the younger Seletar generation.
Echoing his views, state-level Orang Asli Tokoh Maal Hijrah award recipient Mohd Shafiee Noore, 38, said community progress should go hand in hand with education, skills training and new economic opportunities.
He suggested that the government expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes tailored specifically to the maritime, shipping and port sectors to leverage the community’s background and experience.
“If TVET programmes align with our seafaring background, I believe more young people will be drawn to them because they can see a clear career pathway,” he said.
