SANDAKAN: Even with a lack of basic amenities, residents of Kampung Bambangan still prove that rural communities can shape their own future.
The villagers cleared trails, built wooden walkways and successfully turned their riverside homes into a tourist attraction offering mangrove river cruises, crab-farming tours and homestay accommodation.
Last week, the fishing village, about a 45-minute drive from here, was recognised as Sandakan’s first community-based tourism destination under the Malaysian Homestay Experience Programme.
The villagers, mostly fishermen, now earn side incomes from hosting tourists, guiding mangrove tours and selling traditional snacks.
Some youngsters who once left for city jobs have returned home to help with tourism activities, breathing new life into the small village.
Amid the applause and ribbon-cutting, however, one basic need remains unmet – clean running water.
Village head Awang Ahmad said for decades, residents had been fighting for what most Malaysians take for granted – access roads, electricity and running taps.
He said the village finally became accessible by paved road in 2014 and was connected to electricity several years ago.
“Now, only the water issue is left hanging.
“The project for clean water supply was approved years ago but it has not shown any progress,” he added.
The local school and mosque depend on rainwater stored in tanks, while the school canteen operator uses mineral water to cook for students.
Villagers currently draw water from natural springs via gravity pipes from the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve about 3km away, but the water is not always safe for consumption.
“Every two weeks, we need to trek more than an hour into the forest to clean the pipes.
“During floods, the water turns murky. During drought, there’s barely enough to meet daily needs,” Ahmad said.
Villagers Suhaili Abdurahman and Jimlan Assi echoed that frustration.
“Leaders come and go, making promises to solve it, but the water never comes,” they said.
