MELAKA: At first glance, Kampung Pulau looks like the kind of village where days pass quietly – roosters crow at dawn, neighbours exchange greetings from verandas as evenings wind down early.
But spend a little time here and it becomes clear the villagers are anything but idle.
Behind the calm surface, residents of this small community in Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah, have been filling their days with new routines: checking nutrient levels, monitoring fish tanks through sensors and gathering regularly to learn, work and laugh together.
Much of this activity is taking place under the Kampung Angkat Madani (KAM) initiative – a programme designed to bring targeted development, skills and economic opportunities directly into rural communities. In Kampung Pulau, it has translated into hands-on projects that fit naturally into village life.
Usof Leman, who owns the rock melon fertigation site, is happy that the knowledge he received from UTeM researchers has enabled him to grow three varieties of chilli at his home. Photo by ALLISON LAI/ The Star
Shared purpose
Kampung Pulau Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) chief Mokhtar Salleh said: “We never expected people to be interested in what we’re doing.
“Now we get calls asking if they can come and see our projects. It’s flattering, honestly.”
For Mokhtar, the pride is not just in the technology or the harvests, but in what it has done to village life.“We have a shared purpose now. When there’s an activity, everyone comes together. That makes us closer.”
The village’s new multipurpose hall, which was built as part of the development efforts, has quickly become a focal point.
On any given week, it may host a potluck meal, a carrom game, a community meeting or a small celebration.
“Before this, we only had a small Balai Raya, which is still in use. Now we can do so much more. And if there’s a function, we can even rent it out to collect a bit of income for the village.”
Just a short walk away, the upgraded futsal court has brought fresh energy to Kampung Pulau’s younger residents. “At least now they have somewhere to go, something to do,” Mokhtar added.
Learning by doing
Among the more happening corners of the village is the rock melon fertigation site, overseen by JPKK committee member Md Saleh Rozan.
The team is preparing for its fifth planting cycle, loosening cocopeat and waiting for new seeds to arrive.
“This plot can fit about 300 polybags. Our previous harvests were good. We sold them to people in the village,” he said.
Some of the proceeds went to landowners who allowed their land to be used, while the rest was channelled back into the project.
What Md Saleh enjoys most, however, is not the numbers.
“Harvest time feels like a kenduri. Everyone comes; it’s lively and it feels good.
“We learn new things together. Farming now is different, you don’t even need a hoe anymore. You can dress nicely and still work.”
Next on his list of experiments? “I want to try to grow grapes,” he smiled.
Women in Kampung Pulau are equally involved. Nor Aida Muhamad, 59, leads the hydroponic planting project, which brings together women aged from their 30s to their 70s.
The group grows leafy greens such as bok choy and curly mustard (sawi kerinting), with each cycle lasting under a month.
“We divide ourselves into groups, each responsible for certain rows.
“When it’s time to harvest, it feels really satisfying; this is our own work.”
Nor Aida added that visitors are always welcome. “There are homestays in the village. Come, see how kampung life is, and see what we grow.”
Active pursuits
At 70, Usof Leman keeps himself busy tending to chilli plants.
“I grow cili akar, cili bara and cili api, all grown from seeds,” said the retiree proudly.
“If you keep working like this, you don’t age so fast,” he added with a chuckle.
Usof said he harvests about three kilos of chilli a week, usually selling them to neighbours.
“People ask if there’s more chilli, but we don’t plant too much.”
For former soldier Kamarudin Yusof, 63, the learning curve came with hard lessons.
During his first round of rearing ikan baung (a species of Mystus catfish) using an Internet of Things (IoT)-based aquaculture system, a power outage wiped out most of his fish.
“Five hours without electricity,” he recalled. “Now I’m more careful. I’m also thinking about solar panels.”
Badrul Jamal, 60, went through a similar experience with tilapia.
“I managed to harvest around 400 fish, but it was tough. The quality was not so good and the size was also smaller,” he said.
“This time, the fish are bigger and more active. I’ve learned to be patient too.”
Looking ahead
These initiatives are part of the KAM programme, implemented by the Higher Education Ministry, with Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) providing technical expertise, research support and on-the-ground guidance.
By pairing academic knowledge with community participation, the programme aims to create sustainable, village-level growth.
In Kampung Pulau, the changes and results are already visible - not just in improved facilities or added income, but in how residents spend their days and imagine their future.
Just like what Mokhtar, the village head said: “These activities give meaning to our days. We’re learning, supporting ourselves and doing it together.”
For this small village, KAM has brought more than development - it has brought confidence, direction and hope that the progress taking root today will continue to grow in the years ahead.
