Kampung Batu Laut may look nondescript at first glance but this tranquil coastal settlement has a history that stretches back over two centuries.
Believed to be among the oldest villages in Kuala Langat district here, Kampung Batu Laut – situated at the estuary of Sungai Mesok, about six kilometres from Tanjung Sepat here – was originally known as Kampung Kota Raja. Based on word-of-mouth stories, it was once inhabited by members of the royal family and had a small port which became a hub for trading activities.
Now home to about 3,500 residents, most of whom are farmers and fishermen, this village has been adopted by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) under the Santuni MADANI: One Leader One Village Programme.
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According to Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, the news agency chose Kampung Batu Laut as its foster village as it was impressed by the concord and cooperation demonstrated by its Village Development and Security Committee.
The Santuni MADANI: One Leader One Village Programme was initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in May. Its primary objectives include direct engagement and monitoring to identify the socio-economic problems and needs of communities of villages selected by government leaders.
An event marking the adoption of Kampung Batu Laut by Bernama under the programme was held last Saturday (Oct 12) at the village hall and officiated by MP for Sepang Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu, who is also Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister.
HISTORY
Unveiling the history of his village, Kampung Batu Laut headman Subandi Sagandi, 63, said it was founded in the early 1800s by a man named Raja Husin, who was its first headman.
According to Subandi, a small port existed at Sungai Mesok during that era, with facilities such as a police station, post office, customs office and a cinema.
Regarding the village’s name, he said legend has it that it was derived from a large rock that was discovered about three kilometres from the shore. He said the rock was seen as a sign of a new settlement, and since it came from the middle of the sea, the local community named the village Kampung Batu Laut.
Subandi also said one of Kampung Batu Laut’s unique features is its beautiful beach, Pantai Batu Laut, which is well-known for sailing activities and hosts a sailing championship every year.
Elaborating on Kampung Batu Laut’s selection as Bernama’s adopted village, Subandi said he was touched and proud that his village was chosen to be a “family member of a government agency that plays a significant role in disseminating news and information to the public”.
“The main objective of the One Leader One Village programme under Bernama's supervision here is to address educational issues concerning the children here.
“I truly hope the schools here and the Kampung Batu Laut community will cooperate with Bernama to implement all the activities planned under the programme,” he said, adding one of the main challenges faced by the villagers is the growing smartphone addiction among their children.
According to Subandi, children as young as three are glued to their gadgets.
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“With this programme (Santuni MADANI), we hope the issue of gadget use among our children can be addressed,” he said.
He also hoped residents would be exposed to the field of journalism, encouraging young people to explore careers in this area.
“Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow. They are valuable assets that need to be nurtured from a young age, especially at the primary school level. My hope is that the Santuni MADANI programme will raise awareness among the younger generation about the importance of education,” he said.
Subandi also hopes Bernama will focus on educating the elderly about online fraud, especially fake investment schemes, as there have been increasing reports of retirees falling victim to these scams.
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Nur-ul Afida, meanwhile, said the Santuni MADANI programme encourages government departments and agencies to engage with villagers and develop efforts to enhance the potential and capabilities of the community.
As part of its ‘Kampung Angkat Bernama@Batu Laut’ (Bernama’s Adopted Village @Batu Laut) initiative, Bernama will conduct various activities for the local community.
Explaining why Bernama selected Kampung Batu Laut from the list of potential villages, Nur-ul Afida said the decision was influenced by several factors.
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“Among them is the concord and dedication demonstrated by the Batu Laut Village Development and Security Committee, which was evident during our three visits to the village and our meetings and discussions with them.
“We were deeply moved by the warm welcome Bernama received on its first visit to Kampung Batu Laut. It became clear that there was an opportunity for Bernama to assist in educational matters and contribute towards finding appropriate solutions, as discussed in our previous meetings,” she added.
She said one of the approaches Bernama plans to explore is educational intervention, which will include exposing the village youth to the opportunities available in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Bernama also plans to organise workshops on writing and creative thinking as well as other programmes aimed at improving literacy among the children of Kampung Batu Laut.
SOCIAL MEDIA LITERACY
Bernama also intends to expose the village youth to journalism and help those interested in pursuing a career in this field.
Nur-ul Afida said the news agency will also focus on social media literacy as, in today’s digital world, it is crucial for the community to be well-informed and avoid falling victim to scams.
“We plan to collaborate with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to provide detailed information on these scams as there have been many cases of retirees and senior citizens being scammed,” she said.
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Meanwhile, more than 200 people from Kampung Batu Laut and nearby areas attended the village adoption event on Oct 12. Various activities were organised for them including aerobics and zumba sessions, quizzes, children’s games and a radio and television news reading competition.
Muhammad Umar Danish Abdul Mu'izz, a Form Four student from Tanjung Sepat, said he had the opportunity to read the news at the Bernama TV booth.
Describing it as a meaningful experience, he said, “We've always seen newsreaders on TV, but today I got to try it myself. It was a valuable experience for me, and I realised that it’s not easy to be a newsreader as it requires a lot of confidence.”
The teenager, who aspires to become a pilot, said he initially felt nervous but gradually became more comfortable and learned the nuances and intonations of delivering news.
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