Seri Banian Revives Malay Sultanate Heritage

By Norhidayyu Zainal

PENDANG, June 24 (Bernama) -- At the far end of Kampung Bendang Bukit here lies a unique village that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the way of life of the Malay community during the Malay Sultanate era.

Built around a 15th-century adaptation concept, Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian was deliberately constructed to appear weathered and free from modern influences in order to preserve the atmosphere and authenticity of a traditional Malay settlement.

Its founder, Akhiri Rijalludin, 46, said the idea of developing the heritage village stemmed from his travels as a silat instructor to several regions in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, where traditional villages have been established to preserve the cultural heritage of local communities.

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The fourth of six siblings said his experience of seeing communities in those countries maintain their respective cultural identities inspired him to adapt a similar concept in Malaysia, depicting the life of the Malay community in the 15th century.

“This village is intentionally left looking aged because we want to avoid modern elements. In fact, achieving the atmosphere that exists today took nearly two years,” he told Bernama during the Surreal Experience In The North Kedah & Perlis programme organised by Tourism Malaysia Northern Region recently.

Akhiri said Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian, which is open to visitors every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, began development in 2019 on a 1.62-hectare plot owned by his foster father, using natural building materials such as bamboo, forest timber, cenerai wood and nipah palm thatch sourced from surrounding areas.

“To date, development has covered only about 10 per cent of the entire area, with expenditure estimated at between RM500,000 and RM600,000.

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“We currently have five traditional houses and a pond, and plan to build a Princess Bathing Pool, a Prince Bathing Pool, a royal audience hall, a nobat hall, a weaving activity area and a small palace in the future to complete the depiction of a traditional Malay village,” he said.

Akhiri, who is active as a silat trainer in several Southeast Asian countries including Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia, and has served as a judge in regional traditional cooking competitions, said the name Seri Banian was inspired by the local community, most of whom speak the Siamese language.

“The word seri means radiant, while ban in Siamese means village, and nian refers to a green, beautiful and peaceful environment. The name symbolises a tranquil village. I want this place to be a space where people can learn about Malay culture and the local community,” he said.

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Apart from showcasing traditional architecture, Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian also serves as a venue for various cultural activities, including silat performances, singing, dance and traditional music, especially during school holidays, organised by members of the Seri Banian Ukhwah Association.

To enhance the visitor experience, the village also offers a variety of traditional dishes prepared using family recipes passed down through generations.

Akhiri said his family still keeps an old cookbook containing about 300 ancestral recipes, with 121 of the 473 dishes currently in their collection being offered to visitors, covering a wide range of traditional foods.

“Among the dishes that are often favoured by visitors are piyada, arnab rica-rica (spicy rabbit), grilled quail, ayam sembah diraja (royal ceremonial chicken), roast duck rice, Seri Banian satay, sate anta brahi, ayam panggang anta kesuma and Seri Banian glutinous rice, all prepared according to our family’s traditional methods,” he said.

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Although located some distance from major routes, the unique heritage village has successfully attracted tourists from various countries, including France, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Libya and Thailand.

For Akhiri, Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian is more than just a tourist destination; it serves as a platform to reintroduce Malay customs, culture and way of life to the younger generation.

“If we do not preserve this culture, it may eventually exist only in books. I want people to come and see for themselves how the Malay community lived in the past so that this heritage continues to be appreciated,” he said.

-- BERNAMA