Objective 1: To enhance alternative livelihood for Orang Asli communities at Kampung Tonggang and Kampung Makmur located within Upper Kinta Basin
Activity 1.1: Enhance the facilities and promote eco-tourism package and capacity building for newly built eco trail to Mount Korbu for Kg Makmur OA community.
i) Enhancement of facilities and finalization of eco trail.
An eco-trail to Mount Korbu has been constructed with facilities. The total distance of eco-trail to Mount Korbu is about eighteen (18) kilometers which crosses eight (8) unique checkpoints which are Kem Sungai Gajah, Kem Malas, Kem Balak, Kem Seno’oi, Kem View, Kem Permatang, Puncak Bonsai Tonggek and Simpang Korbu before reaching the summit of Mount Korbu.The project has established a new package for this: Jok Bepihoy Mabeg @ Kg Makmur (Let’s Relax in forest) which are fully managed by Orang Asli of Kampung Makmur. Now, there are two (2) types of packages offered: the main ‘Pakej Pendakian Gunung Korbu’ which takes about four (4) days three (3) nights and secondary is ‘Pakej Denai Alam Sungai’ which is a half day trip. These trails have always been monitored and maintained by the community.
ii) Training for OA community members as tour guides and porters (Malim Gunung) and to manage facilities and activities.
Eight (8) out of eighteen (18) people from Kampung Makmur that attended tour guide/porters training have successfully received permits from the Forestry department as certified tour guides (Malim Gunung) and other ten (10) work as porters. Now, the Orang Asli of Kampung Makmur is already coordinating and managing all the activities under their own cooperative (koperasi) called ‘Koperasi Malim Gunung Perhutanan, Orang Temiar Ulu Kinta’ (MGP OTUK)
Activity 1.2: Enhance the mountain bike eco trail, establish riverside recreation space and promote Edu Ecotourism in Kg Tonggang
i) Enhancement of Mountain Bike eco trail and its checkpoints.
The mountain bike eco-trail has been completely enhanced by Orang Asli (OA) Kampung Sungai Tonggang. The mountain bike eco-trail is 6.86 kilometers in length which is enhanced with proper signages and facilities such as benches, bridges and huts for the cyclist and visitors. Along the trail there are also three (3) checkpoints which are Bahong viewpoint, Bedrock waterfall, and Sungai Mom River. The view of Mount Korbu and Chengal tree is one of the main attractions along this mountain bike eco-trail.
ii) Support ecotourism outdoor recreational space along Sg Seno’oi river bank.
Overall, four (4) chalets, one (1) centralized toilet near the parking site, one (1) toilet at the chalet site, four (4) mini huts, one (1) booking hut, camping site, parking area have been constructed at the recreational site so that it is more convenient for the public to rest and enjoy Moreover, few campsite/grounds also have been established along riverside of Kayuh D’ Tonggang.
iii) Establish community edutourism and welfare activities.
An Edu-tourism study trail for targeted groups at Denai Nong Becacip Jug was completed on June 2023. The Project team also established Sg Seno’oi River Open Classroom which includes 4 learning stations: Station 1: Water Droplet; Station 2: Meandering; Station 3: Voice of the Stream; Station 4: Water Quality Monitoring. Beside that, WASH education corner in booking centre was also established. The project has developed a community based educational programme (CBEP) and so far, the CBEP has been conducted three (3) times. The WASH education program for kids and children have also been supported by other project stakeholders: Quest University and Youth Care Malaysia (YCM) in Kampung Sungai Tonggang.
Activity 1.3 Promotion and marketing platform for initiatives for Orang Asli villages (Kg Makmur and Kg Tonggang)
i) Development of business plan (s) for trails and activities in two OA villages.
Overall, a business plans for two (2) Orang Asli villages which are Kg. Makmur and Kg. Sungai Tonggang has been developed with the support of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) team headed by Dr. Mazuki. Besides developing the module, a proper training session also has been conducted by project with support from Dr Mazuki and the team to ensure the community can understand and adopt the business plan. The developed business plan includes the establishment of a sustainable community financial model and business plan for the facilities and activities in Kampung Makmur and Kampung Sungai Tonggang.
ii) Establish booking centre
The existing One Stop Education Centre (OSEC) Kg Sungai Tonggang has been upgraded as a Booking Centre to coordinate all initiatives and activities in Kg Sungai Tonggang. Additional facilities and equipment such as two (2) handphones, one (1) laptop, one (1) printer, one (1) whiteboard, and cellular Wi-Fi known as “ConnectMeNow” have been provided and installed here to ensure that the new booking Centre can operate smoothly. Besides Kg Tonggang, another similar booking centre been built in Kampung Makmur and has been named as “Pusat Pengurusan & Operasi Jok Bepihoy Mabeg”. This Kampung Makmur booking centre has been officially launch by Director of JAKOA Perak, YBrs. Tuan Harulnizam Bin Abd Rahman along with representatives from other agencies. Additional facilities such as tables, chairs, shelve, laptop, printer and locker have been provided and installed here too to ensure that this new booking Centre can operate smoothly.
iii) Promotion of ecotourism and other facilities and activities.
In Kg. Makmur “Jok Bepihoy Mabeg @ Kg. Makmur” was launched on the 10th of November 2023. This initiative will totally be managed under Koperasi Malim Gunung Perhutanan Orang Temiar Ulu Kinta (MGP OTUK). The “Jok Bepihoy Mabeg @ Kg. Makmur” offers two (2) packages: Mount Korbu Hiking Package and the River Nature Trail Package. In efforts to further promote the use of the eco-trail in Kg. Sg. Tonggang, a team of Ulu Kinta riders was invited to attend the launching and promoting event of the mountain bike eco-trail on the 5th of November 2023. Besides mountain biking activities, the eco-trail was also used as means of education. An educational trekking activity called Denai Nong Becacip Jug has been implemented at Kg. Sg. Tonggang in order to educate tourists as well as the local community on the flora that can be found in the forest at Sg. Tonggang. The best of all, was the official visit by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Kampung Sungai Tonggang on 24th August 2023. During the official visit YAB also been briefed on the details of all key initiatives by Tok Batin Kg Tonggang, Dato’ Shahira, Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah and Mr Faizal Parish from GEC. Beside congratulate, our Prime Minister also promise and granted few assistances to support Kg Tonggang communities and initiatives and ask MB Perak and other agencies to support this initiative.
