Syazwan showing the fish he keeps in a natural spring pond at his homestay at Kampung Temenin Baru in Kota Tinggi, Johor. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
Natural water from Johor’s Gunung Panti brings crowd of holidaymakers to villages
THE natural spring water flowing from Gunung Panti in Kota Tinggi, Johor, to the villages located on the foothills is bringing new life there.
The springs, located just 60km from Johor Baru, are attracting many local and foreign visitors to the area.
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Contractor Mohd Syazwan Cheah Abdullah, 57, and his wife have been operating a homestay at Kampung Temenin Baru in Kota Tinggi since 2018.
“My wife owns a 2.42ha plot where we planted local fruits like durian, rambutan, duku, mangosteen and even kelapa pandan.“We are very lucky because the spring water from Gunung Panti flows into our land, helping us to water our various fruit trees,” he told StarMetro.
Those hiking up Gunung Panti are rewarded with the beautiful sight of the springs.
Besides nurturing his fruit trees, the spring water also created a pond where he has been keeping hundreds of freshwater fish like patin, talapia and carp.
“The pond is about two metres deep and is not meant for fishing. I have grown attached to the fish and my visitors love to admire the fish.
“Using the water from Gunung Panti has prolonged the lives of my fish because it is all natural and I do not need to use chemicals, which can be dangerous for the fish,” he said.
The pond is one of the features besides a swimming pool at his family-oriented homestay.
Visitors having a splashing time at Sendayan Hill Camp in Kota Tinggi.
He is happy to get more visitors now with some coming from as far as Kedah.
Schools around Kota Tinggi and nearby districts also hold their motivational camps at his homestay before major exams.
“Over here, we offer a tranquil kampung lifestyle and everything here is natural including the water that flows from the Gunung Panti springs,” said Syazwan
Another villager Zakri Muhammad, 54, and his family have been running the Sendayan Hill Camp since 2013, located on the foothills of Gunung Panti.
The area belonged to his late father-in-law who initially kept the place for the use of family members only.
Zakri: It is important to safeguard our forests and mountains so we can continue to enjoy their beauty.
“The spring water from Gunung Panti flows into the Sendayan Hill Camp where it created a small waterfall and several natural ponds.
“My father-in-law later decided to open the area to others. At first, the visitors were mostly locals from nearby villagers.
“After the place went viral on the Internet, the number of people coming here kept increasing, especially during weekends and public holidays,” said Zakri.
Since the water comes from natural springs, Zakri finds it safe for drinking and bathing since it has already gone through the natural cleaning process through rocks and sands.
He even encourages those with sensitive skin to take a dip in the ponds as the spring water is rich in minerals.
However, he warns that during the monsoon season, the amount of water flowing from Gunung Panti increases and there is a possibility of water surges that can prove dangerous.
“To ensure public safety, I usually close the camp for three to four days to let the excess water flow out.
Muhamad Zakirhussin showing the pipes which allow the villages at the foothills to use the springs as a water source.
“Nature can be beautiful but dangerous at the same time.
‘It is important to safeguard our forests and mountains including Gunung Panti so that we can continue to enjoy their beauty,” he added.
Zakri hopes irresponsible quarters will not carry out illegal activities at Gunung Panti, including cutting down trees.
“I wish for the natural springs at Gunung Panti to continue flowing into the villages for hundreds of years to come, because the springs have become an integral source of water for us.”
Kota Tinggi tourism information centre operations manager Muhamad Zakirhussin Md Din said the majority of the villagers near Gunung Panti relied on the springs as an alternative water source.
Syazwan cleaning the swimming pool at his homestay.
“The spring water is used mostly for agriculture activities as it is chemical-free and good for plants.
“This may explain why the vegetation at villages around Gunung Panti is very green and healthy.
“Furthermore, there is no development taking place nearby so the area has been left untouched for now,” he added.
Zakirhussin, who doubles as a local tour guide, said they had been receiving many visitors who wanted to admire the rich flora and fauna of Gunung Panti.
He said the area recently welcomed a group of Japanese tourists who were amazed by the beautiful natural surroundings.
“Kota Tinggi is also known for historical sites.
“We are introducing eco-tourism packages that will allow visitors to stay at camps in several locations around Gunung Panti.
“We hope these tours will be well-received by nature lovers and the public,” said Zakirhussin.
