(Front row, from left) Muhamad Sidin, Johan, Borhan, Amirudin, Juhari, Afkhar Razi and Nazli with the Baiduri Apartments community. — Photos: Low Boon Tat/The Star
FOLK at Baiduri Apartments in Bandar Tasik Kesuma, Beranang, had a fun weekend at the “Rewang Komuniti Strata” programme in their neighbourhood.
The event marked the last of three programmes in the series this year.
The first two were held at Pandan Jaya and Taman Pinggiran Batu Caves in Selayang, Selangor, in April and July respectively.
They were organised by Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS) in collaboration with Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), state Social Welfare Department, Population and Family Development Board and Lembaga Zakat Selangor.
The idea of the programme came from Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah, with the objective of fostering the gotong-royong spirit among strata property residents in urban areas.
About RM500,000 had been allocated for the 2024 schedule.
Rewang is a Javanese term that refers to a communal activity involving neighbours and relatives working together to prepare for large-scale functions.
Attending the event were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Dusun Tua assemblyman Datuk Johan Abd Aziz, LPHS executive director Datuk Dr Juhari Ahmad, MPKj president Nazli Md Taib and Hulu Langat chief assistant district officer Afkhar Razi Mohamed@Ariffin.
Mingling with residents was MPKj’s Commissioner of Building Department director Azman Ismail, 44, who said the event brought back memories of his childhood.
Some of the children enjoying board games.
“I grew up in the kampung (village) in the ’80s, when the neighbourhood spirit among the community was very strong.
“If you were up to mischief, your parents would get wind of it because our neighbours would always keep an eye on us.
“Back then, no one hired caterers for kenduri (feast). In the gotong-royong spirit, everyone chipped in to help with the cooking.
“My uncle was able to throw two kenduri for his son’s wedding, each attended by the whole kampung, for only RM5,000,” said Azman.
He hoped his children, aged nine and 14, could also feel the warmth and love of growing up in a close-knit neighbourhood.
Also at the event was Nor Hanizan Sahib, 47, senior assistant director of operations with LPHS Development Department’s building management unit.
“Unlike the gotong-royong spirit prevalent with kampung folk, strata living has made people very individualistic.
Children reading at the mobile library during the community event.
“It has come to a point that at most, one would only know immediate neighbours, not the people living on other floors.
“We hope this programme, which has brought so many residents together, will inspire them to organise more community activities in the future.
“We want the community to realise how much fun they had meeting so many of their neighbours that they’ll go: ‘Let’s do this again’,” said Nor Hanizan.
Joint Management Body chairman Muhamad Sidin Habib, 56, who spoke on behalf of residents of the 2,800-unit, 24-block Baiduri Apartments, said such events had a positive effect in fostering close ties among the community.
During the two-day event, it was the children who had the most fun.
In addition to a bouncy castle, there were colouring contests, board games like chess and carrom, and ball games. Many of them were also seen flocking to the mobile library.
In his speech, Amirudin said as there were many open areas within the housing development, residents should turn them into community gardens or places where small enterprises could be set up to generate income.
He added that cooperation among a community was vital when it came to the sharing and use of common areas.
“Without it, the entire population will be affected as these common areas will not be well maintained,” he said.
