A participant clad in sarong as part of activities at the PPR Kota Damansara Rewang Komuniti Strata programme. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Plan to involve all 12 local authorities in next year’s slate of strata community events
SELANGOR’S housing standing committee is looking at expanding its “Rewang Komuniti Strata” programme to every one of the state’s 12 local authorities next year.
“We started the initiative this year to foster the gotong-royong spirit among strata property residents in Selangor’s urban areas,” said state housing and culture committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah.
“We held five such programmes this year.
“The feedback has been good, so we hope to expand the number of locations to one under each of Selangor’s 12 local authorities next year, subject to budget allocation.
“The idea is to foster interaction and teamwork as well as encourage mutual cooperation and the gotong-royong tradition, which is less common among city folk,” Borhan noted.
About RM500,000 was allocated under Selangor’s 2024 Budget for the programme to be held in Pandan Indah, Batu Caves, Shah Alam, Semenyih and Kota Damansara.
Residents volunteering their time to cook dinner for 3,000 people.
The Javanese term “rewang” refers to a community-based collaborative activity that usually sees neighbours and relatives working together to prepare for large-scale functions.
“A highlight sees the residents working together to cook a feast for their community, with the menu decided among themselves,” said Borhan.
“A ziarah kasih (caring visit) is organised to check on elderly, disabled or vulnerable residents to assess if they need welfare aid or health check-ups.
“Meanwhile, children will be kept occupied with activities such as colouring and community sports,” he said after launching the “Rewang Komuniti Strata” programme at Kota Damansara People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Petaling Jaya.
The event included a mobile library, mobile dental and health clinic, sarong fun walk, multicultural performances and futsal competition.
At the same event, Borhan announced that RM1.66mil would be allocated by Selangor government and Housing and Local Government Ministry for water tank replacement and strata maintenance works at PPR Kota Damansara.
With almost 4,000 multiracial people living in the 1,152 units, he urged residents to adopt a mature attitude in dealing with people of different races, beliefs and cultures.
Mohd Sidi (right) says community programmes strengthen relationships among urban residents.
Block A resident Mohd Sidi Abd Wahab, 52, said the “Rewang Komuniti Strata” programme was similar to the flats’ Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration, which was a smaller event with less cooking.
“Today we are cooking on a much bigger scale and started our dinner preparations in the morning.
“We will be cooking meat from two cows, six goats and 300 chickens for about 3,000 people, including those residing in neighbouring areas.
“We divided the team of over 80 people based on ingredients they would have to prepare, including vegetables,” said Mohd Sidi, who was tasked with coordinating the cooking session.
He observed that such programmes strengthened relationships among residents and allowed them to get to know their neighbours, which had also resulted in a cleaner flats compound.
“We are fortunate that all lifts here are in working order.
“The most prominent problem is lack of parking space.
“PPR Kota Damansara is an old development, so there are insufficient parking bays to cater to everyone.
“We end up parking by the roadside and sometimes get fined by enforcement officers for doing so,” said Mohd Sidi.
