Ihsan Johor and Kampung Pasir Salam: Community Spirit in Action!

Kampung Pasir Salam: In less than a month since their last visit, Ihsan Johor have returned to Kampung Orang Asli Seletar Pasir Salam. This time, they came bearing school supplies for children and a cooking lesson, as requested by the Seletar ladies during the previous month’s ‘gotong-royong’ clean-up event.

The community action programme, named "Program Serahan Kit Makanan Sebelum Banjir, Keperluan Sekolah & Kelas Masakan," was supported by donors and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) which contributed the 35 emergency food packs for each of the families of Kampung Pasir Salam.

The day’s event was coordinated with Tenaga Nasional Berhad's (TNB) Pelitawanis, PKPI, and Kelab Kilat Johor Bahru which carried out their distribution of school uniforms and stationery under their project "Program Menyantuni Anak-Anak Orang Asli," which delighted the children of Kampung Pasir Salam, especially with the gift of new school uniforms.

While the children enjoyed their goodies, their mothers enthusiastically attended a cooking demonstration on how to make Assam Pedas Johor, a spicy and tangy delicacy amongst Johoreans.

The Pasir Salam women Shela and Jumilah interviewed compared the dish to their simpler version, explaining, “Our way is simpler; only using ‘daun kesum’ (Vietnamese coriander), dried red chillies, and lady's fingers,” said Jumilah while Shela added that they don’t put in ‘terung’ (eggplant) and ‘belacan’ (shrimp paste).

They appreciated the opportunity to learn something new, adding, "We hope Ihsan Johor can come more often for cooking lessons. It’s not just about learning new recipes—it’s about meeting friends, sharing ideas, and being entertained.” Living far from the nearest town, social interactions like these are rare for the Seletar women.

The event wasn’t just about cooking or gifting school supplies but also about equipping the villagers with essential supplies before the impending monsoon.

Puan Farrah Baptist, Chief Executive of Ihsan Johor, explained that the Emergency Food Kit distributed to the families of Kampung Pasir Salam contained rice, sugar, coffee, sardines, and other staples.

“The village can sometimes be cut off for a week during the monsoon season due to the rising waters of the Ulu Tiram river,” she noted, emphasising the importance of being prepared for such isolation.

Kampung Pasir Salam sits between a sprawling oil palm plantation and the Johor River while the narrow Ulu Tiram River flows on one side. Seventy percent of the villagers are coastal fishers while 30 percent work outside the village in the Ulu Tiram area.

As the monsoon season approaches, Ihsan Johor is preparing for more community activities to support the villagers through these challenges.

If you’re inspired to help and want to make a difference, you can contribute via Sokong or find more details on Pertubuhan Ihsan Johor’s Facebook page. Your support can go a long way in empowering communities like Kampung Pasir Salam during times of need!