Kampung Pasir Salam Finally Gains Access to Clean Drinking Water with New Rainwater Filtration System
For the Seletar community of Kampung Pasir Salam in Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru, the long-standing challenge of securing clean drinking water has finally found a solution. On 25 October, the village marked a milestone in its decades-long quest for safe, accessible water with the installation of a rainwater pump and filtration system, thanks to the combined efforts of Social Hero Foundation members, Ihsan Johor, and Yayasan Kebajikan Suria Kawasan Permas, Johor Bahru (Yayasan Suria JB).
This initiative began two years earlier when the two organisations collaborated with J&T Johor Bahru to provide the community with water tanks.
For many rural communities, clean water remains a scarce commodity. In Kampung Pasir Salam, residents have often been forced to make 8-kilometre journeys to the nearest town to buy drinking water or await occasional deliveries from the water utility company. During the monsoon season, heavy rain floods the surrounding roads, making travel difficult and access to clean water even more uncertain.
However, the new rainwater filtration system brings hope and practical relief to this community through Flex Foundation’s generous sponsorship.
“Flex Foundation’s philanthropic work is rooted in alignment with four key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 17): Good Health and Well-Being (Goal #3), Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal #8), Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal #12), and Climate Action (Goal #13),” said Flex Foundation’s representative, Puan Nor Faridah Binti Padzil.
“By narrowing our focus to these areas, we gain greater clarity in our purpose and a more strategic approach to our efforts.”
The sponsorship of the rainwater filtration system aligns with SDG Goal No. 3, which is Good Health and Well-Being. The foundation, part of U.S.-based Flextronics, provided a generous US$10,000 donation that funded the WHO-rated rainwater system, a lifeline for the community’s 144 residents.
“This is our first collaboration with SHF to support an Orang Asli community, which aims to meet essential needs and provide lasting benefits to the Suku Seletar residents of Kampung Pasir Salam,” added Puan Nor Faridah.
Dato Shiok Fu, a trustee of the Social Hero Foundation, commented, “Apart from being able to save family expenses, it can also reduce the use of plastic bottles, and the reduction of plastic waste will also help to mitigate environmental pollution.”
“It’s been two years since the initial project to come to this stage where we could dovetail with Flex Foundation’s alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals,” explained Puan Farrah Baptist, Ihsan Johor’s CEO and SHF programme director.
The Social Hero Foundation’s commitment to the Seletar community goes beyond water access. In August, it organised a community clean-up, fire-fighting drills, and CPR training to equip villagers with skills to handle emergencies in this remote area.
This latest collaboration underscores the impact of partnerships among the Social Hero Foundation’s umbrella of NGOs and NGIs. These organisations and individuals were awardees of the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards in 2018 and 2019.
With five generations across 35 households, Kampung Pasir Salam can now look forward to a future where clean water is not an occasional luxury but a daily reality. The rainwater pump and filtration system is a sustainable solution that brings the pH level of rainwater to a drinkable 7.0.
For communities like Kampung Pasir Salam, access to clean water means more than convenience; it represents dignity, health, and hope for a better future. This progress was made possible by dedicated organisations like Ihsan Johor and Yayasan Suria JB, who work tirelessly to bring essential resources to underserved areas.
Every small gesture of support helps sustain these vital efforts, providing more communities with the resources they need to thrive. Visit Sokong to learn more about how you can be a part of this journey.
