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A Study of Cultural and Heritage Products and Activities in Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan, Kuantan, Pahang, 172

Norsafriman Bin Abd Rahman, Shahril Nizam Shamsudin, Chow Soon Kong. (2021). A Study of Cultural and Heritage Products and Activities in Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan, Kuantan, Pahang. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 13(1): 172-182. DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V13I1.211020

Received: 22.11.2020 Accepted: 10.01.2021

Norsafriman Bin Abd Rahman1 Shahril Nizam Shamsudin2 A Study of Cultural and Chow Soon Kong3 Heritage Products and

Activities in Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan, Kuantan, Pahang

Abstract

This exploratory study was designated to discover the potential cultural and heritage products and activities of the communities in Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan. This research could help to create more employments among the local community and provided economic and social benefits when they participate in the tourism activities. The data for this research was collected through observations, unstructured interviews, with the emphasis on ethnography study about the community. The findings for this research were based on the analysis checklists on the following resources – Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Community Analysis, Site Analysis and Environment Assessment. The findings indicated that, from the overall analysis of the various resources, Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan had their own unique cultural products and activities that could be developed the two areas into a cultural and heritage destination.

Keywords: Culture, Heritage, Exploratory Study, Ethnography, Local Community.

Introduction land in Pahang is covered in dense tropical rainforest and had an abundance of natural Kandampully (2000) defined ‘tourism as a resources such as highland, islands, and unique product as it is composite in nature, an beaches. It was considered as a repository for amalgam of the tangibles and intangibles that Malaysia’s natural treasures and had some of the include everything that tourist’s experience’. best ecotourism destinations in the country. Globally and domestically, the tourism industry is Pahang had 11 districts which were Kuantan, an important source of revenue and livelihood.’ Pekan (the Royal Town), Rompin, Jerantut, According to Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, Temerloh, Kuala Lipis, Bera, Raub, Bentong, Malaysia registered an overall increase from 5.5 Maran and Cameron Highlands. million total tourists arrivals bringing in a total of Historical sources indicated that Kuantan RM8, 580.50 million to 22.0 million arrivals with a had been established since the early 1850’s. It total receipts of RM49, 561.20 million during a 10- was first opened as a settlement known as year period. Kampung Teruntum. It was declared as the Pahang is the largest state in the peninsular capital city and the main administrative centre of Malaysia and it covered an area of 35,964 square the state of Pahang Darul Makmur in 27 August kilometers. It is situated in the eastern part and 1955. It was a contemporary town, had grown at had a population of 1,483,600 people (Official a very fast rate compared to other east coast website of Pahang, 2009). Nearly two-thirds of the towns but had managed to retain many of its

Norsafriman Bin Abd Rahman1, UNITAR International University, Malaysia. Shahril Nizam Shamsudin2, UNITAR International University, Malaysia. Chow Soon Kong3, University Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysia.

International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 13(1) 2021, 172-182 DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V13I1.211020

A Study of Cultural and Heritage Products and Activities in Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan, Kuantan, Pahang, 173 traditional charms. Kuantan had a population of develop and maintain the quality of those 420,200 people with the Malays (72.5%) as the products and activities to bild a positive image as majority ethnic group, followed by the Malaysian cultural tourism destination. Chinese (18.9%), the Malaysian Indians (3.6%); other minority group such as the Sikhs, Panjabi, Purpose of the Study Sabahan and Sarawakian (1.7%), and non- citizens (3.3%). Kuantan was approximately 277 The overall main purpose of this study was kilometers via the East Coast Highway from to benefits the local community could derived Malaysia capital city of Kuala Lumpur and 325 from the tourism activities. Thus, the specific kilometers from Johor Bahru. Malaysia Airlines objectives would be to: flies to Kuantan (Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport) • Examine the conditions of the resources from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (a 45 • Determine the potential tourism products minutes flight) and Singapore (an hour flight). and activities According to the statistical data published by • Assess specifically the cultural and Pahang Tourism, the total number of tourist heritage attractions, and arrival to Cherating is 103,515, and 19.9% of the • Suggest the types of tour packages that total arrival came through from Kuantan, could be offered. According to the ‘Kuantan 2015: Rancangan Tempatan Daerah’, Kuantan had a total area of s 2,960 square kilometers, which covered six sub- Significance of the Study districts namely Kuala Kuantan, Hulu Kuantan, The study would contribute towards a further Hulu Lepar, Penor, Beserah, and Sungai Karang. understanding of the availability and conditions of Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang the resources in Kampung Cherating Baru and Ikan were in the sub-district of Sungai Karang. Kampung Kubang Ikan area. The knowledge Sungai Karang had been a popular international would help local authorities in planning the area tourism destination for Kuantan. Sungai Karang development. It would helped them and the covered a total areas of 25,365.00 hectares, community to identify the appropriate new cultural included the areas of Chendor, Cherating, Sungai and heritage products and activities that could be Ular, and also Gebeng. The Kuantan 2015: promoted and that could provide additional ‘Rancangan Tempatan Daerah’ was a long-term income for the community. As the Cherating area development plan which included physical had already been a well-known tourism planning and land use development for the destination, the study would also identify areas Kuantan district. The focused of development that had over the capacity limit to cater and the were on agriculture and forestry, road still to be developed areas. The information on the development, public transportation, tourism, diversity and uniqueness of the villages would be resettlement of suburban areas, infrastructure, important in developing social programs to help utilities, and the conservation of the environment. strengthen the village community cohesiveness and their sense of pride of their villages. Most Research Issues importantly, these benefits could help to accentuate the cultural and economic vibrancy. The challenge of the research project was to identify the cultural and heritage products in the Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Research Framework Ikan area as in both the study areas a majority of The research framework depicted the flow of the local communities indicated that they did not the research investigation. It started with the have any traditional culture activities norany assessment on the availability and conditions of traditional cuisine. However, there were some all the resources namely: natural, community, valuable resources which were seen as tourism cultural, site, and environment resources. The products or activities. Kampung Cherating Baru summary on the overall situation should help in and Kampung Kubang Ikan were strategically identifying the potential cultural and heritage located at close proximity to Cherating Beach and products and activities that could be offered to Chendor Beach, both known as popular tourists. This would be followed by the process of destinations worldwide. Both of these areas were bundling of the products and activities for easily accessible via the main state road from developing marketing strategies to specific target Kuantan Town to Kemaman. However, the road market segments. signage leading to the area was very poor and insufficient. Another issue seemed to be the lack of collaborative efforts amongst the local communities. For cultural tourism products to be developed, it required a close relationship to plan,

Illustration: Conceptual Framework in Building New Cultural Tourism Products

noted that heritage tourism required more than Literature Review preservation. Its significance should be conveyed In 1985, World Tourism Organization (WTO) to the visitors/tourists, which could lead to an defined cultural tourism as the “movements of enriched understanding in the context of the persons for essentially cultural motivations”, and present. Thus, creativity had to play a very it suggested that the definition included travelling important role in successful interpretation of for study tours, performing arts, cultural tours, culture and heritage. travel to festivals, visits to historic sites and According to Khodarahm Bazzi (2008), monuments, folklore, and pilgrimages. Cultural cultural tourism (or culture tourism) was the tourism that had been defined specifically as subset of tourism which would relate with a travel with the purpose of experiencing cultural country or a region’s culture, especially its art. It environments would include observing the generally focused on traditional communities who landscapes and local lifestyles, arts, traditions, as had diverse customs, unique form of arts, and well as other creative expression. (UNESCO, distinct social practices, which could 2003). Thus, UNESCO indicated that cultural distinguished it from other types or forms of tourism could be based on cultural assets, as culture. Jung, Sung-Chae (2008) and Dalila et al. indicated by the UNESCO classifications on sites (2020) indicated that cultural heritage tourism such as the following: works of art with would not only was concerned with the monumental and artistic features; spatial cultural- identification, management, and protection of historical units; famous places and memorial heritage values. He added that it would involve in landmarks; folklore heritage; cultural the understanding on the impact of tourism on establishments; events; and cultural landscapes. communities and regions while achieving the Reisinger (1994) added that cultural tourism economic and social benefits. It would thus, could also be defined as a genre of special provided financial resources for protecting, as interest tourism based on the search for and well as marketing and promotion. In addition, participation in new and deep cultural cultural tourism had to play a vital role in experiences, whether for aesthetic, intellectual, promoting peace and understanding amongst emotional, or psychological reasons. Cultural different cultures. Olomo Jerome Abiola, (2008) tourism could then involve customized excursions stated that to travel was to learn about different into other cultures and countries, in order to learn cultures, it would enhanced the travelers’’ about their people, lifestyle, heritage and arts appreciation of cultural and religious traditions, (Craik, 1995). Nuryanti (1996), on the other hand, which would thereby enabling the people to

International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 13(1) 2021, 172-182 DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V13I1.211020 A Study of Cultural and Heritage Products and Activities in Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan, Kuantan, Pahang, 175 empathize with the people from different racial, determining those authentic elements within it. social and religious backgrounds. He added that Thus, the authenticity of culture should not be It could also contribute to lifelong learning and seen as a pre-constructed given, which would helped to foster greater understanding in the meant that authenticity would convey different diversified, regional culture globally. meanings to different peoples in different McKercher and Cross (1999), explained that positions in societies. According to Mala the important issue in cultural tourism Prosvetna Eniklopedija, culture comprised of both development was that the cultural and heritage material and spiritual values, and they emerged products should be considered with other tourist as a result of material and spiritual interference of attractions. This would increase the authenticity of a man in nature, society and opinion. the products and these would be reflected in the region’s special characteristics. It could include Research Methodology entertainment and educational experiences that would combined the arts with nature, social, Research Design heritage, and history. It would be the tourism A research design is a form of a carefully decision-maker’s choice whether to educate the developed and controlled plan to carry out the tourists about the aspects of performing arts, architecture, and/or history in relations to a research investigation (Kerlinger 1973). Research specific place. According to Shukla (1999), design applied in this study was the combination of exploratory and descriptive designs. The tourism could bring together people of different exploratory study is carried out when the exact cultures, and regions and could foster a better situation on the site was still remain unknown and mutual understanding among them. yet to be discovered. On the other hand, the In the conclusion drawn from a symposium on tourism development in Canada, Murphy descriptive design would help to examine the (1980) indicated that from his experienced relationship between cultural tourism in both study areas. Basically, a cross-sectional study travelling around the world, he described tourism was undertaken whereby primary data was as ‘an industry which used the community as collected at the site for a period of 2-week. resources which were sold as tourism products, and, in process would affect the lives of everyone’. Community was derived from the word Types of Data and Data Collection Methods ‘communion’ which meant to share a common task together. Roddick (2000) stated that it was in Ethnography action research had been the sharing of tasks that people do bigger things applied in this study as it was the most than they would be capable of which was appropriate method for approaching, something to celebrate. The US based understanding, and acquiring the required Ecotourism Society, according to Mann (2006) information on the various variables to be had defined community tourism as tourism investigated such as the way of life of the local activities that were involved in providing benefits community in Kampung Cherating Baru and to the local community. This definition had placed Kampung Kubang Ikan. Ethnography referred to the involvement of local people and how they the study of people in their natural or ‘native were affected by tourism at the center of environments – where they live, worked, discussions, rather than including them as a mere interacts, and how they spend their leisure time. addition to the discussions on other economic Basically, the ethnographic approach required the components of the industry, or worse yet, added participant-observation in real-life settings, on-site only as an afterthought. Such definition could in depth interviews, field notes, photographs, and bring together the previously mentioned experience mapping. These elements would be autonomous terms ‘community’ and ‘tourism’ into included in the in the collection of primary data. a strong and intertwined partnership. Also observed were the conditions of the various Haviland (1999) contended that culture was resources and this process was guided by using part of a complex whole which included checklists. The secondary information were knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, derived from published and unpublished materials and any other capabilities and habits acquired by from articles, conference proceedings, man as a member of society. Thus, culture was government documents and from research an all-encompassing termed that identified not reports. The process of gathering and collecting only the whole lifestyle of people, but also their the relevant secondary information was carried values and belief. Cohen (1988) and Nasir et al., out over a period of 4 months. (2020) raised the pertinent question on the role of authenticity in the community everyday routine Instrument Development activities and whether the tourists would ever reflected on their own cultural values when There were five instruments used for collecting the primary data. They were:

Instrument (1): Natural Resources Kemaman in Trengganu. The New Cherating Checklist focused on resources such as the village was settled since 1950s. Prior to that, the Beaches, Coral Reefs, Mountains, Forest area was known as Kampung Cherating Lama. Reserves, Waterfalls, Lakes, Rivers, Caves, The less popular known name now was Kampung Wildlife and Springs. The relevant items were Budaya Cherating. assessed on the overall condition of the The story of how the place got its name was resources, the area size, the types of activities narrated by an elderly local community member. carried out, types of tourist who visited the area According to him, in the 1870s, there was a war and the economic or business activities carried crisis in Kelantan. A man by the name Abdul Latif out at the site. Bin Awang, who was born in Kelantan in Instrument (2): Cultural Resources the1830s, decided to move from Kelantan to river Checklist focused on resources such as Historical mouth of Cherating, and he started a settlement Buildings, Historical Sites, Monuments, there called Kampung Cherating. At that time, Archaeological Sites & Collection, Folklore & along the Cherating River, there was an abundant Traditions, Handicrafts, Museums, Visual of mangrove trees and also habited by many Performing & Fine Arts and Research Centre. crocodiles. The place was quiet and peaceful. He Instrument (3): Community Resources could often heard the sound of “cherau … cherau Checklist comprised information based on the … cherau …” when the branches of the mangrove observation of the of Community Size/Population trees bend and dipped into the water, so that gave Density, Perception on Community Development, him the idea to name the place as Cherating. Major Type of Residence, Condition of Kampung Cherating first began as a fishing Residence, Cluster of Residence, Community village. However, in the 1950s, the soil at the Surroundings, Community Ethnic Background, seafront had begun to be eroded by the strong Household/Family Size, Average Age Head of waves of the South China Sea, so some villagers Household, Major Source of Household Income, decided to move to more inland and the new Economic Activity around Residence, Social settlement is named Kampung Cherating Baru. Status of Community, Recreational Activities Kampung Kubang Ikan was a small village around Residence and Major Household populated with approximately 300 people. A Transportation Mode. majority was from the Malay ethnic group and a Instrument (4): Site Analysis Checklist very small minority were foreigners from Thailand, consisted of the following dimensions and the Cambodia, and Indonesia. Kampung Kubang corresponding items to be evaluated such as the Ikan is located between Kampung Cherating and Area Economics, Physical Characteristic, Size Chendor, or just a short distance of 3 kilometres and Shape, Land Costs, Availability of Utilities, from Kampung. Cherating Baru. It had been Street Patterns, Positional Characteristics, Traffic settled since 1960s, but was officially named and Information, People Traffic Information, Visibility established in 1970. The word ‘kubang’ in meant of the Area, Pollution, Local Labor and other wallow or mud hole for the buffalos, so Kampung services available at the site. Kubang Ikan meant ‘Village where there are Instrument (5): Environment Assessment fishes in the mud hole”. Previously, the area of Checklist focused on Potential for Ecological Kampung Kubang Ikan was covered with paddy Damage, Pollutions (rivers, coastal area or fields and there were wallows everywhere. The others), Preservation Needs, Conservation villagers could catch many fishes especially ‘Ikan Needs of Marine Life, and the impact on the Haruan’ from the wallows. Ever since then, the Number of Visitors on Plant life, Animal life, local community had named their village as Archeological, Historical, and the Community, Kampung Kubang Ikan. Availability of Infrastructure, Utilities, Traffic and Scenery Changes. Site Analysis

Kampung Cherating Baru is located to the Findings north in the Sungai Karang sub-district, Kuantan Background of the Study and a short driving distance to the small town of Kemaman in the state of Terengganu. Kampung Kampung Cherating Baru and Kampung Cherating Baru was accessible via two types of Kubang Ikan were both located at the northern public buses, the Bus Mira and the Bus Sihat. part of Kuantan, and under the administration of Companies. It would cost RM2.50 per trip from the the Sungai Karang sub-district. The prominent Kuantan Town. But the services were very landmarks there were the widely known Cherating infrequent so local community preferred to use Beach and the Chendor Beach, which borders the their own means of transportation such as cars, state of Terengganu. Kampung Cherating Baru is motorcycles, or bicycles to get to their situated around 45 kilometres to the north of destinations. Kuantan and 15 kilimetres from the town of

There was the Cherating Mosque, the blood of the patient in order to relief ailments such Cherating National Primary School and housing as headache and joint pains. Leeches were araes which provided ample parking spaces for extensively used as a health therapy. There were the local community, visitors and tourists that about 650 known species of leeches, but there arrived by car to the Kampung Cherating Baru. were only about 15 species of leeches that were Other basic facilities provided by the local useful for medical purposes. The species of local authority were utilities such as electricity and (Asia) leech used in medical treatment was the water supply, telephone services, and mobile Hirudinaria Manillensis type or commonly known phone connection. Infrastructures and facilities as the ‘lintah kerbau’ (buffalo leech). There were such as the police station and health clinic were many methods of breeding leeches, leeches, made available for the local community, visitors some used a concrete, a canvas, or a polythene and tourists. The main road condition was in tank. The leech could expand its size from 6 to 10 acceptable condition, but there were smaller times it normal size after it had consumed the tarred road junctions that linked to the internal blood. areas. The narrow roads leading into the village The Table 1 provided a summary of the site housing areas were in dire state. Additionally, the analysis of both the Kampung Cherating Baru and visibility to the areas was poor due to insufficient Kampung Kubang Ikan. and poor road signage showing the direction to the inner areas from the main trunk road that Cultural Resources Kuantan to Kemaman. Thus, tourists and visitors were often told to follow the direction to the There were no historical building or National Service Camp signage (Kem Cahaya archaeological site in both Kampung Cherating Gemilang Cherating) to get into Kampung Baru Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan. However, the Cherating. local community and their way of life were The major economic/business activities were important cultural resources. They were eager to centered around the small retail outlet, fishing share and to provide knowledge on their local araes, food stalls, the chicken and cows rearing customs and their daily routine, and these would areas, and the small fruit and vegetables farming enriched the tourists’ experience. The local areas. According to the village headman, 45% of communities have brought into Kampung the local community members worked in the Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan the private sector, 10% worked in the public sector, different cultures from where they had migrated another 10%were involved in agriculture, 15% which were mainly Terengganu, Kelantan and were fishermen, and another 20% were Pahang. entrepreneurs. There were minimal job Under the government’s program of One opportunities, so the youths would migrate to Village One Product (SDSI), the handicraft of nearby towns such as Kemaman town, Kuantan screw pine (Mengkuang leaves) was the product town, or the Gebeng industrial area to work. designated for Kampung Cherating Baru to be Kampung Cherating Baru had been bestowed promoted to tourists/visitors. However, the with clean environment including the Cherating production of this handicraft product was still low River and Mangrove Swamp Forest which were since the demand was low. There was a clean and unpolluted. handicraft centre set up for the product, but Kampung Kubang Ikan is situated 50 kilometers unfortunately it was not well-maintained and the from Kuantan town. Kampung. Kubang Ikan were display area was not attractive. The screw pines, fringed by hundreds of tall coconut palms (Cocos the material for the handicraft, was brought in nucifera). The coconut provided nutritional value either from Besut in Terengganu or from Pekan in from its flesh, healthy juice from its water, and Pahang. The workers at the centre would weave coconut milk, and oil that had contributed to the the screw pines into the requested design. The well-being of the community. Additionally, the products made included bags, beach hats, community had found the use of the whole tablemats, and wall hangings. The typical visitors coconut palm either for their own cooking, or to to the centre were domestic and international sell the by-products as a business. In fact, many tourists and local distributors. rural communities around the world had the coconut as a valuable sources of both food and medicine so much so, it was referred to as "The Tree of Life." Another agriculture resources that could be found at the site was a small leeches breeding farm. Leeches could be used in for many medical and cosmetic purposes. Traditional used of leeches was by allowing the leech sucked the

Table 1. Site Analysis Kampung Cherating Baru Kampung Kubang Ikan Area Type of Business Food & Beverage, Farming, Food & Beverage, Farming, Economics Activities Grocery Grocery, Charcoal Production Transport Buses (SIHAT, MIRA) RM Buses (SIHAT, MIRA) RM Availability for 2.50 from Kuantan town to 2.50 from Kuantan town to Outside Cherating Cherating Within Site Nil Nil Transportation Available Special Attraction Heritage Area Heritage Area Distance from 45 km 50 km Kuantan Town Land Land Status Resident Resident Private Property Private Property Industrial Land Use Resident – 60% Forest – 55% Percentage Forest – 30% Resident – 40% Commercial – 5% Commercial – 5% Factory – 2% Availability of Electricity Electricity Utilities Water Supply Water Supply Telephone Lines Telephone Lines Street Overall Condition: Good Average Patterns Accessibility to the Main Road (Kuantan to Main Road (Kuantan to area Kemaman, Terengganu) Kemaman, Terengganu) Visibility of Road Sign leading Nil Insufficient the Area to the area Indicated in the Yes Yes Local Map Pollution Noise Very Good Very Good Air Good Moderate Water Moderate Moderate Environment Good Good Local Labor Supply of Labor Sufficient Sufficient Ethnic of Workers Local Resident Local Resident Foreigner Types of Labor Business Food & Beverage Skills Making Handicraft Spa Treatment Hospitality Business Other Cherating Police Station Nil Services Cherating Clinic

There was a small health spa and beauty traditional herbs and beans that were found in the treatment centre named Dwi D’ Spa. in Kampung surrounding areas in Kampung Kubang Ikan. Kubang Ikan. The spa provided services such as However, Dwi D’ Spa was not well-known as yet massage treatment, foot and hand therapy, among the tourists/visitors as there were no beauty care treatment, and hair A special feature advertisement or proper signage that indicated of the spa was the use of heritage remedies that the location of the spa centre. The following table had be passed down for five generations. The provided a summary of the cultural resources main ingredients used as remedies were analysis.

Table 2. Cultural Resources Analysis Kg. Cherating Baru Kg. Kubang Ikan Handicrafts Quantity Limited Condition Not Well Developed Nil Sources of Handicrafts: Besut, Terengganu (Mengkuang leaves) Pekan, Pahang Type of Activities at the Sewing, Weaving the Handicraft Center: Mengkuang Leaves Types of Tourist: Domestic Tourists & Local Suppliers Others: Quantity Limited Dwi D’ Spa Condition Nil Not Well Developed Sources • Ancient Heritage Remedies Type of Activities/Services • Spa Massage Provided Treatment • Foot & Hand Therapy • Beauty Care Treatment • Hair & Saloon • Holograph Color Painting

breakfast at the coffee shops while chatting with Community Resources their friends. Their breakfast menu would The population of Kampung Cherating Baru comprised of a selection of rice dishes with either was 4,395 people, compared to 2,295 people 5 coffee or tea with milk. Tourists and other villagers years ago, so there was almost a 100% growth in would arrive to have their breakfast a short while the number of people residing there. About 90% later soon after the elderly villagers left. The was of the Malay ethnic group. The other 10% young adults would spend most of their days at comprised of Malaysian Chinese, Indonesian and their workplace mainly in the town of Kemaman or Cambodian nationalities. In contrast, Kampung in nearby areas. In the evening after work, they Kubang Ikan was a small village with a population would spent time with their families or go out with of only 300 people. The early settlers were mainly their friends for an evening tea at stalls in Chendor from the states of Terengganu and Kelantan or Old Cherating Village. Fishing would be their which were located to the north of these two main recreational activities during their time off villages. The Indonesians and Cambodians came from work. Some of the female adult family to work at the sawmill factory and later, they members would usually stay at home to do their operated their own small food or retail outlets. daily chores and prepared the family meals. They The overall condition of site and houses would go shopping with their family members were clean and well maintained and most of the during the weekends or they would visit the night areas were covered by greenery shrubs, bushes, market at Kuantan town. The children would be in grassy areas and trees. Most of the village houses school during weekdays and would be involved in are surrounded by coconut trees. Motorcycles some leisure activities such as play marbles, were the major mode of transportation Kampung football, riding bicycle around the village in the Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan, evening. During the weekends, they would spend followed by cars and bicycles. About 55% of the their day with their families or friends catching houses in Kampung Cherating Baru were fishes or crab trapping at the Cherating River. concrete single storey terrace houses while the Sometimes they would go for a picnic by the others were wooden or concrete houses which beachfront. with their families and they would were located a short distance from each other. swim and do some activities together. Moat of the villagers (75%) in Kampung Kubang The family size would range from 5 to 7 Ikan live in wooden kampong houses. members in a household in Kampung Cherating The elderly Malay villagers usually began Baru., and in Kampung Kubang Ikan, it ranged their day with the morning prayers at the mosque from 3 to 5 members. The average age of the and after that they spend some time having head of household ranged from as young as 35 to

Table 3. Community Analysis Kampung Cherating Baru Kampung Kubang Ikan Community Size 4,395 people Approximately 300 people Perception on Average Growth Slow Growth Community Development Major Type of Wooden Kampung House – 25% Wooden Kampung House – Residence Concrete Kampung House – 20% 75% Concrete Terrace – 55% Concrete Kampung House – 25% Condition of Residence Clean Clean Cluster of Residence Average Average Community Rural Forest Area, Rural Forest Area Surroundings Jungle Area, Jungle Area Mangrove Swamp (Condition: Poorly Maintain) (Condition: Average) Community Ethnic Malays – 90% Malays – 85% Background Others – 10% Others – 15% Household Size 5 – 7 people 3 – 5 people Recreational Activities Adult Male Adult Male around Residence Fishing Fishing Meeting friends at the coffee shop, Meeting friends at the coffee Visit Night Market stall Adult Female Visit Night Market Sewing Adult Female Chatting with friends/neighbors Chit-chat with friends/neighbors Children Planting Playing bicycles around the village, Children fishing, football, play at the beach Playing bicycles around the village, fishing, play at the beach Major Household Cars – 30% Cars – 10% Transportation Mode Motor – 65% Motor – 80% Bicycles – 5% Bicycles – 10%

The Mangrove trees grew along the river Natural Resources edge, and they protected the specialized flora and Blessed with a resourceful river and the fauna there. The Mangrove swamps were also a mangrove swamp forest, the overall condition of feeding ground for many commercial aquatic the Cherating River and mangrove swamp forest species, including prawns and crabs. In the in Kampung. Cherating Baru were good and Cherating River, the popular species found was mostly remained untouched from modern the Barramundi Fish (Ikan Siakap, in the Malay development. The total length of Cherating River language). Leaves from the Mangrove trees is approximately 14 kilometers while the depth would decompose and would be the food source was about 15 to 20 feet deep. There were a lot of crabs, worms, shrimp and small fish. The villagers activities at Cherating River, such as river cruise, would collect the Mangrove wood stems to be fishing, river kayaking, crabs trapping and firefly used as charcoal. The leaves from the Nipah watching trips. In addition, the Cherating River Palm which were also found in abundance in the could offered solitude and calmness admidst the villages, would be collected and used for mangrove swamp wilderness. Together with the thatching and cigarette papers. Cherating River, the mangrove swamp forest could help sustain a myriad of life in its murky environment.

Table 4. Natural Resources Analysis River & Mangrove Swamp Kampung Cherating Kampung Kubang Forest Baru Ikan (Cherating River) Overall Good Condition: NA Area Size: Length - 14km; Depth - 15 to 20 feet Type of Fishing, Activities: River Cruise Economic River Cruise Activity: (RM20 per person)

and groceries shops, food stalls and Environmental Assessment recreational park along the roadside had The environment surrounding Kampung help to attract the attention of passing Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Ikan were travelers on the main road from Kuantan generally clean and had relatively low potentials Town to Kemaman. There was a need for for ecological damage in terms of soil, plant and proper signboard to increase the villages’ animal life. No sign of any kind of pollution were visibility easier access the places. found and the local communities were very • Tourism development could help to create cooperative in carrying out activities such as the more job opportunities for the young ‘gotong-royong’ (cleaning up) program from time adults thus preventing them from to time to maintain the cleanliness of the areas in migrating to larger towns. It could also the vacinitty. However, some conservation of provide business opportunities, promote wildlife and plant life in the mangrove swamp and of traditional performance and games for the Cherating River would be required to ensure the local communities. The leech breeding that the tourism activities at the site would not be and tradition treatment, charcoal harmful to the ecosystem. According to Shaw and production, and traditional spa could be Williams (2002), environmental education goals promoted and could generate income for include sensitizing visitors, residents, the local community. communities, and other stakeholders to the value and fragility of ecological and cultural assets, Table 5. providing the opportunity to acquire awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment towards Environment Analysis sustainable management of natural resources, Kampung Kampung creating new environmental-friendly behavior Cherating Kubang patterns, developing environmental ethics, Baru Ikan improving life quality and promoting effective Potential for Soil: Soil: public participation in decision-making with Ecological Moderate Moderate respect to environmental and development Damage (Dry issues. Table 5 showed the summary on weather) environmental analysis. Plant Life: Plant Life: Low Very Low Animal Life: Animal Life: Suggestions Low Low • Cultural tourism required the interaction Water Water Supply: Supply: between the physical environment and Moderate Moderate culture-social environment. Kampung Quality of Quality of Cherating Baru and Kampung Kubang Water Water Ikan had the potentials to be developed as Supply: Supply: a cultural heritage center since the Average Average community were rich culture and traditions Pollutions Level of Nil that could draw in domestic and (Cherating Pollution: international tourists. However, tourism River) Low infrastructure and facilities needed to be Conservation Average Low upgraded such as the health clinics. But Needs of Flora some tourism facilities such as souvenir and Fauna

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International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECSE), 13(1) 2021, 172-182 DOI: 10.9756/INT-JECSE/V13I1.211020