Spirit Of Community Service And Goodwill Visits Strengthen Unity Among Orang Asli In Sungai Pergam

ᵇʸ: ᴹᴼᴴᴰ. ˢʸᴬᴴᴿᴵᴸ ᴿᴼˢᴰᴵ ᴬᴴᴹᴬᴰ ᶻᴬᴴᵁᴰᴵ

KEMAMAN, 12 NOVEMBER 2025 – The village of Kampung Sungai Pergam in Jabor today witnessed a meaningful display of unity as the Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (PERKIM) National Headquarters, in collaboration with the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), organised two community-based programmes a Gotong-Royong (communal work) initiative and a Ziarah Muhibbah goodwill visit with the multiracial Orang Asli community on Wednesday morning.

The programmes, held with the support of PERKIM Terengganu State Division, PERKIM Youth Council Terengganu and PERKIM Air Putih Branch not only extended care and engagement to the local residents but also showcased social cohesion through structured welfare and da’wah efforts.

Beginning at 10am, more than 25 participants comprising PERKIM volunteers, students from the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and villagers worked hand-in-hand to clean the surau, community hall and surrounding areas in Kampung Sungai Pergam.

These facilities, the heartbeat of the village, were spruced up in an atmosphere of high spirits despite light rain midway through the programme.

Programme coordinator, Ustaz Muhammad Jais Mariappan Abdullah, emphasised that the communal work was not merely to beautify the area but served as an impactful form of dakwah bil hal, or preaching through action, in reaching out to the Orang Asli community.

He explained that leading by example enables the community to understand Islamic values without pressure, demonstrating that goodness is best conveyed through conduct and character.

“When people from diverse backgrounds participate, it naturally fosters connection and mutual understanding. This is the true spirit of gotong-royong that PERKIM aims to revive, unity, cooperation and mutual help regardless of race or origin,” said Ustaz Jais, who also serves as PERKIM National Da’wah Executive.

Cleaning tasks included sweeping, collecting rubbish, trimming overgrown grass, clearing drainage lines and relocating waste to disposal areas, resulting in a more conducive environment for worship and community activities.

Meanwhile, PERKIM Terengganu Executive, Tuan Haji Mohd Subri Jaafar, affirmed that Kampung Sungai Pergam is not a new location for the organisation. It has been PERKIM Terengganu’s adopted village for several years, given the long-standing connection with the Semaq Beri and Jakun communities residing there.

Home to around 160 families, the majority of whom are Muslims, the villagers have always welcomed PERKIM’s involvement in da’wah and community programmes.

“We do not merely bring aid. We also offer spiritual guidance through fardu ain classes, motivational sessions, telematches, and organise annual Maulidur Rasul and Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations,” said Tuan Haji Subri.

He added that reaching out directly to the community on the ground has helped open hearts and strengthen their understanding of Islam.

Also instrumental in ensuring the programme’s smooth flow was JAKIM-appointed Community Mobiliser, Ustaz Adnan Ariffin, who served as liaison between PERKIM and the residents.

If the morning’s activities were characterised by teamwork and physical effort, the afternoon session deepened bonds as PERKIM volunteers began their Ziarah Muhibbah goodwill visits.

More than 20 participants went door-to-door to meet families and distribute over 170 food packs, including rice, sugar, cooking oil, flour, sardines, milk, tea, biscuits and other essentials, along with monetary contributions.

According to Ustaz Jais, such visits help build bridges between mainstream Muslim society and the Orang Asli community, while identifying welfare, socioeconomic and religious needs requiring attention.

“The Orang Asli have their own cultural identity. Da’wah must be delivered with wisdom and empathy. Visits like these allow us to hear their needs firsthand,” he explained.

He also noted that this initiative builds upon previous programmes jointly organised by PERKIM and MAIWP, including the visit to the Jah Hut community in Kampung Penderas, Kuala Krau, Temerloh in September. PERKIM believes that da’wah should not be confined to one location but expanded so that more interior communities may benefit.

During the goodwill visit, Ustaz Adnan led prayers before the group set out, and guided them throughout the route. His close rapport with villagers made it easier to engage families living in brick houses, wooden huts and traditional bamboo dwellings roofed with nipah leaves, structures reflecting the Orang Asli’s heritage.

Tuan Haji Subri explained that many villagers still rely on forest resources, work in oil palm plantations and odd jobs for livelihood. Although government and JAKOA initiatives have improved basic amenities, many traditional elements remain integral to the community’s identity.

He stressed that while most villagers are Muslims, continuous efforts are needed to strengthen their religious understanding.

“Some grasp the fundamentals well, while others require more guidance. Through relaxed approaches like home visits, we can deliver knowledge in ways they find easier to accept,” he added.

To wrap up the day’s activities, UniSZA students organised fun telematch games for children, who had excitedly awaited the event since morning. Laughter and joy filled the village as games such as musical chairs, balloon blowing, balloon stomping and rubber-band fishing using straws took place. Beyond entertainment, these activities served as a bridge between Orang Asli youth and the wider community.

The programme’s success was made possible by the dedicated efforts of PERKIM’s organising team, Fatin Hamizah Ismail, Rosnaliza Ahmadiah, Aishah Abdul Wahab, Amran Anbarasu Abdullah, Azura Abdul Rahman, Nurfadhilah Alias, Muhamad Fardly Johan, Ustaz Amirul Hafiz Kamaruddin, along with PERKIM volunteers Dhabbitah Hanani Zakaria and Musa Orb.

The event concluded with a doa selamat and light refreshments shared with the villagers, symbolising the close ties forged throughout the day.

Ustaz Jais remarked that the two programmes in Kampung Sungai Pergam reaffirm PERKIM’s commitment to dignifying da’wah through inclusive, comprehensive and effective community engagement.

“These initiatives not only uplift the Orang Asli community but also exemplify strong collaboration between volunteers, students and local residents in the spirit of Malaysia Madani, which emphasises unity, well-being and compassion,” he said in closing.

PERKIM enters the main gateway of Kampung Sungai Pergam to carry out the Gotong-Royong and Muhibbah Visit Programme with the multiracial Orang Asli community.

The PERKIM National Secretariat team prepares for the gotong-royong activity in Kampung Sungai Pergam.

Ustaz Jais Mariappan cleans dirt from the floor of the Kampung Sungai Pergam Community Hall.

Volunteers and UniSZA students work tirelessly to clean the seating area at Surau An-Nur, Kampung Sungai Pergam.

Ustaz Amran sweeps and cleans the surau compound.

Secretariat members and volunteers collect rubbish around the surau grounds.

Ustaz Jais removes overgrown grass from the drainage channel.

Secretariat members dispose of rubbish into plastic garbage bags.

Musa Orb trims long grass and weeds around the surau compound.

Azura collects broken roof fragments for disposal.

Ustaz Adnan scrapes and clears wild grass growing inside the drainage channel.

Secretariat members work together to collect rubbish around the surau.

PERKIM’s secretariat and volunteers pose for a group photo before continuing with the goodwill visit.

Ustaz Adnan (centre) leads a prayer before the group begins the house-to-house visit.

PERKIM secretariat members distribute food packs and cash tokens to Semaq Beri villagers.

Haji Subri presents cash tokens and food packs to villagers.

Residents of Kampung Sungai Pergam receive food packs and cash contributions from the secretariat.

Orang Asli residents of Sungai Pergam receive food packs and cash tokens during the visit.

Villagers comfortably reside in traditional wooden homes with nipah roofs during the visit.

Villagers express joy upon receiving contributions and food packages during PERKIM’s visit.

Some members of the Orang Asli community continue to preserve traditional living elements by residing in wooden houses.

PERKIM distributes aid to Orang Asli villagers of the Jakun tribe.

PERKIM secretariat and UniSZA students visit villagers and present cash tokens and food packages.

A musical chairs competition is among the telematch activities organised for village children.

The balloon-stomping challenge is one of the more exciting telematch activities.

Mothers attend to support their children participating in the telematch games.

Children compete to burst their opponents’ balloons in the lively telematch activity.