by AKMAR ANNUAR
IN AN effort to empower the state’s tourism industry for 2023, Selangor has decided to put a lot of emphasis on agrotourism and community-based tourism.
Mentri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari recently shared that the state government has allocated RM500,000 for the development of agrotourism under the Selangor Agro Transformation Plan or PeTA, including Sabak Bernam as one of many interesting locations that are waiting to be discovered.
With that in mind, Tourism Selangor is collaborating with Sungai Panjang Agro Tourism (SPAT) to offer tourists and homestay guests the opportunity to participate in agricultural activities such as vegetable picking at farms, visiting small businesses to see product manufacturing processes, as well as learning about Banjar and Javanese heritage and culture.
“Known for its picturesque paddy field and rich agricultural heritage, Sungai Panjang is slowly becoming a popular destination for domestic tourists looking to experience the culture and beauty of Sabak Bernam,” said Tourism Selangor’s corporate communication manager Ahmad Nazri Tashriq Rahmat.
From learning a few important life lessons from a 73-year-old mengkuang decoration maker to visiting a poetic kuih loyang entrepreneur, from an impromptu night visit to Sungai Panjang’s kelip-kelip (fireflies) habitat to staying in a cottage in Sungai Besar, The Malaysian Reserve experienced first-hand Sungai Panjang’s hidden gems. The two-day, one-night Sungai Panjang agro-politan tour package was organised by Tourism Selangor and SPAT on March 30-31.
Our home for the entire trip was at Nazbell Cottage and Garden, a secluded homestay nestled amid the paddy fields in a remote area of Sungai Besar. The homestay offers guests a unique local experience where they can enjoy traditional local cuisines, take ATV rides, ride on a tram and cycle through the paddy fields.
The welcoming homestay owner Nabila Shafry said living among the Banjar and Javanese communities has gotten her inspired to introduce their traditional dishes to her homestay guests.
“Somehow, thanks to our previous guests, the traditional dishes went viral on social media. Consequently, we had many eager holidaymakers come flocking to my cottage (the pit-stop for Banjar and Javanese communities) just to try the dishes,” she said.
With fun-filled activities and a tight schedule, on the day of our arrival, we managed to watch some elderly demonstrate their skills in mengkuang hand-weaving and producing kuih loyang in the mid-morning and afternoon.
We then spent the remaining afternoon visiting a bitter gourd orchard, owned by Mohd Hisham Shamsuddin, and Sobirin’s Farm where we saw plenty of superfood fruits such as mulberry, rock melon and gac, among others. The latter’s owner, Mohd Sobirin Mohd Ali, shared with us the process of taking care of his farm.
For breaking fast, we enjoyed scrumptious Chinese cuisine catered by Aisyah Delicious Kitchen, presented by a Chinese Muslim husband and Malay wife team of Muhammad Alif Chin and Siti Alzainah Salleh.
Before we ended the day, we went on an impromptu visit to the Sungai Panjang Firefly Conservation Centre, a must-explore destination for those who want to enjoy the wonders of nature and to witness the light display.
We started the next day enjoying the sight of the vast paddy fields while riding on a tram until mid-morning, before heading towards the first Selangor Melon Farm (MeloSel) run by Amir Azhar Osman and team.
The Selangor Melon Farm is the first Selangor MelsoSel to be commercialised using smart farming methods, where it was opened to the public for the first time last year.
Back at Nazbell Cottage, right before our departure, we enjoyed a cooking demonstration by the Banjar and Javanese communities. We got to see how they make the Bajam porridge, a Banjar dessert, and Punten with sambal, a Javanese cuisine.
It was definitely a first-rate experience, a trip that is worth every ringgit, if we may say so. Travellers can experience the Sungai Panjang agro-politan life with tour packages available from as low as RM25.