26/06/2026

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FRIDAY | JUNE 26, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

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Village recreates cultural heritage o Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian built to appear weathered to allow visitors to enjoy atmosphere, authenticity of life in Sultanate-era settlement

Culture and Arts Department director-general Mohd Amran Mohd Haris said the programme not only elevated Malaysia’s traditional arts and cultural heritage but also made them more accessible to the public and tourists. “Initiatives such as this demonstrate that traditional arts and culture have great potential to be presented in fresh, inclusive and relevant ways to today’s generation. can learn about Malay culture and the local community.” Seri Banian also serves as a venue for various cultural activities, including silat , singing, dancing and traditional music performances, especially during school holidays, organised by members of the Seri Banian Ukhwah Association. To enhance the visitor experience, the village also offers a variety of traditional dishes prepared using family recipes passed down through generations. Akhiri said his family still keeps an old cookbook containing about 300 ancestral recipes, with 121 of the 473 dishes currently in their collection being offered to visitors. “Among the dishes that are often favoured by visitors are piyada, arnab rica-rica (spicy rabbit), grilled quail, ayam sembah diraja (royal ceremonial chicken), roast duck rice, Seri Banian satay, sate anta brahi, ayam panggang anta kesuma and Seri Banian glutinous rice, all prepared according to our family’s traditional methods.” The unique heritage village has attracted tourists from various countries, including France, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Libya and Thailand. For Akhiri, Seri Banian is more than just a tourist destination. It is a platform to reintroduce Malay customs and culture.

PENDANG: At the far end of Kampung Bendang Bukit here lies a unique village that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the way of life of the Malay community during the Malay Sultanate era. Built around a 15th-century concept, Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian is free from modern influences and was deliberately constructed to appear weathered to preserve the atmosphere and authenticity of a traditional Malay settlement. Its founder Akhiri Rijalludin, 46, said the idea of developing the heritage village stemmed from his travels as a silat instructor to several regions in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, where traditional villages have been established to preserve the cultural heritage of local communities. The fourth of six siblings said his experience of seeing communities in those countries maintain their respective cultural identities inspired him to adapt a similar concept KUALA LUMPUR: Balai Gema Hikayat (BGH), a programme held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Festival and Visit Malaysia Year 2026, attracted more than 8,000 visitors over nearly two months, reflecting sustained public interest in the cultural heritage of the country. Organised by Hikayat Fandom from May 1 to June 21, the programme showcased various elements of Malaysia’s cultural heritage, including Mak Yong, Mek

in Malaysia. “This village is intentionally left looking aged because we want to avoid modern elements. In fact, achieving the atmosphere that exists today took nearly two years,” he said during the “Surreal Experience in North Kedah and Perlis” programme organised by Tourism Malaysia Northern Region recently. Akhiri said the development of Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian using natural building materials such as bamboo, forest timber, cenerai wood and nipah palm thatch sourced from surrounding areas began in 2019 on a 1.62ha plot owned by his foster father. The tourist attraction is open to visitors every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Bernama reported.

Akhiri at the entrance of Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian in Pendang. – BERNAMAPIC

Ninot said among the highlights was the visit by Noor Hayati Zakaria, the daughter of the late Khatijah Awang, who was recognised as one of the key figures in preserving and passing down the Mak Yong tradition in Malaysia. Encouraged by the response, Hikayat Fandom is exploring opportunities to expand the BGH concept through community programmes and activities at new locations in the future. competitions, said the name Seri Banian was inspired by the local community, most of whom speak the Siamese language. “The word ‘seri’ means radiant, while ‘ban’ in Siamese means village, and ‘nian’ refers to a green, beautiful and peaceful environment. The name symbolises a tranquil village. I want this place to be a space where people

Bathing Pool, a royal audience hall, a nobat hall, a weaving activity area and a small palace in the future to complete the depiction of a traditional Malay village.”

“To date, development has covered only about 10% of the entire area, with expenditure estimated at between RM500,000 and RM600,000. “We currently have five traditional houses and a pond. We plan to build a Princess Bathing Pool, a Prince Balai Gema Hikayat attracts over 8,000 visitors Akhiri, who is active as a silat trainer in several Southeast Asian countries including Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia, and has served as a judge in regional traditional cooking

Ninot said workshops on Mak Yong, Mek Mulung and traditional storytelling received encouraging response, with most sessions reaching full capacity each week. She said the programme attracted visitors from various backgrounds, including families, students, educators, arts practitioners, heritage enthusiasts, international visitors and tour guides seeking to gain a deeper understanding of local arts and traditions.

Mulung, Wayang Kulit as well as the storytelling traditions of Penglipur Lara and Tok Selampit through exhibitions and interactive activities. BGH curator and Hikayat Fandom founder Ninot Aziz said the programme was conceived not merely as an exhibition but also as a space to reintroduce cultural heritage to the public. “It is a space for storytelling, so that our artistic traditions remain alive and continue to reach new generations.”

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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