KP House - Centre of attraction among Kuala Pahang residents

By: NOR SALWANA MOHD IDRIS, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION

Pekan, January 22 - Kuala Pahang House (KP House) was an old house, abandoned and left to rot. However, it is now turned into a clean and beautiful house. In fact, it is a one-stop-centre for all kinds of activities that brings benefits to the community in Kampung Kuala Pahang.

Things have changed in the area. At daytime, the place is utilised by adults comprising parents who take part in awareness programmes and health medical check-ups, carried out together with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Health Centre. This is conducted every month.

At night time, the place is used by children who do revisions and attend extra classes. These activities are organised by the Student Affairs and Alumni Department (JHEPA) involving volunteers who are UMP students.

During weekends, the interactive group programme is held and it is an initiative under the Bridge of Love@KP House. It is conducted by In-Smartive Cub and UMP Advanced Education.

On efforts to instil interest in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, UMP STEM Lab organised the Digital Literacy Programme implemented under the Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering (FKEE) Innovation Development Unit and Industry & Community Network Department (ICoN).

According to Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, KP House was now a popular spot among the youngsters and community in the area.

“The conducive setting made it comfortable and fun for the children to study in a venue that was different from the normal classroom,” he added.

“We are excited to see 120 students who turned up to attend the extra classes that are held for free. The students are not only from this village but also from nearby villages such as Kampung Marhum.

“We also want to promote healthy living among the locals and to address the matter, University Health Centre and Pekan Health Office organise a programme called, ‘Jom Sihat Wehh’. The objective is to enhance health awareness among the community,” he said.

Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie also said the university and the Islamic Centre and Human Development (PIMPIN) planned to hold al-Quran reading classes and religious classes especially for the womenfolk.

University Health Centre Director, Dr. Norhila Abdul Karim said response to the health awareness programme was encouraging and more than 50 people turned up for the event.

She added that the strategic location of KP House made it easier for the people, young and old, to participate in the programme that also involved the Pekan Health Office, Village Community Management Council, Pekan Hospital Blood Bank Unit, Kuala Pahang Alumni and Village Community Centre.

One of the participants, Noraziah Nordin, 42, said the programme provided the opportunity for her to do free medical check-up and learn how to prepare healthy menu that she could cook for her family.

The activities carried out are part of the efforts implemented under the Facelift D’Kuala Programme that was aimed at changing the landscape and identity of Kuala Pahang which is a fishing village, as well as to bring more meaning to UMP presence in the area.

Other than the physical aspects of the programme such as giving new coats of paints and doing repair works to the homes of the people, UMP also infuses modern technology into their daily lives such as conducting the fertigation farming project, installing solar panels and improving the social landscape of the people.

The next phase will involve an awareness programme on education and hygiene, aimed at helping them to upgrade the quality of their lifestyle.