Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School (UniKL BIS), through its Centre for Women Advancement and Leadership (CWAL), strengthened community empowerment and sustainable tourism awareness through the CWAL UBiS Community Tourism Programme on 23 June 2026.
Funded under the Yayasan UniKL Inclusive Youth Leadership Knowledge Transfer and Community Empowerment Grant 2026, the programme brought together UniKL academics, government agencies and the Orang Asli community to promote knowledge transfer, cultural appreciation, women empowerment and community-based tourism.
The initiative was led by UniKL BIS CWAL Coordinator Puteri Nur Naquiah Datu Bandira, together with an interdisciplinary team of academic staff from the Tourism Section and the International Business and Marketing Section.
The programme was implemented at Taman Eko Rimba Kampung Orang Asli Lata Kinjang, a community under the Desa Kirana initiative of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW).
The programme was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), Koperasi Orang Asli Lata Kinjang Berhad (KOALKB) and Bahagian Pembangunan Komuniti Desa (BPKD) under KKDW.
Participants were introduced to the tourism potential of Kampung Orang Asli Lata Kinjang and the role of community-based tourism in generating sustainable economic opportunities for indigenous communities.
Managed by KOALKB, Taman Eko Rimba Lata Kinjang offers several ecotourism products, including guided hiking experiences led by Orang Asli guides, campsites equipped with barbecue pits, toilets and prayer facilities, as well as uniquely designed tube camp accommodation.
These nature-based tourism products provide visitors with immersive rainforest experiences while helping to create employment and income opportunities for the local community.
Participants also completed the full hiking trail accompanied by Orang Asli guides, who shared traditional ecological knowledge, local history and cultural practices throughout the journey.
The experience provided participants with a deeper understanding of the indigenous community’s relationship with the rainforest and the importance of preserving local knowledge within sustainable tourism development.
As part of the community engagement activities, 17 Orang Asli children participated in a creative batik painting session centred on Malaysian identity, cultural heritage and artistic expression.
The activity incorporated Kuala Lumpur-inspired motifs and Malaysia’s national flower, the Bunga Raya, encouraging the children to express their creativity while developing an appreciation for national symbols and the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
The session also served as a platform for informal education, confidence-building and knowledge transfer through creative learning. Meanwhile, 18 women representing 18 households received essential household items under CWAL’s community contribution initiative.
The programme supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
