Cover image via L Manimaran/Harian Metro
Nestled along the edge of Sungai Perak, Kampung Bandar may appear to be a village frozen in time
With just 10 residents remaining — four women and six men between the ages of 30 and 80 — the once-thriving community has become a shadow of its former self, reported Harian Metro.
Yet, beneath its quiet surface, the village remains alive with history, memories, and resilience.
Village Development and Security Committee chairperson Azman Basir, 60, said most of the original residents had relocated due to constant flooding during the monsoon season.
"The floods have been a yearly occurrence for as long as I can remember. In 2014, 40 residents were moved to Taman Tan Sri Megat in Bukit Chawi, about 7km away," the Malay daily quoted him as saying.
Despite this, many still return regularly to tend oil palm plots or fish in the river.
Image via L Manimaran/Harian Metro
The few remaining homes are traditional wooden houses built on stilts, a defence against the rising waters that have long shaped life in this riverside village
But even elevated structures couldn't protect them from the massive floods of 1964 and 2014, when water levels rose as high as five feet and reached their floorboards.
Historically known as "Bandau", meaning port, Kampung Bandar was once a bustling hub of river trade in the 19th century. It was also a centre of Perak's royal and religious history.
The village is home to Masjid Al-Madinah, built in 1890, and the burial sites of Sultan Iskandar Dzulkarnain, who died in 1765, and Sultan Shahabuddin Riayat Shah, who passed away in 1851.
It also houses the grave of Perak's first mufti, Muhammad Zain Muhammad Amin.
Today, most government facilities have relocated, with the chief's hall and the health clinic now based in Bukit Chawi, Perak
Only one national school remains, with 10 students and seven teachers — all commuting daily from outside the village.
"If this school closes, it will feel like the village itself is gone," Azman said.
Due to the low number of male residents, Friday prayers are now held at the nearby Bukit Chawi mosque. Yet, once a year, Masjid Al-Madinah comes alive with hundreds of returning children and grandchildren who fill it for Aidilfitri prayers, reviving the village's spirit if only for a day.
Even with its dwindling population, Kampung Bandar is far from lifeless.
Azman said locals are trying to attract visitors and tourists to appreciate its historical legacy and the natural beauty of its riverside setting.
"We may not be many, but we're still here — and we want people to know this place still matters."
Image via L Manimaran/Harian Metro
Image via L Manimaran/Harian Metro
