Page 732 - Proceedings Collega2023

Figure 3

The Layout of The Houses in Kampung Pulau Duyong

According to the observation, the majority of the houses had wooden benches installed in the
house compound to facilitate their activities – refer to Figure 4. The housewives were socially engaged as
they would spend their evenings having chit-chat with their neighbours. This daily interaction and
engagement create social ties, which then develop the bonding social capital.

Figure 4

The Wooden Benches Being Installed at The House Compound

Apart from that, the settlement’s geographical factor, which is an island, is one of the factors
contributing to the formation of the significant social spaces in this settlement. The riverside and jetty are
valued by the locals as gathering spaces for social interaction. Observations reveal that local communities
have set up benches and gazebos (wakaf) in several locations along the riverside to fulfil locals' daily
activities, such as unwinding and taking in the scenery on the riverfront – refer to Figure 5. Typically, the
neighbourhood will come out in the late afternoon for a walk or to play checkers (dam aji). A 60-year-old
Malay local community, a regular visitor to the area, said: "I will come here every day to meet and interact
with friends, besides spending my time enjoying the view of the riverside."

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 719 -