Politeknik Tawau Students Complete Kampung Ecoventure Programme to Strengthen Community-Based Tourism

Politeknik Tawau students celebrating the completion of their CoBT programme with invited guests at the main table.

6 January 2026

LAHAD DATU: A three-day Kampung Ecoventure Programme Series II was held at Kampung Telisai and Pulau Buta Ecotourism in Tungku, aimed at strengthening community engagement through community-based tourism initiatives.

The programme was attended by 37 students from Politeknik Tawau. It was organised to provide students with hands-on experience in working with local communities while contributing positively to community development, said Politeknik Tawau Deputy Director Mohliyarni Jaling.

She said the initiative not only strengthened ties between the institution and the local community but also served as a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and culture.

Throughout the programme, students took part in a foster family initiative, cultural explorace activities, traditional games, ethnic cooking, knowledge-sharing sessions with the community, as well as cultural performances and exposure to local heritage.

“The foster family programme gave students the opportunity to experience rural life first-hand while gaining a deeper understanding of local customs and ways of life,” said Mohliyarni.

She added that the cultural explorace activity introduced students to the village’s unique culture and history while also testing their teamwork and resilience.

Traditional games helped foster sportsmanship and goodwill between villagers and students, while the expertise-sharing sessions enabled the Kampung Telisai community to benefit from the students’ skills and knowledge in the tourism sector.

Mohliyarni said the programme also helped promote Kampung Telisai and Pulau Buta Ecotourism as destinations rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage, while contributing towards sustainable and competitive community development.

Programme Director Mohammad Rafiq Dharma Nazrul said the initiative is a compulsory component of the continuous assessment (PB), requiring students to plan and implement a community-based tourism (CoBT) programme with active community involvement.

“We not only gained knowledge about CoBT, but also learned the values of cooperation, culture and rural community life — a truly priceless experience,” he said.

He added that students enjoyed an unforgettable stay at a Bajau Balangingi community homestay, experiencing the tranquillity of village life.

Students also sampled traditional cuisine, experienced daily community life, learned the Bajau Balangingi dialect and tried playing traditional musical instruments, further deepening their appreciation of the Bajau Balangingi culture and Malaysia’s rich cultural diversity.

Mohammad Rafiq also expressed appreciation to CoBT course lecturers Mohliyarni Jaling and Rosilah Man for their guidance and continuous support from the planning stage until the conclusion of the programme.

The programme also featured an exhibition of Batik Sabah works by local batik designer Yuslan Jafri.

Strategic collaboration between Pulau Buta Ecotourism and Yuslan in developing the Batik Sabah art industry has had a positive impact on the local economy in Tungku, creating downstream and upstream benefits and opening employment opportunities, particularly through skills training for the children of cooperative members.

The presence of the “Father of Tourism in Sabah,” Dato’ Seri Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahamood, further inspired both participants and residents of Kampung Telisai, with hopes of instilling greater awareness of the importance and sustainability of Sabah’s tourism industry.

Pulau Buta Ecotourism also offers internship opportunities for university students at its tourism facilities.

Among those present were Politeknik Tawau Director Helen Lau @ Abd Kadir, Head of Academic Department Mohamad Zulhilmy Mohamad Yusop, Head of Student Affairs Unit Dr Alfian Thomas, Sabah Homestay Association committee member William Lee, ANGKASA Cooperative Development Officer Mohd Idris Salehuddin, Pulau Buta Ecotourism Manager Jessica Reyes @ Noraini Abdullah, and Koperasi Perniagaan Akuakultur Sabah Bhd chairman Mohd Amirol Hamid.