Leading Kelulut IS 1.0: A Story of Community, Commitment, and Collective Hearts

By, Adibah Amir

Looking back, the story of Kelulut Inovasi Sosial (IS) 1.0 began long before the launch banners went up or the hives were built. It started with a simple conversation, one that would grow into a powerful collaboration grounded in shared values and a vision for community-centred innovation.

The first spark came when founder of Rekayu Furniture Studio, Mr. Mohd Faizal bin Ayob, reached out to me to explore a potential collaboration. At the time, both of us were recipients of the Merdeka 118 Community Grant 2024, and we immediately found common ground in our passion for sustainable design, social innovation, and community empowerment.

When the Dana Inovasi Sosial by the Ministry of Higher Education opened for applications, we began discussing, not just about a product, but a process that could bring value to people. We talked about combining two things close to our hearts: kelulut honey and recycled wood. The idea was to go beyond just producing goods; we wanted to build a model of sustainable urban farming powered by smart technology, hands-on learning, and meaningful community involvement.

But the question remained – Who would be the right community to work with?

We agreed with approaching Kebun Komuniti AU2, and from the very first meeting with the chairman, Tuan Haji Mohamad Halim bin Mohamad, we knew we had found our match. His humility, vision, and the incredible spirit of kebun volunteers made it clear that this was not just a site. This was a living, breathing community, ready to grow with us.

From that point forward, it felt like everything aligned. Three different entities, IIUM’s Kelulut Research Group, Rekayu, and Kebun AU2, each with different strengths but the same heart, set sail on a journey that would test our endurance, creativity, and collaboration.

Although the seeds of Kelulut IS 1.0 were planted months earlier, the project officially took root in January 2025. By then, we had already laid the foundation, not just in terms of physical infrastructure, but in building trust, aligning goals, and ensuring that the community was at the heart of every decision we made.

After months of hard work, sweat, and shared aspirations, we collectively agreed it was only fitting for the project’s symbolic launch to coincide with a special occasion: the 10th anniversary of Kebun Komuniti AU2. We selected the date, 21 June 2025, and the real preparations began.

What moved me most during this phase was how deeply invested the community was. They did not just want a launch; they wanted a celebration that would inspire others, bring visibility to their hard work, and open new doors. One of their heartfelt wishes was to have YB Minister of Higher Education (YBM) Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd. Kadir, officiate the event. I knew this was important to them, and as Kelulut IS 1.0 project leader, I felt it was my responsibility to help turn that hope into a possibility.

So, I brought the request to IIUM’s top management. To my gratitude, the IIUM Rector readily signed the official invitation letter, showing once again how supportive the university has been in uplifting community-driven innovation. I personally communicated with the Senior Private Secretary (SUSK) of the Minister, who handled our correspondence with professionalism and kindness.

Although later I was informed that YBM would be represented by the Director-General, I was genuinely touched when the SUSK informed me that YBM had kindly agreed to sign the participants’ certificates. It was a small gesture with a big impact, one that honoured the community’s dignity and made them feel truly seen.

This project has never been just about kelulut or IoT or grants. It’s about relationships. It’s about creating space for people to dream, and then doing the work, quietly and patiently to help those dreams come true. The journey to the launch was full of moments like this, where small acts of support stitched together something greater than any of us could have done alone.

Then came Friday morning, 20 June 2025. The skies opened with a heavy downpour, and for a moment, our hearts sank. The kebun turned into a swamp, and yet, there we were, all silently (and not so silently) making doa for a sunny Saturday. The kebun committee quickly arranged to buy a crusher machine to make the ground less muddy and more usable, a simple but heroic act of commitment, so our guests would not get stuck in the mud.

That night before our launch at Kebun Komuniti AU2, we gathered for a small but meaningful tahlil, remembering the late wife of Pak Misai, one of the kebun’s pillars. It was a moment that grounded us in faith, a reminder that our work is deeply rooted in real lives and human connections. We also took the opportunity to recite a doa selamat, led by IIUM staff, praying not just for a smooth event, but for all the good this project could bring into the lives of others.

There was something special about the way we “merewang” at the kebun that evening, cooking, prepping, and laughing together under the trees as if we were family preparing for a kenduri. When I needed a place to freshen up after a long day, the chairman’s daughter offered her room without hesitation, and later that night, she and her older brother drove me home at 1am. These gestures, small and quiet as they may seem, were what gave this project its soul.

I was deeply moved by how Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) staff worked side by side with us, not just as officials, but as friends. Their presence and hands-on help showed what genuine collaboration looks like. They had been there since we first formed the working committee, and they stayed with us until the final tent was folded.

And then there were my students, it was the final stretch of their degree, juggling the exam season, deadlines, and project submissions, yet they showed up. Some stayed late to help set up the booths. Others worked on our documentation and came to rehearsals, sacrificing their resting time to make sure everything was just right. I saw their tired eyes, but I also saw pride in them. This was not just a university assignment anymore, this was something bigger, and they knew it.

We faced many challenges, time constraints, budget limitations, unpredictable weather, and logistical chaos, but we faced them together. And through it all, I witnessed a transformation of a community that started off cautiously optimistic, slowly grew more confident, more united and deeply proud of what they have built, together with us.

D-Day finally came, and with it, a beautiful sense of anticipation, the kind that only happens when you know you have poured your heart into something and now it is time to let it speak for itself.

The Director-General, who graciously represented YBM, arrived with a warm smile and a genuine interest in what we were doing. I was moved when she expressed how truly impressed, she was, not just with the project’s innovation, but with the community spirit that filled the air. Her words of encouragement validated months of behind-the-scenes work and reminded us that impact is never too small when it is genuine.

Standing by my side was IIUM’s Deputy Rector for Innovation, Research and Development, along with the Dean of the Kulliyyah of Engineering. Their presence meant a lot, it symbolised the university’s trust and belief in turning research into something real, something that lives and breathes beyond the walls of academia.

And in the midst of the crowd, arriving after already attending three separate engagements earlier that morning, was Timbalan Yang DiPertua MPAJ. Despite his packed schedule, he made time to be with us, a gesture that did not go unnoticed. His presence reaffirmed that this project matters, to the university, to the community, and to the local government.

I was truly humbled by the presence of Kebun AU2’s strategic partners, including the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara, Department of Agriculture, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Tourism Selangor, and many others, whose support added immense value and meaning to the occasion.

That day, our IIUM Kelulut Research Group stood tall. I watched them share our innovations confidently with guests, demonstrate honey harvesting and offer fresh tasting, and explained how engineering, sustainability, and community development can coexist in harmony. It was a proud moment, not for me alone, but for all of us.

Rekayu proudly showcased their creative recycling efforts through a beautiful display of kokedama arrangements. Also on display were the outcomes from the woodworking courses conducted under Kelulut IS 1.0, involving Form 4 and 5 students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Keramat. Their creations, including kelulut hive houses, coffee tables, and display racks, stood proudly as testaments to the power of reclaimed wood, hands-on craftsmanship, and meaningful community-based learning.

That Saturday wasn’t just a launch; it was a celebration of commitment, resilience, and relationships. It reminded me that when we build with sincerity and lead with heart, people will show up — rain or shine.

Kelulut IS 1.0 was never meant to be perfect. But it was real. It was honest. It was ours.

And for that, I am truly grateful.

Datuk Director General visiting IIUM booth showcasing IoT hive, Smart Trap and downstream products.

Tasting fresh kelulut honey

Touring AU2 garden***

(The writer is Dr. Adibah Amir, affiliated with the Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Kulliyyah of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia.)