Community facilities at Balai Raya Kg Parit Hailam are essential for social gatherings, community activities, and public events. However, the surrounding pedestrian areas are often uneven and unpaved, creating safety hazards, particularly for children, older adults, and persons with disabilities. To address this issue, the Concrete Society Malaysia Student Chapter, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) plan to improve pedestrian safety by installing precast concrete paver blocks made from Cement Board Waste and Palm Oil Fuel Ash. This collaborative project involves UTHM student entrepreneurs and aims to enhance community infrastructure while providing practical learning opportunities for civil engineering students. Community support, including from My Starfish Foundation, is vital for acquiring materials, with the potential for this initiative to serve as a replicable model for improving accessibility and safety in similar rural community facilities.

Site photographs show loose gravel and uneven, slippery ground conditions around Balai Raya Kg Parit Hailam, which become hazardous during rainy and flood-prone periods, posing safety risks to community members, particularly children, older adults, and persons with disabilities.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yxpn3AmB5wcLqUc-LHRw8zCP0Nfo5aNQ/view?usp=sharing

Proposed Improvement

The initiative is by providing raised concrete paver walkways around Balai Raya Kg Parit Hailam, it will be more stable, durable, and level pedestrian surface. The improved walkway is designed to enhance accessibility, reduce the risk of slips and falls, and minimize surface water accumulation during periods of heavy rainfall.

• The document outlines the manufacturing and installation process of sustainable concrete paver blocks (225 × 112.5 mm) using Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Cement Board Waste (CBW) to promote durability and a circular economy. It covers site inspection to identify safety issues, surface preparation with sand bedding for stability, installation for improved accessibility, and joint filling for durability. Community engagement is emphasized through gotong-royong, fostering teamwork and ownership. A final inspection will verify the walkway's surface condition and safety before community handover.

The project aims to create sustainable concrete paver walkways around Balai Raya Kg Parit Hailam, enhancing pedestrian safety and accessibility for the rural community, especially during wet conditions. Key outcomes include a safer walkway area of approximately 10 m², benefiting 50–100 community members, including children, elderly residents, and persons with disabilities. The installation involves 300 concrete paver blocks manufactured by 23 civil engineering students, utilizing sustainable materials such as Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Cement Board Waste (CBW) to promote environmentally friendly construction practices. Community engagement activities will encourage collaboration and foster a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for maintaining the improved infrastructure. The project's success will be evaluated based on the successful completion of the walkway installation, enhanced pedestrian safety and accessibility during rainy conditions, and positive feedback from the local community regarding the usability and effectiveness of the upgraded facilities.

Site photographs show loose gravel and uneven, slippery ground conditions around Balai Raya Kg Parit Hailam, which become hazardous during rainy and flood-prone periods, posing safety risks to community members, particularly children, older adults, and persons with disabilities.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s9kNRBd5zbWlYre2xnUz-mxezjCUQsHR

This initiative is providing raised concrete paver walkways around Balai Raya Kg Parit Hailam, which is a more stable, durable, and level pedestrian surface. The improved walkway is designed to enhance accessibility, reduce the risk of slips and falls, and minimize surface water accumulation during periods of heavy rainfall.