In rural areas surrounding Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), community prayer facilities (surau) play an important role not only as places of worship but also as centres for social interaction, meetings, and community activities. In many kampung settings, the pedestrian circulation areas surrounding these facilities are often characterised by uneven, unpaved surfaces and exposed ground conditions, which pose safety risks to users. These issues are particularly significant for elderly individuals, children, and persons with disabilities who require safe and stable access to shared community spaces.

During periods of rainfall and localised flooding, the lack of proper pedestrian walkways further increases the risk of slips, falls, and limited accessibility, reducing the usability of the surau as a key community hub. Improving the immediate surroundings of such facilities is therefore important to enhance safety, accessibility, and overall community wellbeing.

This project is carried out by the Concrete Society Malaysia (CSM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, with the aim of improving pedestrian safety and accessibility around a rural community prayer facility through the production and installation of precast concrete paver blocks. These pavers will be manufactured using Cement Board Waste (CBW) and Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) as partial replacements for cement and fine aggregates at laboratory in UTHM and the installation will utilise an existing asphalt base, allowing for a cost‑effective and efficient intervention with minimal site disturbance. The pavers will be manufactured in a laboratory at UTHM by the CSM team and installed the surau through collaboration with the local community and civil engineering expertise provided by UTHM student entrepreneur contractors. The project will receive professional advice from UTHM’s student entrepreneur network, including those who have successfully established contractor companies while pursuing advanced studies. Their industry experience including exposure to consultancy projects abroad ensures that technical guidance and professional practices are integrated into the construction process. This highlights how student innovation and entrepreneurship can directly support community development.

Beyond physical infrastructure improvement, the project also provides hands‑on learning opportunities for civil engineering students by applying engineering knowledge to real‑world community challenges. Support from My Starfish Foundation and the public is essential to enable the procurement of materials and resources required for paver production and site implementation. With adequate support, this initiative has the potential to serve as a replicable, community‑based engineering model for improving pedestrian accessibility at rural community facilities in the future.
 

• Manufacturing of concrete paver blocks (quality & sustainability)
  Sustainable concrete pavers (225 × 112.5 mm) will be manufactured in the UTHM laboratory using sustainable materials, including Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Cement Board Waste (CBW), to ensure durability while promoting circular economy practices.

• Site inspection and assessment (address real safety issues)
  The existing pedestrian area around the surau will be inspected to identify loose gravel, uneven surfaces, and flood‑prone zones that pose safety risks to community users.

• Surface preparation and bedding works (stable and raised access)
  Minor cleaning and levelling will be carried out on the existing alphast base, followed by placement of a levelled sand bedding layer to raise and stabilise the walking surface.

• Installation of paver walkways (improve safety and accessibility)
  The manufactured pavers will be installed to provide a level, slip‑resistant surface that improves access for elderly users, children, and persons with disabilities.

• Joint filling and compaction (long‑term performance)
  Paver joints will be filled with fine sand and compacted to ensure interlocking stability, reduce movement, and enhance durability during wet and flood‑prone conditions.

• Community engagement through gotong‑royong (ownership & continuity)
  Students and local residents will work together during installation, strengthening teamwork, social responsibility, and shared ownership of the upgraded infrastructure.

• Final inspection and handover (measurable completion)
  The completed walkway will be inspected to confirm improved surface condition, accessibility, and safety before being handed over for community use.

The project is expected to result in the successful production and installation of sustainable concrete paver walkways around Surau Pt Hailam, improving pedestrian safety and accessibility for the surrounding rural community, particularly during rainy and flood‑prone conditions.
 

• Improved pedestrian safety: Reduction of slip, trip, and fall risks along approximately 10m² of upgraded walkway area surrounding the surau.
• Community reach: Direct benefit to an estimated 50–100 community members, including elderly residents, children, persons with disabilities (PWD), and visitors who regularly use the surau.
• Infrastructure output: Production and installation of approximately 400 concrete paver blocks manufactured by UTHM students.
• Student involvement: Hands‑on participation of 23 civil engineering students in paver production, testing, and site installation activities.
• Sustainability impact: Utilisation of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) and Cement Board Waste (CBW) as partial material replacements, demonstrating waste‑to‑value and circular economy practices.
• Community engagement: At least one gotong‑royong activity involving students and local residents to support installation and shared ownership.

Project success will be evaluated through completion of the planned installation works, observation of improved site conditions during wet weather, and feedback from community users regarding safety and accessibility.  

Site photographs show loose gravel and uneven, slippery ground conditions around the surau, which become hazardous during rainy and flood‑prone periods.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_G1ZwISuf4241lyyQW0Kou3AfWYmiOjX/view?usp=sharing

The proposed illustration shows raised concrete paver walkways that provide a more stable and level surface, improving pedestrian access and reducing surface water accumulation.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a_lQ298o8dlmoGF_xA-2jPAt2f9KO5Zm/view?usp=sharing