{
  "id": 12497553,
  "title": "How nipah palms gave new life to an old swamp",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/how-nipah-palms-gave-new-life-to-an-old-swamp-12497553",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/10/07/how-nipah-palms-gave-new-life-to-an-old-swamp"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nipah palms have breathed new life into an old swamp in Kampung Bunga Emas Barat, transforming a previously unusable patch of land into a thriving agricultural space and cultural hub. The 0.3ha site, plagued by deep, unstable soil and difficult working conditions, had remained abandoned for years. However, Jamaludin Abd Rahman, a 63-year-old from Jerlun, Kedah, saw potential in the land and began cultivating nipah palms in 2019. The process requires five years for the palms to mature and produce sap, but extracting the sweet liquid depends on traditional techniques involving twisting, wrapping, and tapping the stalks at specific intervals. Nipah sap flows abundantly and tastes richer during the dry season, making it a valuable resource despite the challenges. Jamaludin, who is also an artist, views the plantation as a means to preserve the landscape and traditional practices associated with it. The deep root system of nipah palms helps stabilize muddy soil, reduce erosion, and act as a natural buffer during water level rises. The plantation now serves as the backdrop for Nipah Klasik, a family-run eatery that offers local specialties like popiah, keropok lekor, and fish otak-otak, alongside fresh nipah sap. Visitors can enjoy the ambiance and learn about the traditional methods of collecting the sap, witnessing how a previously discarded swamp has been revitalized to support food, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.",
  "summary": "What began as difficult, waterlogged land in Perlis now supports traditional sap-tapping and a family-run food experience rooted in local heritage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "How nipah palms gave new life to an old swamp",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/how-nipah-palms-gave-new-life-to-an-old-swamp",
        "published": "2026-10-06T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}