Carey Island Unique and Irreplaceable

For many of us, Carey Island is, well, just “there” — it’s a place many people have heard of but have not visited. On the map, it is but a tiny dot off the coast of Selangor. And for perspective, it’s one fifth the size of Singapore.

But for those who live and work in Carey Island and for those who have visited and seen what’s there, it is one-of-a-kind, unique and unparalleled. Hence this special pullout, comprising many stories that will give readers a better insight into Carey Island and why it is without peer.

Why is Carey Island one of a kind?

For more than a hundred years, ever since English planter Edward Valentine John Carey bought the idyllic island in the early 1900s and developed it from mangrove swamps into a thriving oil palm plantation, Carey Island has stayed relatively untouched by the rapid development that has taken place on the mainland. And this is a good thing. The island, which is 79%-owned by SD Guthrie Bhd, is developing at its own pace, where heritage and sustainability are prioritised.

For an island just one fifth the size of Singapore, Carey Island boasts many things that make it unique. In the words of Datuk Helmy Othman Basha, Guthrie’s group managing director: “This is where we produce everything that is sustainable, and everything that means plantations. And this, I would say, is the last bastion of plantation activity in the Klang Valley.” Its rich heritage offers a glimpse into its colonial past. It is home to the Mah Meri, the indigenous Orang Asli tribe who now live in five villages. Known as the Masked Men of Malaysia, the Mah Meri are famous for their craftsmanship, which is recognised by the Unesco Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts. Its geography is another distinct feature. Carey Island is below sea level and is protected by a 120km stretch of man-made bunds. Out of necessity, the island today has one of the best water management systems in the country to prevent flooding. It also has long stretches of mangrove forests along its coastline, which are vital for ecological resilience and erosion prevention.

Carey Island is also a “living museum” of Malaysia’s plantation industry. It highlights the past, present and future of the palm oil industry. For Guthrie, the island is its innovation and R&D powerhouse. Its B30 pilot project, for example, is touted as the launchpad for green tech and agriculture innovation.
    
For an island that is so strategically located and in close proximity to Port Klang, it is inevitable that development will come knocking one day. Already, there are plans to transform Carey Island into a leading industrial and logistics hub in addition to an Edu-Technology Park plus food security centre. You cannot stop the tide, but responsible development is key.  

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