THE sky is still dark while the coconut fronds move in the breeze from the South China Sea. Amalin Anis walks slowly through a 1m wide road built between the coconut grove in Pulau Suri and the banks of Sungai Kelantan.

She then joins her friends, around 15 pupils of SMK Kedai Buloh at a jetty. After a 10-minute wait, the roar of an outboard motor breaks the morning silence.

Two boats stop at the jetty where the pupils board them and leave for Kg Pulau Pisang, in the mainland of Kota Baru, Kelantan, where their school is. It takes 30 minutes cruising up Sg Kelantan to reach their destination.

It’s just another day to school for those living on 33 small islands at the confluence of Sungai Kelantan and the South China Sea.

The 33 islands – Teluk Renjuna, Pulau Beluru, Pulau Suri, Pulau Gorek, Pulau Besar, Pulau Seratus, Pulau Gagak, Pulau Tongkang, Pulau Hj Nik Mat, Pulau Pak Ali, Pulau Cendur, Pantai Kuda and few other uninhabited islands – form the delta of Sungai Kelantan.  

Around 3,000 live on those island, mostly fishermen, who inherited their boats from their forefathers. However, their catch is dwindling with the weather and overfishing. The coconuts provide a second income. – November 22, 2017.