KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 31 -- In the bustling corners of Old Klang Road, hidden within a kampung almost forgotten and right next to the Klang River, sits a cooperative space where a small but passionate group of people began by asking a simple question.

"What if our economy wasn't just about buying and selling - but about living sustainably while remembering what it means to live as a community?"

They were ordinary consumers - individuals from professional backgrounds, including farmers, homemakers and friends - who shared a growing concern.

A pandemic that changed priorities

When Malaysia went into lockdown in 2020, daily routines were disrupted almost overnight.

Supermarket shelves emptied, farmers struggled to reach consumers and famil...