UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF THE NEW VILLAGE:

AMPANG BARU

PERAK

Project carried out by:

Student Name ID Number Course Year / Semester

1. Cassandra Geraldine Perez 08ADB03991 Biotechnology Y3T2

2. Magesan S/O Ganasan 09AAB00179 Advertising Y3T2

3. Susheena Yap Fui Sze 09AAB01144 Public Relations Y3T2

4. Siti Aishah Binti Abdullah 09AAB06955 Psychology Y3T2

5. Tan Hong Sook 10ABB01772 Marketing Y3T2

DATE OF COMPLETION

MARCH 2011

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to those who made this project

possible.

First of all, we would like to thank the staff from the Department of Soft Skill

Competency, especially Ms Hee Chwen Yee, who showered us with abundance of

guidance, encouragement and support to complete this project. Furthermore, we are

honoured to have the opportunity to interview the headman of the Ampang Baru new

village, Mr. Yau Leong Cheong, the head master of SJK(C) Ming Sin, Mr. Hui Leong

Kan, and the „Penolong Kanan Hem‟ of SJK (C) Ming Sin, Ms. Leong. A very

special thanks to a local police officer who provided us with much details about the

village populace.

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ABSTRACT

Ampang Baru is a small village located in vicinity of the city of Ipoh, Perak. The

population of this village is about 2,000 to 2,500, the majority of whom are Chinese.

The main religions practised here are Taoism and Buddhism. Ampang Baru is

famous its pomelo fruit. Other than that, there is no other economic activity or

landmark which distinguishes Ampang Baru from other villages. During our efforts

at data collection, we found that very few elderly villagers were aware of the village‟s

history. Many villagers from the younger generation have migrated to cities to seek

better employment or business opportunities. As a result, this village has an aging

population profile.

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HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

During the anti-communist war in Malaya in the 1950s, 450 new villages were

created by the British colonial government to prevent the Chinese from giving

supplies and support to the communists. Ampang Baru was one of these 450 new

villages.

Before Ampang Baru new village was set up, the villagers lived peacefully in

the old Ampang “kampung”. Their land was taken away without compensation and

the villagers were outraged.

Figure 1: A view of the road in the old Ampang „kampung‟

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After many protests from the locals, the government relocated the villagers to

Ampang Baru to start anew. All were satisfied with the decision made and elected the

Yau family to head the village. The Yau family has led of the Ampang Baru new

village right up to this day. Mr. Yau Leong Cheong is the current headman for

Ampang Baru.

Figure 2: A view of the road inside the local small community of housing area in the old Ampang

“kampung”

Figure 3: Home of the head of the old and the Ampang Baru new village, Mr Yau Leong Cheong

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SETTLEMENT CHARACTERISTICS

Kampung Ampang Baru has a linear type of settlement characteristic and is accessible

by road. Most houses in Ampang Baru have gardens with crops of pineapples or

vegetables. The nearest city is Ipoh, which is 5km away from Kampung Ampang

Baru. Ampang Baru is divided into two parts, namely the old and new Ampang Baru

village.

Figure 4: Linear type of settlement and road accessibility in the Ampang Baru new

village shop lot area

Figure 5: Linear type of settlement and road accessibility in the Ampang Baru new

village nearing the housing area

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Figure 6: A row of shops located in the Ampang Baru new village that was newly

built and has not been fully occupied.

Figure 7: Linear type of settlement and road accessibility in the Ampang Baru new

village housing area

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Figure 8: More linear type of settlement and road accessibility in the Ampang

Baru new village housing area

Figure 9: Houses with vegetables grown in the garden.

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Figure 10: Housing in Ampang Baru that still retains the old „kampung‟ house structure

Figure 11: Housing in Ampang Baru – an extended old „kampung‟ house

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Figure 12: A house in Ampang Baru which has been renovated in a style common

In the cities.

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DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

In this „kampung”, there are approximately 515 houses and 2,000 to 2,500

residents. Unfortunately the population has been decreasing for over the past 10 years

or so. The vast majority of the population is Chinese, while there are also a few

Malays. Buddhism and Taoism are the dominant religious. Ampang Baru has its own

temple and mosque. The village has only one local voluntary organization, the Death

Benefit Society.

Figure 13: Tokong Teng Wai Kin, which is located on the outskirts of

the AmpangBaru town.- a Buddhist temple

Figure 14: Masjid Sultan Azlan Shah, situated in between the old Ampang

and Ampang Baru new village

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Figure 15: The Buddhist temple Teng Wai Kin, with their very own

religious association called the Association of Sincere

Devotees of Buddhism

Figure 16: The local town hall called the „Dewan Orang Ramai Ampang

Baru‟

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VILLAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

Ampang Baru villagers have access to basic infrastructure and facilities.

Piped water supply and electricity are available. The Public Works Department of

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia (Jabatan Kerja Raya Ipoh Malaysia) provides villagers with

water to carry out their daily chores, such as watering plants and washing. The

villagers feel that their water supply for household and outdoor use is excellent.

Electricity supply for this village is provided by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

In Ampang Baru, water and electricity supply are provided by the government

agency. The source of water is from the Public Works Department of Ipoh, Perak,

Malaysia (Jabatan Kerja Raya Ipoh Malaysia); villagers use this source of water to

carry out their daily chores, such as bathing, watering plant, washing and more. From

the villagers‟ review, their water supply for household and outdoor use is excellent.

On the other hand, the Ampang Baru new village‟s electricity supply is provided by

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

Figure 17: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) supplies electricity to the new village

of Ampang Baru

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Figure 18: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) supplies

electricity to the new village of Ampang Baru

Figure 19: A flood station, „Stesen Siren Amaran Banjir‟, serves as a warning

device if water on the ground reaches catastrophic levels.

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Each household in Ampang Baru has its own sewage disposal, a flush system.

Waste disposal is handled by the Municipal Council while open burning is practised

by some older residents; efforts are being made to stop this practice.

In Ampang Baru, TELEKOM Malaysia offers excellent telecommunication

services to the villagers, including internet installation in some household. Ampang

Baru is equipped with facilities such as a community hall and a recreation field.

There are not more than 50 shops located in Ampang Baru. These shops include

restaurants, a pharmacist, grocery shops and a wet market.

Unfortunately, there is no police station located within the vicinity of the of

the Ampang Baru new village. The nearest police station is 15 minutes‟ drive away.

Besides that, medical services are also not available in this new village. The nearest

hospital is Hospital Pantai Ipoh which is, a 15- minute drive from Ampang Baru.

Villagers complaint about the high cost of medical services at this hospital. On top of

that, there are no government clinics or other medical services to support this village.

This is a serious issue which most of the villagers we interviewed have complained

about. The villagers express the hope that the government would provide them with

better access to medical care and security services.

Figure 20: Chinese Medical Hall

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Figure 21: MS Moshi Moshi Enterprise, a small training centre in Ampang Baru.

Figure 22: One of the many Ampang Baru new village coffee shops which sell „mee‟

soup or curry and drinks

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Figure 23: Another local medical hall

Figure 24: „Soon Fatt‟ grocery store or convenience store, which sells dry groceries and

household items at very affordable pricing

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Figure 25: More Ampang Baru new village coffee shops which sell „mee‟ soup or curry

and drinks

Figure 26: The „Pasar Awam Ampang Baru‟, a local wet market, located right beside

the grocery store in figure 24. Fruits, vegetables and poultry are sold here

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Figure 27: Some of the local food stalls at the wet market selling „Yong Tau Foo‟

and prawn noodles

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RELIGIOUS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN AMPANG BARU

The religious buildings in Ampang Baru that we have discovered include:

(a) Tokong Teng Wai Kin

Figure 28: Buddhist statues in glass cases surrounding the temple sight

Figure 29: An Altar at the Buddhist temple

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Figure 30: Another statue of Buddha in the temple

Figure 31: A tree for Buddhist to place their offerings

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Figure 32: Another statue of Buddha at the temple

Figure 33: Beautiful statue of Buddha at the temple garden

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Figure 34: Many different Buddhist statues in the

temple gardens

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Figure 35: Taoism is the religion of most villagers in the Ampang Baru new village.

The altars for worship shown in the picture are religious symbol found

outside many homes.

Figure 36: This is a statue captured from a Buddhist temple situated on the outskirts of

the Ampang Baru new village

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(b) Masjid

Figure 37: The only local mosque in the Ampang Baru new village

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The political party with an office in Ampang Baru is the Malaysian Chinese

Association (MCA). There is a local organisation for the handicapped called the

„Persatuan Pemulihan Orang Cacat Perak.‟

Figure 38: The „Persatuan Pemulihan Orang Cacat Perak‟ is located behind

SJK (C) Min Sin

Figure 39: The „Persatuan Pemulihan Orang Cacat Perak‟ store, where beautiful rattan

handicrafts are sold to support the society‟s activities

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EDUCATION IN AMPANG BARU

Ampang Baru has only one Chinese primary school and one Chinese kindergarten

which are private and another Chinese kindergarten supported by the public. There is

no secondary school in the new village. Therefore, secondary school students have to

travel quite a distance to school. The only Chinese primary school is named SJK (C)

Min Sin Ampang Baru and it was opened in 1953. Currently, it employs 36 teachers

and has 537 students only. The headmaster of this school is Mr. Hui Leong Kan.

Besides, the only private kindergarten was established in 2007 and currently has 25

students and 1 teacher only.

Figure 40: Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Min Sin, Ampang Baru with the school‟s

emblem on its front wall.

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Figure 41: Cafeteria scene in the Min Sin primary school

Figure 42: A plaque commemorating the official opening of a new school building

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Figure 43: The school is currently facing a shortage of classrooms as well as other

important school facilities

Figure 44: A public kindergarten for preschoolers named „Kelas Prasekolah

SJK (C) Min Sin, Ampang Baru

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Figure 45: A private kindergarten for preschoolers, just down the street from the

Min Sin Preschool called „Tadika Yoke Chee‟, Kampung Ampang Baru

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ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The cultivation of pamelo trees is the primary economic activity in this village.

Besides that, farming, especially vegetable farming, is another source of income.

According to our research, most Ampang Baru households have monthly income of

RM1, 000 or higher.

Figure 46: Some pineapple plants scattered around a backyard in a house with a

small vegetable garden at the far back

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Figure 47: Most vegetables sold at the local Ampang Baru wet market is homegrown

and freshly plucked and brought to the market

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Entrepreneurship ranges in scale from solo projects, even involving the entrepreneur

only part-time, to major undertakings creating many job opportunities. Ampang Baru

new village, has a number of small scale entrepreneurial businesses in the food sector.

However, the major entrepreneurial activity in this village involves motor vehicle

repair. In fact, there are several motor vehicle repair shops along the main road

Ampang Baru. Perhaps there are opportunities to develop these businesses further.

Figure 48: Many Chinese owned coffee shops in Ampang Baru have small hawker

stalls selling a variety of food.

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Figure 49: Some hawker stalls are located at the roadside.

Figure 50: The motor vehicle repair business proves to be quite a promising

entrepreneurship prospect. This picture shows only one of the many

motor vehicle repair outlets in Ampang Baru new village

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PROBLEMS

The local police station is located in a house lot. This may not have a direct effect on

the safety of the villagers but the house lot is hardly recognizable as a police station.

The local police force of the village, who work hard for the safety and security of the

village, deserve a better work environment. The lack of a hospital or other medical

services in Ampang Baru poses a problem to villagers. This is an especially serious

problem in view of the aging population of the village.

Figure 51: „Balai Polis Ampang Baru‟ logo and motto at the front of the building

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Figure 52: The police station of Ampang Baru still remains a double story housing lot

while waiting for the building up of a proper lot for an official Ampang Baru

police station

Another problem faced by villagers is the absence of a secondary school in Ampang

Baru. Besides that, the only primary school, SJK (C) Min Sin, faces a severe shortage

of class rooms and teaching facilities. Moreover, the school has no assembly hall and

the afternoon schooling students have no choice but to queue under the hot sun in the

school field during school assemblies.

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Figure 53: The SJK (C) Min Sin of Ampang Baru is still lacking in classrooms as

well as computer rooms for the students

Figure 54: The school‟s weekly assembly held under the blazing hot sun because there

is no school hall

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As many residents in the working age group have out migrated to seek better

employment opportunities, the village has an aging population.

Figure 55: Most of the younger generation venture out of the new village to seek higher

education and better job opportunitiesThe old folks are left behind.

Figure 56: One of our team members conversing with some of the local old women folk

as a source of information collection

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Figure 57: We gathered information about the village being populated mainly by elderly

people. This is the result of out-migration of the younger generation.

During our interviews with local villagers, many expressed grave concern over

matters of land grants and rights of tenure. The lack of agricultural land, especially

for pamelo orchards, housing land have made the area around Ampang Baru slightly

congested. Social problems such as drug abuse, gangsterism, and unemployment are

not common in Ampang Baru.

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RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that a local committee be formed to deal with local issues and the

authorities. Such a committee could pressure the government to construct a police

station in Ampang Baru. The committee could urge the authorities for better facilities

in the village, e.g. availability of medical facilities.

Figure 58: The „Pertubuhan Faedah Bersama Ampang Baru‟ known as the Death

Benefit Society, a community hall, situated behind the wet market place

It is vital for the younger generation in the village to have easy access to schools and

proper school facilities. We recommend that the Ministry looks into improvement in

facilities of the existing schools, e.g. adding more classrooms and an assembly hall.

In addition to that, the ministry should consider financial support for the school to

develop a conducive education environment.

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REFERENCE

Ipoh. (2011). Retrieved on April 14, 2011, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipoh

Ampang Baru. (2011). Retrieved on April 14, 2011, from

www.malaysiasite.nl/tambuneng.htm

DISCLAIMER:

Information contained in this report was compiled by the University‟s students on

voluntary basis. Although every effort has been made to check the accuracy of the

report, the University accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any errors or omissions,

if any, the University reserves the right to make changes on the information at any

time without prior notice.

Should there be any queries regarding contents of the report, please contact:

Department of Soft Skills Competency

Tel: 03-78582628 ext 8274, 8656, 8269 (Klang Valley Campus)

05- 4688888 ext 2297/2299/2300 (Perak Campus)