UTAR NEW VILLAGE SURVEY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

LENDU (AIR BEMBAN) 林鲁（雅逸旺满）

MELAKA

Project carried out by:

DATE OF COMPLETION:

NOVEMBER 2013

Student Name

ID Number

Course

Year/ Trimester

1. Ng Mei Gee 10UKB06804 Bachelor of

Economics (Hons)

Global Economics Y3/T3

2. Heng Hwa Fook 11UKB02756 Bachelor of

Economics (Hons)

Global Economics Y3/T2

3. Loke Jianxin 11UKB02919 Bachelor of

Economics (Hons)

Global Economics Y3/T3

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ABSTRACT

Kampung Baru Lendu is a Chinese New Village situated in Lendu. Lendu is a

place situated close to Alor Gajah and Masjid Tanah. The main highway exit near

to it is the Simpang Ampat exit of North South highway. Furthermore, it is

connected by a main road known as Lebuh AMJ. This report covers the following

aspects of the village: Population, Housing and History, infrastructure, social and

community facilities, education, transportation, economic activities, social,

cultural and religious practices, tourism value, entrepreneurship opportunities,

problems and recommendations. To obtain the relevant information, survey

methods such as interview and field observation were used.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and Foremost, we would like to express our gratitude towards all related

parties for their kind support and assistance in guiding us throughout this new

village survey. We appreciate that UTAR has provided us the opportunity to

conduct this survey and gain insight into a Chinese new village. Furthermore, we

would also like to thank Mr Tan, head of the village, for providing us with

valuable information about this village.

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HISTORY, POPULATION & HOUSING

Figure 1: Kampung Baru Lendu entrance.

Kampung Baru Lendu is one of the Chinese New Villages which was established

in the 1950s. It is located in the district of Alor Gajah. This village has a

predominantly Chinese population. The main purpose of forming new villages in

Malaysia was to separate the villagers from the Malayan Communist Party during

the Malayan Emergency. Rural folk were then relocated into the new villages

according to their race and the authorities monitored their movements so as to

prevent them from providing support to the communists. During the Malayan

Emergency, 450 new villages were set up throughout Peninsular Malaysia and

Kampung Baru Lendu was one of them. Since then, Kampung Baru Lendu has

become the permanent settlement of the original inhabitants and their descendants.

Residents of Kampung Baru Lendu named the village “雅逸旺满” in mandarin.

“雅”means “beautiful”, “逸” means “a comfortable place”, “旺”means “full of

prosperity” while “满” means “satisfied/content with the current situation”. In

other words, Kampung Baru Lendu is a beautiful village that provides prosperity

and a comfortable place for everyone and people who live here are satisfied/

content with everything they have.

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Kampung Baru Lendu can be reached by road via Exit 227- Alor Gajah

Interchange exit of the North-South Expressway. The nearest town is Masjid

Tanah and Alor Gajah is a 10-minute drive from Kampung Baru Lendu. Malacca

town centre is approximately a 30-minutes drive or 26 km away.

The current (2014) chairperson of the Kampung Baru Lendu village committee is

Mr Tan Kim Hock. According to Mr Tan, the population of Kampung Baru Lendu

has been increasing over the past few years. While the vast majority of villagers

are Chinese, there are 4 Indian families and 2 Malay families who live in Kg. Baru

Lendu.

Figure 2: A rubber estate which is being cleared for a new housing development.

In the past, the village was surrounded by rubber and oil palm estates. In recent

years, a rubber estate (about 24 hectares) has been cleared for the construction of

78 detached houses. Local infrastructure has been upgraded lately. For example,

the drainage system has been improved and the village is no longer flooded during

the rainy season. The roads have also been widened and resurfaced.

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Before the 1960s, residents were using well water to drink, wash clothes and so

forth. Before the 1970’s electricity came from a power generate owned by the

government. Electricity supply was available from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. daily. In

contrast, villagers now have access to piped water (under Syarikat Air Melaka

Bhd or SAMB) and 24-hour electricity supply and Tenaga Nasional Bhd or TNB.

Most importantly, the standard of living of residents has improved overs the years.

Telekom Malaysia remains as the service provider for fixed line phones. Mobile

phones are also widely used by the villagers who subscribe to Maxis, Digi or

Celcom networks. For emergency and security services, villages have easy access

to the police station which is just a 5-minute drive away. However, the nearest fire

station is located in Alor Gajah. Garbage collection service is provided by the

Majlis Perbandaran Melaka. Garbage is collected approximately twice a week.

Apart from this, volunteer charity groups visit the village. Once every five months

to collect the used glass, plastic or aluminum containers for recycling.

Figure 3: Government Clinic.

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Figure 4: Medical treatment schedule.

The Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (Ministry of Health) runs a clinic which is

just a stone’s throw away from the Dewan Orang Ramai (community hall) of

Kampung Baru Lendu. However, due to the increasing number of old people in

the village, there is a growing demand for medical care for minor ailments, minor

surgery and emergency cases. Facilities at the clinic cannot cater to all these cases.

Villagers often have to travel to Melaka General Hospital for medical care. Some

travel to the private clinic’s in Alor Gajah.

Social and Community Facilities

Kampung Baru Lendu is reasonably well equipped with modern amenities. There

is a post office located in Alor Gajah which is about a 10-minute drive from the

new village. Besides, postmen sometimes come to collect letters which the

villagers want to send out.

Two petrol stations (Caltex and Petronas) are located roughly 10-minutes away

from Kampung Baru Lendu. The nearest government departments are located in

Alor Gajah.

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Figure 5: Dewan Orang Ramai.

This hall has basic exercise equipment, a basketball court, a badminton court and

public toilets. It is also used by the Kg Baru Lendu Veterans’ clubs. Apart from

that, this hall also serves as the venue for events which involve large crowds.

Sometimes, there are competitions organized by Malaysian Chinese Association

(MCA) such as basketball competitions. Entrance fees are not charged for these

events. According to our interviewee, Mr Tan, many teenagers come here to

exercise in the afternoons, while old folks come over here to chit chat, watch

television dramas, and enjoy karaoke in the afternoons and evenings.

There is no burial ground in the new village. However, there are 1 Hindu and 1

Chinese burial ground in Malacca town which is not far from the new village. The

Chinese cemetery is just behind the Hang Li Poh Well in the town.

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Figure 6: Stage for singing competition

Figure 7: Basketball court

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Figure 8: New hall

Figure 9: Playground

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Figure 10: Veteran club

Figure 11: Kg Baru Lendu community hall

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Figure 12: Fun Park

Figure 13: Fun Park

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Figure 14: View from outside community hall

Figure 15: Toilet

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Figure 16: Chinese temple

In terms of religious buildings, there is only a Chinese temple and a mosque in the

new village.

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EDUCATION

Figure 17: MCA Langkawi Project

There is a kindergarten in Kg Baru Lendu which is operated by the Langkawi

Project, organized by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). This

kindergarten has been operating for more than 10 years. The tuition fee of each

child is only RM100+ per year. Classes start from 8am to 12pm, every Monday to

Friday during public and school, except holidays. Currently, there are more than

thirty students with two teachers in this kindergarten. In the afternoon, the

kindergarten also conducts dance classes for children for additional fees.

Figure 18: Surrounding of the kindergarten

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Figure 19: Surrounding of the kindergarten

Figure 20: SJKC Lendu

SJK (C) Lendu is the primary school located in this village. It was established in

the 1950s. Once upon a time, this school educated students who performed very

well in public exams. Support in the past from Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and the

MCA has helped to increase this school’s enrolment. However, currently, this

school has only 130 students and 12 teachers. As a result, this school runs only

one session (morning school) a day.

There is no secondary school in this village. The nearest secondary school is

located in Alor Gajah. It is a government school named Sekolah Menengah Dato’

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Dol Said. The nearest private school is Pay Fong High School which is located in

the city of Malacca.

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is only a 5-minute drive from this new

village. UiTM offers a variety of courses at Diploma and Degree levels. There are

courses in Business and Management, Science, etc.

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TRANSPORTATION

Cars and motorcycles are the main modes of transportation. Usually,

villagers prefer to ride motorcycles as this is an economical mode of

transportation.

Figure 21: Cars and motorcycle of the villagers

Buses are the only available public transportation. They are available at

half-hourly intervals. It is no surprise that the villagers travel by bus if they want

to go to town. The nearest bus terminal is Alor Gajah Sentral Bus Terminal,

approximately 7 km from this new village.

Figure 22: Bus station

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ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The main economic activities of Lendu New Village are agriculture and

commerce. And, there is a factory located near the new village. There are also a

number of villagers who work in Malacca town.

Most of the villagers engage in agricultural activities. They plant

vegetables, oil palm and rubber as their main sources of income. Normally, these

crops are for sale. Nonetheless, some vegetables are kept for the farmer’s own

consumption. The total area cultivated is approximately 1,000 acre, i.e. average

area per household is approximately 4 acres.

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Figure 23: Plantations and smallholdings of Lendu New Village

There are a few retail shops in Lendu New Village. These include sundry

shop, coffee shops, and a wet market. The financial institution in Lendu is Bank

Simpanan Nasional (BSN).

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Figure 24: Sundry shop, coffee shop and BSN

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SOCIAL, CULTURAL & RELIGIOUS PRACTICE

The vast majority of people in Lendu New Village are Chinese. The new

village has a Chinese temple nearby.

Figure 25: Chinese temple located in Lendu

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TOURISM VALUE

There is a “recreation park cum garden” in Lendu New Village. It has a

small playground and the scenic beauty of its garden has tourism value.

The Recreation Park

The Recreation Park

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The Recreation Park

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The Recreation Park & Garden

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Basically, the villagers’ main source of income is from the agriculture sector.

Many villagers work in their own rubber smallholdings and they sell the rubber to

traders. The relatively low and fluctuating price of rubber means that villagers do

not earn much. New entrepreneurial activities could increase the villager’s

income. For example, instead of selling raw rubber to the vendors, the villagers

with the help of the relevant parties can set up a factory to process the raw rubber

into finished goods such as rubber bands and other related products. Furthermore,

villagers can set up restaurants selling local Chinese cuisines to lure outsiders to

taste their traditional food. Apart from that, some villagers could operate home

stay programs for tourists who wish to experience life in a new village.

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PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

First of all, there are no public phones in Kg Baru Lendu. As public phones are

vital when there is an emergency, it should be provided at the village. Next, the

village needs a fire station and better medical facilities such as a bigger clinic

instead of a small rural clinic. This can improve the living standards of the

villagers.

Figure 27: Dark lightings inside the public toilets in the community

Certain facilities in the community hall need to be improved. For example,

disable friendly facilities are lacking. There is only a staircase between the ground

floor and first floor and this makes it impossible for these who are wheelchair-

bound to reach the first floor. Lighting in the toilets is rather dim and this poses a

danger for users.

SJK(C) Lendu’s recent performance in public examinations has been

sliding. This issue needs to be handled urgently. Perhaps the quality of teaching

staff and/or their training needs to be looked into.

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CONCLUSION

Last but not least, the local authorities could provide facilities in the community

hall for the elderly who form a significant proportion of the population. Board

games and mahjong tables would probably be useful.

We learned several new things during this project. Firstly, we learned about the

history and culture of Kampung Baru Lendu through our visit. We became more

aware of the importance of preserving and maintaining the traditional culture of

the Chinese community in this new village. Apart from that, we found out about

improvements which could be made to provide villagers with a higher standard of

living.

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)