UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT
REPORT
NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:
PADANG TENGKU 巴登冬姑
PAHANG
Project carried out by:
Student Name
ID Number
Course
Year/Semester
1.Shasivarman A/L Gannason
1307191
Bachelor of
Arts(Hons)English
Education
Year1/Sem1
2.Surendraj A/L Manivanan
1307516
Bachelor of Business
Administration(Hons)
Banking and Finance
Year1/Sem1
3.Terrence Jessindran Anthony
1308083
Bachelor of Engineering
(Hons)Petrochemical
Engineering
Year1/Sem1
DATE OF COMPLETION:
OCTOBER 2013
PADANG TENGKU
ABSTRACT
Padang Tengku was established in 1951. It is located in the district of Kuala Lipis in the state of
Pahang. Towns close to this new village are Kuala Lipis and Gua Musang. The main attraction in
Padang Tengku is the railway station. The Padang Tengku railway station is train station named
after the town of Krambit, Pahang. The main sources of income are from rubber tapping and work in
the oil palm plantations. Besides these, other economic activities in this village include logging, saw
milling and iron and gold mining.
1
PADANG TENGKU
2
HISTORY
During the Malayan Emergency, the main aim of the New Villages in Malaysia was to
segregate the villagers from the early Malayan Races Liberation Army. It was planned to
overcome the communists insurgency. Around 10 % of Malaya’s population was related to
“new villages” during this period of Emergency. By doing this, the British authorities were
able to stem the critical flow of information and supplies to the communists. Removing a
population that might be sympathetic to guerrillas was a counter insurgency technique which
the British had used before against the Boer Commandos in the Second Boer War (1899-
1902).
PADANG TENGKU
3
INTRODUCTION
Padang Tengku is located in Kuala Lipis,Pahang.
Nearby towns includes:
Kuala Lipis which is 20km south east from Padang Tengku
Gua Musang which is 100km north from Padang Tengku
Mr. Tan Kok Ong, the village head, provided the project team with information about
the village’s population growth and decline. When the village was founded in 1951, it had a
small population of below 100. Over the years, the population increased as the mines and
rubber plantations boosted the local economy. However, in recent years, many villagers from
the younger generation have migrated to urban areas in search of better employment
opportunities. This has led to a decline in Padang Tengku’s population which stands at
approximately 150 in 2013.
PADANG TENGKU
4
POPULATION, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION
Population
In 2013, Padang Tengku’s population has dwindled to approximately 150. Of this total, about
100 are Chinese and the remainder are Malays and Indians.
Housing
There are about 100 houses in this village, of which 90 are detached houses. The remaining
houses are semi-detached and terrace houses. Most detached homes are wooden structures.
Other houses are concrete-and-wood structures. There are also a few shoplots in the village.
Transportation
The frequency of public bus service is once every 3 hours. Because of its infrequent service,
public buses are not popular. Most villagers travel by motorcycle and few own motorcars.
PADANG TENGKU
5
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
The main sources of income in Padang Tengku are as follows:
a) Work in oil palm and rubber plantations
b) Logging
c) Saw milling
Oil palm plantation in Padang Tengku
According Mr. Tan Kok Ong work in oil palm estates provide the main source of
income in Padang Tengku. All the output of the oil palm estates are sold to RISDA. The saw
mills provide another important source of employment in this area where logging takes place
in the jungle. Some villagers run small shops and restaurants. The monthly income per family
in Padang Tengku is below RM2000. As a result, many youths in Padang Tengku are not
interested in agriculture and they migrate to urban areas to further their studies or to seek
better employment opportunities.
PADANG TENGKU
6
SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGOUS PRACTICES
Households of different races and beliefs can be differentiated easily by looking at the
structure of the houses and the items that they place around the houses. Take, for example, the
Buddhists who place altars in front of their shops and houses. Most Chinese villagers are
Buddhist and they are seen burning incense at places of worship such as the Chinese temple
(picture below) which Mr. Tan showed us.
Chinese temple in Padang Tengku
After visiting Padang Tengku’s Chinese temple, Mr. Tan brought us to an Indian
neighbourhood. Most Indians are Hindus and they often place altars with pictures of Hindu
deities in front of their houses. They also use jossticks when the worship of their gods. There
is only one Hindu temple in Padang Tengku. The name of this temple is Attivana Sri Sivan
temple and it is well known throughout Malaysia.
The Malay villagers are Muslims. They worship at a mosque in the village.
The main festivals held in the village are Chinese New Year, Lantern festivals and
dumpling festival. These are festivals are celebrated by the Chinese worldwide. The Indians
celebrate Deepavali, temple festival and Karthigai. Malays celebrate Hari Raya Haji and Hari
Raya Aidilfitri.
PADANG TENGKU
7
Indian temple in Padang Tengku
PADANG TENGKU
8
EDUCATION
There are two kindergartens in Padang Tengku: Rukun Tetangga Kindergarten and
Tabika Kemas. Rukun Tetangga Kindergarten has below 20 students and 2 teachers. Tabika
Kemas has two teachers and more than 20 students. This kindergarten has a playground and a
field where children can play. Both kindergartens are run by the government.
Tabika Kemas in Padang Tengku
There are two primary schools in Padang Tengku: One is SJK (C) Padang Tengku and
SRK Padang Tengku. SJK(C) Padang Tengku has a small basketball court, canteen, library,
ICT room, teacher’s office and classrooms. It has over 100 students and fewer than 10
teachers.
SRK Padang Tengku has a bigger enrolment of over 400 students and more than 40
teachers. This school has a big field which is used for the annual sports day, football and
hockey matches. It has a canteen, a school hall, a teacher’s office and classrooms. Normally
students from this school continue their studies in SMK Padang Tengku.
PADANG TENGKU
9
SJK(C) Padang Tengku
There are two secondary schools in Padang Tengku: SMK Padang Tengku and SM
Agama Padang Tengku. SM Agama Padang Tengku has over 800 students and more than 40
teachers. SMK Padang Tengku has more than 1000 students and more than 70 teachers. Each
of these schools has a field, a canteen, a library, a computer lab, a hostel, offices and
classroom. Students in both schools sit for the PMR and SPM examinations. A common
problem they face is the shortage of teachers.
After secondary school, some students further their studies in the university.
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman is a popular choice among Chinese villagers of Padang
Tengku.
PADANG TENGKU
10
SMK Padang Tengku
Library of SMK Padang Tengku
PADANG TENGKU
11
SM Agama Padang Tengku
PADANG TENGKU
12
INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES
Mr. Tan Kok Ong expressed his unfailing gratitude towards the government and
sponsors who have contributed much to the community in Padang Tengku. He informed us
that if villagers submit formal complaints, these complaints are dealt with within 2 working
days. A meeting of the village committee is held once a month when all complaints are listed.
The Jabatan Bekalan Air (JBA) provides piped water to the village. This includes
water for washing and cooking. The water supplied comes from underground water and is
clean. Electricity is generated from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) substations and every
household is able to enjoy this service. During rainy days, electricity in certain areas in
Padang Tengku may be affected due to the lightning. However, any problems with electricity
supply is promptly addressed when reports are made to TNB.
Alam Flora is responsible for collecting rubbish in Padang Tengku and for keeping the
environment clean. Garbage collection occurs daily. Sewage disposal Padang Tengku is
managed by Indah Water. Flush toilets are used in all houses.
Telecommunication services are provided by Telekom Malaysia (TM), Digi and
Celcom and these services are generally reliable. There is transmission tower near the village.
Some mobile operator networks may be interrupted on rainy days, but services are resumed
soon after the rain has stopped.
There are private clinics as well as a government-run clinic in Padang Tengku. The
government clinic provides good medical care and its services are free for seniors citizens.
This clinic has 2 doctors, 3 medical assistants and 15 nurses.
There is also a police station in the village. According to Mr. Tan, the local police is
quite effective in fighting crime.
PADANG TENGKU
13
Padang Tengku government clinic
Padang Tengku police station
PADANG TENGKU
14
MCA office in Padang Tengku
Because of its multi-ethnic population, Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, “masjid”
and surau are built for convenience of all. Even burial grounds for people of different faiths
are available. Padang Tengku has shops, stalls and markets which sell groceries and other
goods to villagers. Wet markets are always open during the day and night markets operate at
least twice a week. Fruits and vegetables are considered inexpensive here as they are
harvested by some of the villagers and sold in bulk to customers.
PADANG TENGKU
15
Padang Tengku Railway Station
Most villagers travel by motorcycle or walk to their destinations. Some villagers own
private cars. Public bus service resumed a few months ago.
Government offices in the village include the “Pejabat Pertanian” and RISDA. There
are new housing projects in the village currently.
PADANG TENGKU
16
PROBLEMS
During rainy days, telecommunication signals are barely detected. Since most
residents do not have a landline, they find it difficult to make emergency contact on rainy
days. Electricity shut-downs are also common in Padang Tengku if it is a rainy day, and
villagers are dissatisfied with the service.
Furthermore, the absence of a proper drainage system has created problems for
residents. The river near Padang Tengku can sometimes overflow its banks and cause
flooding. Residents are therefore demanding a proper drainage system in the village to deal
with this situation.
Villagers are generally satisfied with the schools with the school in Padang Tengku.
Students are believed to be treated well by the teachers and they receive full support from the
government for study aids and equipment. Residents are also pleased with the sponsorships
received from several NGO’s to assist them in their work and daily endeavours. Security and
safety measures in the village are handled by the police officers who attend to crime and
investigations at a fast and steady pace. Last but not least, health concerns in the village are
handled very well in the clinics provided. Constant spraying of mosquito repellents are
practiced in the village to inhibit germination of Aedes mosquito larvae. Medical checkups
are available in the clinics for the good of all residents in Padang Tengku.
PADANG TENGKU
17
RECOMMENDATIONS
Investors are often not aware of opportunities in Padang Tengku and they may be
discouraged by its “rural” image. Perhaps the authorities could highlight and publicize
investment opportunities in this village to encourage outsiders to set up new businesses here.
The government needs to look into the drainage system with the objective of
mitigating flooding in this village. This is a major concern among villagers.
Interviewing Mr. Tan Kok Ong
PADANG TENGKU
18
The students present a souvenir to Mr. Tan
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: 03-79582628 ext 8274, 8656, 8269
05- 4688888 ext 2297/2299/2300
(Klang Valley Campus)
(Perak Campus)