Kampung Air Salak

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UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

Air Salak, Melaka.

Project carried out by:

Student Name Student ID Course Year /

Semester

1. Karen Tan Kai Ling 08ABB06391 Business Information

System Y3S3

DATE OF COMPLETION:

APRIL 2011

Kampung Air Salak

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ABSTRACTS

Kampung Air Salak is a village located in Malacca Tengah, Malacca. It is about

16km away from Malacca Town. Many of the villagers are of Chinese and Baba

Nyonya descent, followed by Malays and Indians. Kampung Air Salak is a unique

village in Malacca because almost 99% of the villagers are Catholics. Consequently,

there are several attractive religious tourist places here such as the Stations of the

Cross, the Mountain of St.Mary, an European style old church and a

St.Mary’sGgloriette. The village will be lively and lovely during festivities such as

Christmas, Good Friday, Chinese New Year and Weekend church mass. This village

has a high potential to become a famous tourist Catholic Village in Malacca.

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HISTORY

Kampung Air Salak covers about four hundred and eighty acres. This land was once

covered by the surrounding swamps, mud, weeds, and lined with towering trees. In

October 1858, a missionary priest named Pori led a number of the aboriginals

(Mantras) to move into this land.

Father Pori and the Mantras started to develop this forest and build up a simple house

for praying purpose in 1859. At the same time, they named this land as Mary’s

Exodus. Unfortunately, some unexpected events forced Father Pori to leave this place

in 1867. This land was then abandoned when all the Mantras gradually left and

moved to other places.

Seventeen years later, Father Ludovili Julil Galmel who was a Freach missionary

arrived in this land. The purpose for him to stay at this land was to complete the

ambition of Father Pori. Father Ludovili Julil Galmel led some Chinese Catholics to

develop this land. A richly European-styled church was completed here. The church

has on both sides a high white tower pointing straight to the sky.

On 10 August 1899, Father Ludovili Julil Galmel passed away. The villagers made a

carving on his tombstone in order to remember him and his good work in the village.

It was also a way for the villagers to show their appreciation for his contribution to

the villagers.

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In 1926, China experienced a lot of natural disasters, in addition to experiencing an

unstable political situation. Many of the Chinese Catholics fled from their country,

and many of them were from the Teow Chiew Bai Ling and Hui Lai communities.

They came to this place and lived together with the local Chinese Catholics, farming

and tapping rubber trees. After years of living and working in this area, the village

naturally grew to form a unique Teow Chiew Catholic village.

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HOUSING AND POPULATION

Nowadays, this village has around a hundred and eighty houses, and more than two

thousand villagers. 30% of the village land is used for residential purposes and 70%

for agriculture and oil palm. The village has also given birth to the society’s elite and

pillars of society—for example, the throughout its history, thirty of its villagers have

joined the clergy full time.

Most of the infrastructures in this village are in fair condition. The houses in this

village are typically squatter type, generally made from wood, bricks and concrete.

There are, however, some abandoned houses as some villagers have migrated to the

bigger towns in search of work.

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Figure 1: Redstone House

Figure 2: Timber house

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Figure3: The tarred road in Kampung Air Salak.

Figure 4: The brick house

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ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

There are many oil palm trees in this village, a testimony that oil palm is one of the

primary economic activities in this village. Another economic activity is farming,

especially chili, lime, maize, and vegetable. Some of the villagers also plant durians.

Figure 5: Oil palm

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Figure 6: Lime farm

Figure 7: Farm

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There are also sundry shops in this village which offer fair priced goods.

Figure 8: Sundry shop

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Tourism Value

European style old church

Kampung Air Salak has many attractive places. Firstly, there is the old style

European Church which was established in the eighteenth century. The special feature

of this church is that the pillars are made from red stone. The church has a stage and

therefore is widely used for activities by the villagers.

Figure 9: European style old church

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Figure 10: Old church’s stage

Figure 11: The founder Father Ludovici Julil Galmel’s tombstone.

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Station of the Cross

A second attraction in this village is that it has a two hundred meters Station of the

Cross which consist of fourteen big stones with a carved image of Jesus. Each of the

stone shows a scene from the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. This station of the

cross was established in 2009.

Figure 12: Station of the Cross

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Mountain of St.Mary

In 2008, the mountain of St. Mary was completed by the villagers.

Figure 13: Mountain of St. Mary

Kampung Air Salak

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St.Mary’s Gloriette

In 2007, St. Mary’s gloriette was built on the highest land of Air Salak. This statue of

St.Mary seems to give a message that reads “Welcome back, my children” since

every villager will see this statue when they are on the way back home. In the night,

the gloriette will be surrounded by the villagers who pray to her.

Figure 14: St.Mary’s Gloriette

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SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

Catholic Church

The population in this village kept growing until the old church was not big enough to

fill in the congregants. In 1970, Father Yu led the villagers to build another church.

This new church has been in used until today. Behind this church is a big cemetery,

used for burying the Catholic villagers. Those who are not from the village would be

cremated and the ashes kept in urns. In November every year, the villagers will go to

the cemetery to clean their ancestor’s grave to indicate their respect.

Figure 15: Catholic Church established in 1970

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Figure 16: Church View (inside).

Figure 17: Church View (Front)

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Figure 18: Church View (Behind), and the Catholic cemetery.

Figure 19: Ashes Grid

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Montfort Youth Centre (MYC)

The Montfort Youth Centre (MYC) was established in 2000 with the aim of

promoting the teachings of St.Louis Marie de Montfort. MYC provides training in the

Montfortian dynamism to those who are associated with St.Montfort. They open up

the facilities for retreats and other training needs.

Inside the centre, lodging is provided for the Monfortian. Workshops are constructed

to provide training leading to a certificate programme in Motor Mechanics and

Computer maintenance. Other facilities such as basketball court, soccer field, hall for

activities are provided to Mantfortian to enjoy their free time.

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Figure 20: Montfort Youth Centre with St. Louis Marie’s statue.

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Primary School

The SRJK (C) St. Mary was established and operated by Father Jules Francois in

1929. From a simple squatter house, it evolved into a brick building with 10 over

classrooms.

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Figure 21: Primary School – SRJK (c) St.Mary.

Figure 22: Wall of primary school with the statue of St. Mary completed at the

beginning of 2009.

Figure 23: Primary school (Inside view)

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Balai Raya Air Salak

The Balai Raya Air Salak is used for meetings and other small activities. The

badminton court allows villagers to play badmition without any charges. There is

another badminton court at this village with is a half- indoor type. There is also a

stage here which allows the villagers to do some activities here.

Figure 24: Balai Raya Air Salak.

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Figure 25: Another half-indoor badminton court and stage

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PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATION

The village continues to experience some problems such as lack of agricultural land,

industrial pollution, sewerage pollution, and air pollution. Industrial pollution

happens due to the wood factories situated next to the village. The Government also

needs to improve the sewerage and irrigation systems even though they have not

faced any flood problems yet. Sewerage pollution will cause unhygienic conditions

and this may cause the villagers to be sick.

Many of the village youths work in the town, other states or countries. This causes an

increase in urban migration. Consequently, some houses are left abandoned. Another

problem is that many of the villagers do not seem to know the 3R concept of

disposing rubbish, which results in the villagers disposing their rubbish the traditional

way.

The government should take action like having a campaign to educate the village on

how to dispose rubbish. Air pollution will be decreased if the villagers did not burn

the rubbish. The chairman of the village committee needs look at ways to take care of

the abandoned houses.

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Figure 26: An abandoned house

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Figure 27: Using fire to dispose the rubbish.

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 (Klang Valley Campus)

05- 4688888 ext 2297/2299 (Perak Campus)