UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

TANGKAK 东甲

JOHOR

Project carried out by:

Student Name ID Number Course Year / Semester

1. Ho Meng Li 11ADB01121 Chemistry Y1T2

DATE OF COMPLETION:

JANUARY2012

ABSTRACT

Tangkak is the district capital of Ledang,Johor. It lies close to its neighbouring town

Muar town. It takes 45 minutes to drive to Melaka and half an hour to Muar town.

Tangkak is nicknamed “Fabric Town” or “SyurgaKain” inrecognition of a street

which is lined with a multitude of fabric stores. It is also well known for itsclose

proximity to Mount Ophir (GunungLedang)which is 17km from the town centre of

Tangkak.Mount Ophir is the tallest mountain in the state of Johor.The mountain is

clearly visible from almost every corner of Tangkak.

INTRODUCTION

The name of Tangkak arises from the tale of “tang Merangkak”. An explorer called

Long Muamud and his 7 follower crawled up (merangkak)from the edge of Tangkak

River to go to Tambak Hill at the area of Seri.The riverbank is covered by marshes

and rich withSendayan, ferns and sago palm. The local residents usually refer to“tang

Merangkak” as a way to point out the location of the place. In Malay language, the

word “tang” means “somewhere”.

The town of Tangkak is near to Mount Ophir (GunungLedang), the

mysterious lair of“PuteriGunungLedang”.It is a beautiful mountain and a tourist

attraction. From the peak of Mount Ophir, we can catch a beautiful view surrounding

area. Tangkak town is situated at the border of Jasin, Melaka andit takes only 45

minutes to reach Melaka town. The journey from Kuala Lumpur, to Tangkak takes 2

hours via the North-South Highway (Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan).It takes only about 3

minutes to reach Tangkak town from the Tangkaktoll exit.

Tangkak Toll Plaza along North-South Expressway

Signboard of Tangkak

ECONOMICACTVITIES

There are many economic activities in Tangkaksuch as plantation, industry

andcommerce. One of the main sources of income for this new village

istourism.Tangkak is very well known for its textile industry which attracts Johorians

as well as people from Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and other states.

You can see along the main road of the town, numerous shops selling fabric ranging

from Satin to Batik. The textile industry also provides job opportunities to local

residents such as sewing and tailoring. Commercial enterprises related to curtains

and handmade Malay traditional costume like kebaya, bajukurung and Punjabi are

common in Tangkak.

One of the fabric shops in the street

The swiftlet industry provides another important source of income. Tangkak

area is surrounded by oil palm estates which provide the best food source for swiftlets.

The perfect environmental condition is most conducive for swiftlet farming. The

farmer we interviewed explained that, in order to meet the habitat requirements of

Swiftlets, the swiftlet farms have to imitate the cave environment in terms of

atmosphere, temperature and brightness. The farmers monitor conditions in the bird

house. Outsiders have also invested in Swiftlet farms and this has increased the

demand for land in Tangkak.

Swiftlet farming

The Swiftlet build their nest inside buildings

Paddy and oil palm are the main crops grown in Tangkak. The farmer we

interviewed informed us that it took them just 100 days or about three months to

harvest their crops after planting the seeds by using the seed spraying machines. He

plans to have a combined harvester machine and a baler machine to collect all stalks

and bale for recycling into animal feed. There is potential to develop an organic feed

factory.

Besides that, the palm oil plantations are well-developedespecially at EngKee

estate.

Paddy field at KampungKesangTasek,Tangkak

Tangkak has a hypermarket called The Store which sells basic household

items. This hypermarket also provides business opportunities to local residents, such

as setting food stalls beside the hypermarket. The tourism value of Fabric Town has

benefited the local hotel business.

The Store hypermarket

EDUCATION

Government and local residents have put in a lot of effort to develop the local schools.

There are 7 primary schools in Tangkak:

1 SekolahKebangsaan Seri Ma'amor

Kampung Seri Ma'amor, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069787496

2 SekolahKebangsaanPengkalanBesar

KampungPengkalanBesar, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069788772

3 SekolahKebangsaanPaya Mas

Batu 18, KampungPayamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069787621

4. SekolahKebangsaanBekoh

JKR 1698, KampungBekoh, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 065237495

5 069630113 SekolahKebangsaan Bukit Banjar

JKR 1788, Kampung Bukit Banjar, 84900 Tangkak, Johor.

6 SekolahKebangsaan (P) Bandar Tangkak

1039-1040, Jalan Hassan, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069789497

7

SekolahKebangsaan Sri Tangkak

JKR no. 767, JalanPayamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069788479

8

SJK (C) Chi Ming (1)

JalanOng Siong,84900 Tangkak, Johor 06-9781002

9

SJK( C) Chi Ming (2)

JalanPayamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor 069781254

SekolahKebangsaanLedang

SekolahKebangsaan Sri Tangkak

SJK(C) Chi Ming (1)

SJK(C) Chi Ming (2)

Besides that, Tangkak has 3 Secondary Schools:

1. SekolahMenengahKebangsaanTunMamat

JalanPayamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069781245

2. SekolahMenengahKebangsaan Seri Tangkak

KM 32, JalanPayamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069788620

3. SekolahMenengahKebangsaanLedang

JalanSialang, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069781266

SMK TunMamat

SMK Seri Tangkak

SMK Ledang

The town also has 2 Institutes/Colleges:

1.

KolejMatrikulasi Johor

KementerianPendidikan Malaysia, JlnPayamas, 84900

Tangkak

06-978 1613

2.

KolejKomunitiLedang

KementerianPengajianTinggi Malaysia, Km 5, JlnPayamas,

84900 Tangkak

06-978 9295

06-978 9834

KolejMatrikulasi Johor

KolejKomunitiLedang

SOCIAL, CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

The Chinese forms the main ethnic group in Tangkak. It comprises the following

dialect groups: Hokkien,TeoChew(ChaoZhou),Hakka, andCantonese. All the

villagers from different ethnic background live in harmony. You can see Chinese

temples, Hindu Temples, churches, and mosques everywhere. There are more than 15

Chinese temples, 3 Christian churches and a Catholic church. There are also a Hindu

Temple and two mosques.

St. Matthew Catholic Church

One of the mosques in Tangkak New Village

The Buddist Temple

This Buddhist Temple is one of the branches of Malaysian Buddhist Association

TOURISMVALUES

(a)FabricTown

The main tourist attraction of this area is its fame as “fabric town”. The tourists

usually come to visit by bus. Tangkak sells fabric at a lower price because it is the

mainlocation of textile factoriesin Malaysia. There are more than 20 fabric shops

along the street of JalanPayamas.To transformTangkakinto a well-known tourist

attraction, the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia frequently holdsevents like festivals or

carnivals inTangkak. For example, Textile Festival was held in 2011, launched by

Y.B Dr.Ng Yen Yen.

\ Festival Tekstil Tangkak 2011

Launching ceremony of “Festival TekstilTangkak 2011”

(b) JubliIntanHall

Tangkak‟s second attraction is the JubliIntan Hall. It is a multipurpose hall and there

is a Clock Tower which serves as the symbol of Tangkak town centre.The field in

front of JubliIntan Hall is well-decorated with colourful lights. Most of the carnivals

or campaigns are held to attract more tourists and also to entertain local residents.

DewanJubliIntan during day time

DewanJubliIntan during night time

(c) GunungLedang Resort

GunungLedang (Mount Ophir), 17 km from the town centre of Tangkak,isoften

linked to the myth of „LagendaPuteriGunungLedang‟ (Princess of GunungLedang).

The princess was supposed to have rejected the Sultan of Malacca‟s marriage

proposal by giving unreasonable demands. There are readers who visit Mount Ophir

after reading about this story. GunungLedang Resort has a water fall. We can drink

the crystal clear water from this mountain without having to boil it first, especially at

the campsite of GuaKambing (Cave of Goat) and KolamPuteri (Princess Pond).

The main hall of GunungLedang Resort

Waterfall

The entrance of GunungLedang Resort

(d) Taman GunungLedang

TamanGunungLedang was established in 2003. Mount Ophirwas declared as Johore‟s

National Park on 27th Oct 2005.Mount Ophir is the highest mountain in the south of

Peninsular Malaysia with a height of 1276 meter (4187feet) above sea level and an

overall size of 8611 hectare. Itwas listed as the 6th most difficult hill/mountain to

climb in Malaysia. Thishas attracted the attention of manymountaineers. Besides

mountaineers, Taman GunungLedangiaalso a research site for botanists to explore the

flora and fauna. For example the slipper Orchid can only be found atGunungLedang.

The signboard of Taman HutanLagenda& Taman Negara Johor GunungLedang

Slipper Orchids

(e) Tangkak Beef Noodles

Tangkak Beef Noodles is famous because of its special taste‟s beef soup. Besides

being popular and meet the local‟s taste, it is also fairly priced and affordable as usual

meals. It is very successful in business and open several branches at Kuala Lumpur

and Melaka.

Tangkak Beef Noodles (RestoranKuangFei)

Tangkak Beef Noodles

Fair price in the menu

INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES

Tangkak district council has developed this new village very successfully.

Residents have access to health care facilities at the Tangkak District Hospital.

Tangkak District Hospital also serves as a teaching hospital for Melaka Manipal

Medical College. For safety reasons, the Council also built a police station and fire

station. Besides that,there is also a Magistrate Court in Tangkak.The Tangkak district

council has built a food centre to provide hawkers with business opportunities. It has

also developed a recreation park for locals, especially senior citizens.Tangkak‟s post

office and Tangkak District Council provide bill collection services, e.g. electric bills

and fines for traffic offences.

Hospital Tangkak

Majistate Court Tangkak

Police station

Fire station Tangkak

Food centre

Recreational Park

Tangkak District Council

Post Office

PROBLEM

Although Tangkak‟s economy is doing well, the town faces a serious problem.

The profitable swiftlet industry has led to pollution and the droppings on building and

roads have a negative impact on Tangkak‟s tourism value.

RECOMMENDATION

The Tangkakcouncil should move the location of Swiftlet farming out of

Tangkak centre town without disturbing local resident‟s business. Otherwise, the

owners of the Swiftlethouses should hire cleaner to maintain the cleanliness of

Tangkak‟s streets and facilities.

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)