PALOH

1

UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

PALOH

JOHOR

Project carried out by:

Student Name ID Number Course Year

/Semester

1. Yeow Chin Lee 09ABB01615 Business Administration Y3T2

2. Soong Siow Siang 09ABB01636 Business Administration Y3T2

DATE OF COMPLETION:

SEPTEMBER 2011

PALOH

2

ABSTRACT

Paloh is a historical village. It is a new village established after 1960. Paloh

covers 46,000 hectares of which 40,000 hectares are agricultural land. Oil palm is the

main crop in Paloh. There are many areas are oil palm estates. There are several

kindergartens, primary schools, national primary schools, secondary schools and

religious schools here. There are many places of worship in Paloh. Although basic

infrastructures are available, this needs further development.

PALOH

3

INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY

Paloh is a village in the Kluang district of Johor, Malaysia. It is located south

west of Bandar Kluang. According to some, the name Paloh was derived from the

Chinese word „Payao‟ which means „swamp‟ in Chinese. The name was given

because Paloh was covered by swamps before it was developed. The town was

founded by Ng Lin Mong and a group of overseas Chinese from China in 1916.

Figure 1: The scenery of housing & estate in Paloh.

According to the headman of the village, the population of Paloh is 16, 240.

There are 9,083 males and 7,337 females in Paloh (www.paloh.my). There are 5

residential areas which are Taman Sri Kota Paloh, Taman Wijaya, Taman Paloh,

Taman Melati, Taman Murni, Kampung Muhibbah. There are about 5,824 houses

(www.paloh.my) in Paloh.

PALOH

4

Visitors can use either the Paloh-Kluang Road or the Paloh-Yong Peng Road

to reach Paloh. Another way to reach Paloh is by train. In the 1950‟s there was

limited access to Paloh. At that time, there was a muddy road from Paloh to Kluang

and it took around 1.5 hours to reach Kluang. In the 1980‟s, the Malaysian

government built Jalan Paloh. The existing Paloh road between Kluang and Paloh

was built in 1999.

As they approach Paloh, visitors will pass by a number of oil palm plantations.

Paloh covers 46,000 hectares of which 40,000 hectares are agricultural land. The

village scenery is green and tranquil.

Figure 2: Green: Oil palm trees along the journey

PALOH

5

During the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), Paloh was a communist

stronghold. It was considered a “black area” of communist terrorists and

sympathizers.

Besides residential homes, the village has a row of shop lots in 1937 and an

MCA building. We interviewed 2 shop owners: Mr Sahibjan Z.M.K. and Mr Wong

Chia Fatt.

Mr Sahibjan is 85 years old and came from India in 1930. He started his

business in 1937 and sold spices, milk and other groceries in those days. Currently,

he sells newspapers. According to him, Central Paloh was basically a rubber estate

before it was developed.

We also interviewed Mr Wong who is 71 years old. He owns the Ling Nam

Coffee Shop and collects old memorabilia such as stamps, drink bottles and old

tickets. He was very informative on the history of Paloh.

Figure 3: 74 years old shop

PALOH

6

Figure 4: Ling Nam Coffee Shop

Figure 5: Mr. Wong’s collection of old memorabilia

PALOH

7

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

More than 25,000 hectares of land in Paloh are used for plantations. Oil palm

is the main crop in Paloh. Here, the traditional method of transporting the oil palm

fruits is used. In some estates, buffaloes are still used to transport the oil palm fruits

to the collection centre. Prior to using buffaloes, estate workers had to carry the ripe

oil palm fruits themselves.

There are 10 oil palm estates in Paloh such as Bukit Cocok Estate, Kempas

Estate and Landak Estate. Previously, most of the villagers worked in the oil palm

estates but the numbers have dwindled especially among the youth. As more youths

receive formal education, they prefer working in government departments or the

private sector in Kluang and Johor Bahru. There are some who work in Singapore.

Figure 6: Oil palm estates

Apart from working in plantations, some villagers manage fruit orchards

(durian and rambutan especially) and plant coconut on a small-scale. As in Kampung

Melayu Batu Empat, cultivation by clusters is practised.

PALOH

8

There are also villagers who operate dragon fruit (pitaya fruit) orchards on a

large scale. For instance, Khalid Baba has been cultivating the dragon fruit for the

past three years and the orchard is next to his goats‟ pen. Initially, the Johor

Agriculture Department assisted by providing fertilisers. Now, Encik Khalid uses his

organic goat fertiliser, which is of high quality. This fertiliser has been sprayed with

the Effective Micro organism (ME) which is a kind of bacteria that is environment

friendly.

A dragon fruit entrepreneur can easily earn at least RM1, 500 per month for

every one hectare of dragon fruit. This calculation is based on the selling price of the

fruit which is RM 2.50 per kilograms. However, this income fluctuates in relation to

the price of these fruits in the market, demand, size, quality and weather.

Other than that, a number of villagers are self-employed and operate small-

scale businesses such as sundry shops, food stalls and vegetables and fruit farms.

There are also stalls in the local wet market which is located close to the Paloh bus

station.

Figure 7: Center of Paloh

PALOH

9

Figure 8: Wet market beside bus station

Paloh‟s economy is also supported by a few factories which manufacture

clothes and mechanical accessories. These factories hire many foreign workers.

Figure 9: Two factories in Paloh

PALOH

10

EDUCATION

There are several kindergartens, primary schools, national primary schools,

secondary schools and religious schools in Paloh. They meet the different

educational needs of the population.

One of the primary schools here is the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) 2 Paloh

which is adjacent to the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Paloh. More than

300 pupils are enrolled in SK Paloh which has a teaching force of 25 teachers.

Meanwhile, about 1,700 students are enrolled in SMK Paloh. There are a number of

schools that provide religious education such as Sekolah Agama Paloh and Sekolah

Agama Batu Empat.

Figure 10: One of the kindergartens in front of train station

PALOH

11

Figure 11: The front gate of SK Paloh

Figure 12: The front gate of SMK Paloh

PALOH

12

SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICE

People here are very helpful and hospitable. When we told them we were

gathering information about Paloh, they were willing to answer our questions. There

are many old folks in the village while many from younger generation have moved to

the cities in search of better employment opportunities. A food stall operator

informed us that business picked up on weekends when the younger generation

returned home.

There are three Chinese temples, a mosque, a Hindu temple and a church in

Paloh. This reflects its multiracial population of Chinese, Malays and Indians.

The biggest temple in Paloh is Lin Shan Si (灵山寺). It was built in 1934.

Most of the Chinese residents worship in this temple which holds several cultural

events every year.

Figure 13: Lin Shin Si: A Buddhist temple

PALOH

13

A Chinese temple called “Great Sage Equaling Heaven Palace” (齐天宫)

worships the deity Sūn Wùkōng (孙悟空). Sun WuKong declared himself the "Great

Sage Equaling Heaven".

Figure 14: Temple of Great Sage Equaling Heaven

PALOH

14

Figure 15: The local mosque

Figure 16: A Hindu Temple is under construction

PALOH

15

Figure 17: The local Church

Figure 18: Zhen Kong Jiao temple which was built in 1975

PALOH

16

When exploring the town, we found a variety of good food available. Sin Yu

Lee, a restaurant in Paloh is often used for wedding dinners. It is open daily from

1.00pm to 11.00pm. Another restaurant which also offers wedding dinners is Shuang

Hsi.

Figure 19: Sin Yu Lee Restaurant

Figure 20: Shuang Hsi Restaurant

PALOH

17

INFRASTRUCTURE

There are many aspects of Paloh‟s infrastructure which need government

support for development.

Buses and trains are the 2 main modes of public transport. There are buses

between Paloh and Kluang every hour from 6am to 9pm daily. The train service is

connected to the north-south line. This means that Paloh is connected by rail to as far

south as Singapore and as far north as Penang.

Figure 21: Signboard of Paloh’s KTM station

PALOH

18

The Paloh Police Station is located in Pekan Paloh, close to some grocery

shops. This police station is responsible for the security of the villagers around Paloh.

Figure 22: Police station: The force of policemen and officers

The Voluntary Fire Brigade Force building is located at Jalan Datuk Au. As

the nearest fire station is located in Kluang, about 30 - 45 minutes drive from Paloh,

this voluntary force is relied on to reach the scene of any local fires first.

According to Tan Swee Guan, the Voluntary Fire Chief, the police force will

inform them of any fire incidents or any emergency cases that require assistance.

While waiting for the arrival of the Kluang Fire Station squad, the voluntary members

are responsible for making the first attempt at rescuing the victims. About 20

villagers have joined the voluntary fire force and they attend courses and briefing

regarding their tasks every week.

PALOH

19

The Pertubuhan Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (RELA) can also be found

here. There are several RELA posts which are erected for members to hold their

meetings. According to Misran Dolah, a Taman Melati RELA member, patrolling

Paloh area with the police force is one of the operations involving RELA members.

They are also involved in ensuring public safety and controlling traffic whenever

there are functions or activities which are conducted within the village area.

Figure 23: The upper is the RELA office and the lower one is Voluntary Fire Force

PALOH

20

There is a Klinik Kesihatan Paloh (Clinic Paloh), but it does not have high

technology equipment and lacks experienced doctors. Patients who are seriously

injured or ill will be transported by Clinic Paloh‟s ambulance to the Kluang General

Hospital. There is a need for a hospital or better equipped clinic to cater to the

medical problems of Paloh residents.

Figure 24: Klinik Kesihatan Paloh

PALOH

21

Paloh also has a post office.

Figure 25: The local Post Office in Paloh

Figure 26: The Telecom Malaysia (TM) tower

PALOH

22

PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATION

First, access to medical facilities needs improvement. Klinik Kesihatan Paloh

lacks a full time doctor. Currently, a doctor is on duty once a week or thereabouts.

There are also complaints about the cost of medical services and the attitude of staff

at the clinic. Villagers with serious illness have to be transported to Kluang. It is

recommended that the local clinic be staffed with a doctor everyday. In the long term,

a local hospital is needed.

Second, the population of Paloh is decreasing. Teenagers and young adults

move out to the towns and cities such as Kluang, Johor Bahru and Singapore. The

main reason for this out-migration is the better employment opportunities in urban

areas. Perhaps more frequent bus service between Paloh and Kluang would

encourage those working in Kluang to continue residing in Paloh. Ultimately, an

improvement in employment and business opportunities in Paloh is needed to stop or

reduce this out-migration of local youth.

Figure 27: Paloh’s Bus station

PALOH

23

Residents also complain of cuts in water supply without prior warning. This

problem can be overcome if the government gives early warning to resident so that

they can prepare well when there is no water supply.

TOURISM VALUE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Perhaps Paloh‟s old buildings could be used as a tourist attraction because of

their historical value. About 90 percent of residents of Pekan Paloh are involved in

businesses, mainly furniture shop, grocery shops and food stalls. Several Malay

residents operate restaurants and food stalls at the premises provided by Kluang

Utara District Council (MDKU).

There are entrepreneurship opportunities. Most of the land in Paloh are

suitable for oil palm trees. The demand for palm oil has increased in recent years due

to its use as a biofuel.

Oil palm plantations are a major source of employment. It allows many small

landholders to participate in the cash economy and also often results in the upgrade of

the infrastructure within that area.

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)