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UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

TANJONG RAMBUTAN, PERAK.

Project carried out by:

Student Name Student ID Course Year /

Semester

1. Ezreena Jasmine Simon 09ABB01778

Banking and

Finance Y 3 T 1

2. Gogulamathe Shamugam 08AJB07087 Journalism Y 3 T 2

3. Swapna Mohanen 09ABB00380

Banking and

Finance Y 3 S 2

4. Yogenajegan Naganathan 09ABB02042 Accounting Y 3 S 1

DATE OF COMPLETION:

APRIL 2011

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HISTORY

Tanjong Rambutan is a Malay village that historically was opened by migrant Malays from

the upper Perak in Lenggong and Kuala Kangsar via Sungai Siput and Kanthan. This event

dates back from 1750 to 1800 when the land was opened for paddy farming and tin mining.

In 1892, Tanjong Rambutan was a successful village of about 2000 people mainly employed

in the tin mines. There were small mining settlements of Malays and Chinese in Tanjong

Rambutan and the different cultures led them to different method of extracting ore. The

Chinese used the open paddocks and the Malays hollowed out holes to extract the richest

patches.

Due to pessimistic report by the Kinta district Magistrate in January 1893 which labelled

Tanjong Rambutan was located on a bad site, the residents voluntarily moved to the upper

reaches of Kinta River a mile away, the new Tanjong Rambutan village which was a mile

away from the old Tanjong Rambutan town. With the tin mining industry came about some

infrastructure development such as the railway tracks on 1 June 1897, roads, public offices, a

court and police station under one roof, post office and a telegraph office were built for the

people’s convenience.

Tanjong Rambutan is well known for its waterfall and the water resources which supplies

water to Ipoh. The pipes were first installed in the 1890s and then replaced in 1920 and 1949.

Amongst many infrastructures, the most significant was establishment of the Federal Lunatic

Asylum in 1911 which accommodates retarded and mentally ill patients. Its name was

changed to Central Mental Hospital in 1928, and further revised to Hospital Bahagia Ulu

Kinta in the 1970s, and that name has remained until today.

In 2008, it was the 100 years anniversary for Tanjong Rambutan Hospital Bahagia, which is

the oldest psychiatric hospital in Malaysia. The development of infrastructures has created a

wide range of job opportunities for the people in Tanjong Rambutan.

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POPULATION AND HOUSING

Tanjong Rambutan New Village has a population of approximately 20, 000 people which

includes all the races from Malay, Chinese, Indian, Sikh and migrated people from Indonesia,

and Bangladesh. The table below is the estimated figures of the number of buildings in

Tanjong Rambutan.

Housing Numbers Description

Government Institutes Many Institusi Pendidikan, Transit

Jabatan Hal Ehwal. GiatMara ,

Kolej Pembantu Perubatan, Rumah

Sri Kenangan etc.

Flats More than 50 Lembah Permai- 35 units, Camp-

15 units, Near Hospital Bahagia- 8

units

Village 29 Including 5 aborigine villages

Mosque 4

Sikh Temple 1 Gurdwara Sahib

Hindu Temple 9 Arulmigu Samayapura Mariamman

Chinese Temple (Tokong) 5

Church 2 Methodist church

Schools 8 1 secondary, 7 primary

Industrial/Factories 18 textile, ice-cream, wooden factory

Banks 2 CIMB, BSN

Jewellery Shop 2 Including 1 pawn shop

Petrol Station 5 2 PETRONAS, 2 ESSO, 1 Caltex

Cyber Cafe 6

Massage Parlours 1 Near Jalan Putra

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** Only estimated figures. Information collected from Tanjong Rambutan police officer (Sub Inspector

Kamarrudin, Chief Police of Tanjong Rambutan.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Since 1982, the economy of Tanjong Rambutan revolved around tin-mining. At present, the

commercial and industrial sectors are the main driving forces of Tanjong Rambutan’s

economy.

Daily consumables items can be obtain conveniently from the many retail shops located all

over Tanjong Rambutan. Some of them are small scale supermarkets such as Pasarayaku,

Perniagaan Chip Fatt, Pasar Ekonomi, Kedei M.Ali etc.

Apart from that, the local people also run businesses such as renting DVD’s, optical shops,

shoe shops, polyclinics, medical clinics, automobile shops and etc.

Snap shot of morning market

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Shop lots in Tanjong Rambutan

One of the well known Polyclinics in Tanjong Rambutan

Besides that, Tanjong Rambutan local folks run many small stalls along the road sides selling

various types of food and drinks such as fried bananas or known as pisang goreng, fruit stalls,

rojak buah, coconut water, sugar cane water and etc. Most Malays in Tanjong Rambutan are

the ones involved in the small business.

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Scrumptious pisang goreng in a full plastic bag costs RM 2.

She has been running this business for almost 4 years.

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Fruit stall by the road side

Major Banks are also available here such as Bank Simpanan National (BSN), and CIMB.

There is also an industrial area housing 18 factories including textile, packaging and alcohol,

beverages, wood and etc.

Tanjong Rambutan also has an administration district. Some of the government offices that

are situated in this town are the Land and District Office, the Public Welfare District Office,

the District Information Office, Police Station and also the Post Office. Besides that Tanjong

Rambutan has its very own Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

Police Station in Tanjong Rambutan

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Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Tanjong Rambutan

The Tanjong Rambutan railway station which is situated in the town is now operated with a

few food stalls. However, the ticketing booth and the railway signboard remain as the railway

line connects Singapore to Butterworth.

Food stalls beside the railway track

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Railway track

EDUCATION

There is only one secondary school SMK Tanjong Rambutan, and 7 primary schools

consisting of 2 Tamil primary school SJK(T) Tanjong Rambutan and SJK(T) Ladang

Changkat Kinding, 3 National (Malay) primary schools SK Tanjong Rambutan, SK Seri

Tanjong, and SK Methodist, and 2 Chinese primary school SJK(C) Tat Choi, and SJK(C)

Changkat Kinding.

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SJK(C) Tat Choi

SJK (T) Tanjong Rambutan

SMK Tanjong Rambutan was built on October 17, 2000. During the first year of the school,

they had encountered few problems such as low enrolment, shortage of teachers, and staff.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Methodist Tanjong Rambutan (picture) is located just beside the

Methodist church of Tanjong Rambutan. This primary school only has one session per day

which is the morning session.

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SK Methodist Tanjong Rambutan

The name of the current principal is Pn. Paizah Binti Alias, Pn. Hjh Mosfirah bt Jafar is the

Deputy Chairperson, Vice chairperson is En. Ab.Rasid bin Mohamed Hasan, and two

teachers holding secretary posts which are En. Samshir bin Mustafa, and Pn. Nor Esah bt

Ismail.

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SK Methodist Tanjong Rambutan’s UPSR achievement, year 2004 to 2009

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SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

Social life in Tanjong Rambutan is reflected by the construction of the Chinese temple, the

Gurdwara, the Hindu temple and the mosques which are built lined on one side of the road.

This shows that the community living there is harmony.

In the year 1895, two Chinese temples in Tanjong Rambutan were built, both dedicated to the

Goddess of Mercy. The first was a cave temple called the Nam Lung Ku Miu, at Gunong

Layang Layang which had an artifact, a bell shaped pendant object, dating 1870. The second

was the Kun Yam Miu, a Hokkien temple also dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy as well.

In 1910, during the British occupation in Malaya, 2 ½ acres of land was allocated for a Hindu

temple to be built, whereas another 9 ¼ acres of the land were gazetted as cemetery for the

local Hindu community. In 1982, the temple's wedding hall was officiated by the former

Minister for Works and presents MIC president Dato Seri Dr. S. Samy Vellu.

Arulmigu Samayapura Mariamman, Tanjong Rambutan hindu temple

Around the late 1910s, there were a few Sikhs who were dairy farmers and bullock cart

drivers. Some of the Sikhs also worked in the mental hospital that was established later at

Tanjong Rambutan. Around 1919, these Sikhs established a Gurdwara Sahib at the present

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site, which is about 100 feet x 400 feet in size. This was a single storey wooden structure with

a tiled roof. The Gurdwara Sahib land was gazetted as a Sikh Temple Reserve Grant Number

290 dated 17th January 1919.

New features of Gurdwara Sahib, Sikh Temple

This Gurdwara Sahib was used for nearly 50 years before it was demolished in 1969. The

foundation stone of the new two-storey Gurdwara Sahib Building was laid by Sant Baba

Sohan Singh Ji of Malacca on 16th November 1968. H.R.H. Sultan of the State of Perak,

Sultan Idris Al Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah officially declared open Gurdwara Sahib on 17th

October 1969.

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TOURISM VALUE

The small village of Tanjong Rambutan in Perak seems to have its own attractive places in

more natural sense. Kinding Eco Resort Park, National Stud Farm, Family Farm and The

Roots Resort Tanjong Rambutan are some of the special places which are hotspots for local

and international visitors to visit Tanjong Rambutan almost every year.

Kinding Eco Resort Park

Kinding Eco Resort Park is an integrated development in Malaysia to be on the forefront of

the Green Global Evolution. This resort ensures to preserve the lush greenery and majestic

vista of Kinding Heritage. The quality of lifestyle towards natural environment and ecology

surroundings makes the Tanjong Rambutan as a village of temperament.

The trip to Kinding Eco Resort Park will take approximately 30 minutes from Ipoh heading

north towards Tambun, a well-known place for its pomelo farms. From the Pantai Puteri

Hospital on the left hand side, head straight until Tanjong Rambutan.

At Kinding Eco Resort Park, the visitors and residents will be ensured to get back to nature

and a chance to experience and observe for themselves on the migratory birds and insects that

visit during certain months of the year. A real opportunity to have an eye-opening and fun

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experience can be sensed, especially during activities such as hiking through the forest and

looking out for wildlife.

In addition, residents and visitors of Kinding Eco Resort will enjoy with the services

provided in the resort. Boating, spa treatments, swimming, open park near lake side and many

more will definitely give the pleasant feeling to stay longer.

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National Stud Farm

The National Stud Farm, located in Tanjong Rambutan, is about 16 km north-east of Ipoh,

which takes about half an hour drive from Ipoh.

A view of the National Stud Farm’s entrance

Close shot of the signboard

The National Stud Farm is the only stud farm in Malaysia. It is the idea of our first Malaysia's

Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman. This place was established to conduct studies

on the viability of setting up a stud farm to breed local thoroughbred horses.

Throughout these years, the National Stud Farm has been continuously recognized as a

successful breeding centre in the region with the finest equine facilities for breeding

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thoroughbreds is set in 120 acres of rolling pastoral land. There are currently 200 thorough

bred racehorses on the farm and a number of these racehorses are exported.

Family Farm

Further walk in the neighbouring area brought us to know better about Ms. Sue, owner of a

private family farm. This farm is situated at Kg. Sungai Tonggang, Tanjong Rambutan just

besides National Stud Farm.

Passion towards animals especially horses inspired Sue and her husband, Chin to start this

family farm as a sort of fulfilment to their hobby. Sues’ 30 years of involvement in this

private farm stirred her to come up with the idea of opening a mini zoo. She is currently in

the process of gathering animals such as duck, chicken, goose, quail, birds, turkey and parrot.

This private farm is under temporary contract from Jabatan Pengairan and Saliran Negeri

Perak (JPS). Sue and her husband got the temporary permit on this land from local authority

and it will last until Malaysian government comes up with future development plan. To our

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surprise, this couple has ventured in this farm not for commercial or profit but for leisure

pursuit and fully for charity.

Their services mostly are to welcome patients from Tanjong Rambutan, orphanage home,

special schools and many more. Generally people come to their farm to seek for treatment,

relaxations or a place to carry out events. Ms. Sue said that horse riding or walking with a

horse is a good therapy for Down syndrome patients.

However, for the past 1½ years, increased tourist visits has affected the development of the

farm.. From 3 chalets, now Ms. Sue’s farm has 5 chalets all together which can accommodate

150 people per visit. Rental for a chalet varies from RM30 to RM50 per tent depending on

the size.

Relaxing ground in the chalets which gives the sense in captivating the native flora and

fauna.

Even though these chalets look simple and traditional but they have their own uniqueness. It

is fully environmental friendly whereby, the only power supply provided is for the tube

lights. Other than that, visitors are fully exposed to the real natural lifestyle in terms of

getting wind. Besides, for bathing and washing clothes visitors learn to take water supply

from nearby river except for drinking which are provided with clean purified water.

Visitors normally come in groups to stay at this place with their family members or friends. A

day trip in a group, birthday functions, and family days has taken place before. Besides horse

riding, other various types of activities that normally visitors get to enjoy are fishing, dart

games, raft, BBQ and many more. If lucky, around June and July every year, visitors will get

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the chance to witness stunning fireflies surrounding the area at night. Any type of function

held in this place will only cost RM200 for unlimited people in a group.

Sue is also a member and volunteer of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

(SPCA). This proves her passion towards animals as well as her contribution and interest in

this field.

Samurai (picture) a horse from Australia is now under the care of Ms. Sue. Samurai is a

racing horse and had won couple of games for past few years. This 49 years old horse

dropped its demand in the market of horse racing. For that reason, Samurai is the only horse

which Ms. Sue takes care currently. Monthly expenses for Samurai can shoot up to RM1000.

Previously, Sue had 4 more horses but because of the cost of taking care is expensive she sold

them off.

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Samurai is now 49 years old, still an active and sociable horse. Samurai loves attention and is

very friendly towards visitors.

The Roots- Perak Eco Resorts

The Roots situated near Tanjong Rambutan, is brand new eco-resort near Kinta Hills. This

resort can easily be reached by road from Ipoh, which is about 12km away. The root

essentially is a location for mostly International schools to organise fieldtrips to Malaysia.

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This is a great place for trekking and bird watching. Other activities include snorkelling,

white water rafting, cave exploration and high rope challenges and fresh water stream surveys

at the resort. Coupled with the adventure activities, visiting students will get to know about

Malaysia's background, culture and history as well as biological insight into rainforest and

mangrove ecosystems and making it an unforgettable and inspiring educational experience.

The Roots is fully private-funded and a protected spot for school fieldtrips to be organised.

All guests will enjoy the security offered in the private grounds and the exciting feeling of

being so close to nature and local culture.

PROBLEMS

Some of the problems that people at Tanjong Rambutan currently face are in terms of

hospital facilities. For any emergency and serious cases in Tanjong Rambutan have to go to

the Ipoh General Hospital. Most people having minor illness will go to clinics located nearby

Tanjong Rambutan.

According to the police officer from Tanjong Rambutan police station, Tanjong Rambutan’s

criminals usually are sent to Ipoh prison. This is because Tanjong Rambutan police station

only has a lock up and not a prison. Most of the time, Tanjong Rambutan’s lock up will be

occupied by drug addicts for a short period of time. From the information we gained, these

drug addicts normally loiter at dumping sites few kilometre away from police station.

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Usually, they collect recycle items such as steels, aluminium, tin, wire, cable and many more

to be sold off for money. Besides, drunkards can be seen hanging around this sites and seems

to be collecting anything as long it can be exchanged for money. Minor problems among

teenagers such as gang fighting are not serious. Social problems and small crimes happen

anywhere said one of the Tanjong Rambutan police officers.

Tg.Rambutan’s police officer explaining and providing information during interview

session

Besides, throughout this journey we also noticed few constructions (Picture) were on going

along road sites. Due to this, traffic congestion interrupts certain places because most of the

road is closed or under construction making it slow and hard for drivers to use the roads

safely. Air pollution is high near the construction area.

Construction under progress near KTMB Tanjong Rambutan

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RECOMMENDATION

As from what we can see, Tanjong Rambutan problems are nothing compared to other big

cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang or even Ipoh. However, this doesn’t mean crime can take

its place here.

Hence, we would like to suggest some recommendations to help improve Tanjong Rambutan

to be a better place to live in. The government’s role is important to solve some of the

problems especially on the construction sides. Clear rules and regulations must be provided

by the higher authority and supervision must be done daily or from time-to-time by the traffic

police to make ensure the road safety.

Health facilities must be brought up to the government so that they can allocate more

hospitals. This can be done by highlighting the issue to the media such as writing it in

newspapers or to TV3 programme (Aduan Rakyat). Optimistically, this matter can reach and

raise the awareness of higher authorities to help Tanjong Rambutan villagers.

Parents’ involvement in controlling their children also is a way to keep the teenagers away

from social problem. Campaigns for educating and creating awareness among the parents and

children can be one of the solutions to help reduce negative social activities in Tanjong

Rambutan. A proper education for drug addicts and drunkards can at least help to let them

enjoy their life in a better.

In a nutshell, Tanjong Rambutan has more than just a Mental Hospital which always strike in

the minds of many individuals. Tanjong Rambutan is a small, peaceful, surrounded with

greenery and well-mannered people. Within a short period of time, this new village has

developed a lot in terms of its infrastructures, economy, and tourism value. Tanjong

Rambutan is a place that should be explored by everyone around the world especially

Malaysians.

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)