Tangkak

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UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

TANGKAK

JOHOR

Project carried out by:

Student Name ID Number Course Year / Semester

1. Ho Meng Li 11ADB01121 Chemistry Y1T2

DATE OF COMPLETION:

JANUARY 2012

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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 “Syurga Kain” in recognition of a street

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

proximity to Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang) which is 17 km 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.

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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 with Sendayan, 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 (Gunung Ledang), the

mysterious lair of “Puteri Gunung Ledang”. 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 and it 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 Tangkak toll exit.

Tangkak Toll Plaza along North-South Expressway Signboard of Tangkak

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ECONOMIC ACTVITIES

There are many economic activities in Tangkak such as plantation, industry

and commerce. One of the main sources of income for this new village is tourism.

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, baju kurung 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.

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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-developed especially at Eng

Kee estate.

Padi at Kampung Kesang Tasek,Tangkak

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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

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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 Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Ma'amor

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

2 Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Besar

Kampung Pengkalan Besar, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069788772

3 Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Mas

Batu 18, Kampung Payamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069787621

4. Sekolah Kebangsaan Bekoh

JKR 1698, Kampung Bekoh, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 065237495

5 069630113 Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Banjar

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

6 Sekolah Kebangsaan (P) Bandar Tangkak

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

7

Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tangkak

JKR no. 767, Jalan Payamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069788479

8

SJK (C) Chi Ming (1)

Jalan Ong Siong,84900 Tangkak, Johor 06-9781002

9

SJK( C) Chi Ming (2)

Jalan Payamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor 069781254

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Sekolah Kebangsaan Ledang Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Tangkak

SJK(C) Chi Ming (1) SJK(C) Chi Ming (2)

Besides that, Tangkak has 3 Secondary Schools:

1. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Mamat

Jalan Payamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069781245

2. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Tangkak

KM 32, Jalan Payamas, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069788620

3. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ledang

Jalan Sialang, 84900 Tangkak, Johor. 069781266

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SMK Tun Mamat SMK Seri Tangkak

SMK Ledang

The town also has 2 Institutes/Colleges:

1. Kolej Matrikulasi Johor

Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Jln Payamas, 84900 Tangkak

06-978

1613

2.

Kolej Komuniti Ledang

Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia, Km 5, Jln Payamas

84900 Tangkak

06-978

9295

06-978

9834

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Kolej Matrikulasi Johor Kolej Komuniti Ledang

SOCIAL, CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

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

following dialect groups: Hokkien, Teo Chew (ChaoZhou), Hakka, and Cantonese.

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

Chinese temples, Hindu Temples, churches, and mosques everywhere. There are

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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

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One of the mosques in Tangkak New Village

The Buddist Temple

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

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TOURISM VALUES

1. 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 main location of textile factories in Malaysia. There are more than 20 fabric

shops along the street of Jalan Payamas. To transform Tangkak into a well-known

tourist attraction, the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia frequently holds events like

festivals or carnivals in Tangkak. For example, Textile Festival was held in 2011,

launched by Y.B Dr.Ng Yen Yen.

\

Festival Tekstil Tangkak 2011 Launching ceremony of “Festival Tekstil

Tangkak 2011”

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2. Jubli Intan Hall

Tangkak’s second attraction is the Jubli Intan 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 Jubli Intan 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.

Dewan Jubli Intan during day time

Dewan Jubli Intan during night time

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3. Gunung Ledang Resort

Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir), 17 km from the town centre of Tangkak, is

often linked to the myth of ‘Lagenda Puteri Gunung Ledang’ (Princess of Gunung

Ledang). 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. Gunung Ledang 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 Gua Kambing (Cave of Goat) and Kolam Puteri

(Princess Pond).

The main hall of Gunung Ledang Resort

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Waterfall

The entrance of Gunung Ledang Resort

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4. Taman Gunung Ledang

Taman Gunung Ledang was established in 2003. Mount Ophir was 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 (4187 feet) above sea

level and an overall size of 8611 hectare. It was listed as the 6th

most difficult

hill/mountain to climb in Malaysia. This has attracted the attention of many

mountaineers. Besides mountaineers, Taman Gunung Ledang ia also a research site

for botanists to explore the flora and fauna. For example the slipper Orchid can only

be found at Gunung Ledang.

The signboard of Taman Hutan Lagenda & Taman Negara Johor Gunung Ledang

Slipper Orchids

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5. 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 (Restoran Kuang Fei)

Tangkak Beef Noodles

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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

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Fire station Tangkak

Food centre Recreational Park

Tangkak District Council Post Office

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PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDATION

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.

The Tangkak council should move the location of Swiftlet farming out of

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

owners of the Swiftlet houses 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)