Ijok

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UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

IJOK, SUNGAI BULOH, SELANGOR.

Project carried out by:

Student Name Student ID Course Year /

Semester

1. Cheah Sin Hong 07UEB07096 Actuarial Science Y3S2

2. Lim Boon Sing 07UEB07039 Actuarial Science Y3S2

3. Ooi Sze Chyin 07UEB01824 Actuarial Science Y3S2

DATE OF COMPLETION:

APRIL 2011

Ijok

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INTRODUCTION

Ijok welcomes us !

Ijok is an estate town located along the Federal route in the state of Selangor,

Malaysia. It is about 60 km or one hours drive from Petaling Jaya. Travelers

heading towards Kuala Selangor and Teluk Intan often stop over at Ijok for

refreshments, buy fruits and refuel their vehicles.

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Route map of Petaling Jaya to Ijok

The name Ijok is not originated from the Ijok tree despite its widespread belief.

The Ijok tree is merely a myth. Tracking back on the history, the Javanese from

Indonesia migrated to Ijok and started paddy farming in the early 20th

century. The

widely expanded green paddy fields has given Ijok a name from a Javanese word

“Hijau”(Green), which has gradually evolved over time and become Ijok today.

History records that the British colonialists started large scale rubber plantations

in Ijok in the 20th

century. Many labourers were brought in from China and India.

There were Chinese who worked as tin miners in Batang Berjuntai (a

neighbouring town to Ijok) as well as some who came to trade or farm and

eventually set up homes in Ijok. Ijok is mainly populated by the Malays who are

of Javanese descent. Today, it has a population of more than 20,000 people,

besides a floating population of a few hundred migrant workers and around 5,000

students at the Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel) at Bestari Jaya.

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Although Ijok is far from downtown, it is still busy with transiting travellers

heading to and from Kuala Selangor and Teluk Intan via the Selangor North

Coastal Road. With a geographically strategic location and various ongoing

economic development projects, Ijok is transforming into a prosperous new

village. The villagers’ standard of living has improved substantially.

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History of Ijok

Pekan Ijok

According to history, the Japanese army conquered Malaya in 1941. A regiment of

British soldiers from India fought against the Imperial Japanese army in Batang

Berjuntai (a neighbouring town to Ijok). After the Japanese occupation for 3 years

and 8 months, Ijok entered the emergency period in 1948.

In 1951, the British started large scale rubber plantations in Ijok. Many labourers

from China and India were brought in. It had a population of 1255 when it started.

In the 1960s, the cultivation of yam, sweet potato, tapioca and others had begun,

especially yam cultivation. It was known as Keladi Kelang (Yam of Klang Valley)

as Ijok was just a small village in the Klang Valley.

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Soon, yam cultivation (Keladi Kelang) became the main crop in Ijok. The overall

size of the yam plantations was almost a few hundred acres. However, the rapid

growth of yam cultivation had brought the prices of yam down drastically thus

causing the yam plantation to be replaced by oil palm plantation in the 1970s.

The population of Ijok did not change much till 1990s which recorded an increase

of more than 3000 people since its establishment. Today, it has a population of

more than 20,000 people, including about 5,000 students at the Universiti Industri

Selangor (Unisel).

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Population and Housing

In Ijok new village, Malays stand a large number of the population and they are

mainly of Javanese stock followed by the Chinese and Indians. 80% of the

Chinese speak the Hakka language according to one of the locals. Today, it has a

total population of more than 20,000 people with a floating population of a few

hundred migrant workers and about 5,000 students at the Universiti Industri

Selangor (Unisel) at Bestari Jaya.

Currently, more than 60% of the village land is used for residential purposes and

others for agriculture. Most of the infrastructures in Ijok are still in good

condition. The houses in this village are generally made of bricks and concrete.

However, there are some wooden houses in poor condition with rusty rooftop and

planks.

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Typical housing area in Ijok

One of the wooden houses spotted

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Due to increasing population size, there are new housing areas in the town. Ijok is

a peaceful village.

New housing area in Taman Seri Ijok

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Economic Activities

Ijok has a large area of land for oil palm plantation and cultivation of oil palm has

always been the main economic activity in Ijok.

An oil palm plantation in Ijok

Oil palm

Oil palm plantation may seem to be an old agricultural activity; however, the

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industry has the input of new biotechnology than any other local agro-based

industry. Ijok is proud to have 35,000 square feet of research facility area. This

research facility is of a joint venture between two local well-known plantation

groups, namely Boustead Plantation Bhd and Kuala-Kepong Bhd (KLK).

(Source: New Straits Times, 25 January 2008)

It comprises tissue culture laboratories as well as plant breeding and growing

facility. The Ijok research facility is able to produce about 1 million clone plantlets

annually. It is said to be the largest oil palm tissue culture laboratory in the world

(statistic in year 2008) in terms of area and production capacity.

Besides oil palm plantation, there are also a notable number of petrol stations in

Ijok. Ijok is strategically located on the coastal route from Petaling Jaya to Kuala

Selangor and Telok Intan. It has become a transit station for travellers to stop for

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fuel. This has brought economic growth to this small town.

Petrol station

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Spotted another petrol station in this small town Ijok

Furthermore, there are some small businesses such as gardening supply, mass

production and distribution of kerepek (traditional crackers) , grocery shops,

tuition centres, restaurants, etc...

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Gardening supply

Mass production and distribution of kerepek (traditional crackers)

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Shops along the main road of Ijok

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Education There are a few primary schools in Ijok. There are:

Sekolah Kebangsaan Ijok

Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Ijok

Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Hilal.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Ijok

Main gate of Sekolah Kebangsaan Ijok

Sekolah Kebangsaan Ijok was established on 1 April 1947 with the co-operation

of the locals. There were only 85 pupils with 3 classrooms. The first headmaster

was Allahyarham Zainuddin Bin Hussain. In 1958, the old building was torn down

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and was replaced with a 5-classroom new building and 3 more classrooms were

added later in 1967. The school had a new canteen in 1977. In 1980, a 2-storey

building consisting of 3 classrooms, a staff room and a headmaster’s room, was

built.

In 1998, another 3-storey new building with 6 classrooms, a resource centre, a

music room and a staff room was constructed. Now, the school has a total of 14

classrooms. There are 33 teachers in this school.

Pre-school started operating in 2003. There are 2 pre-school classrooms as well as

a playground.

Pre-school

The contact number of SK Ijok is 03-3279 1277.

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Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Ijok (SJK (C) Ijok)

School badge of SJK(C) Ijok

Outlook of SJK(C) Ijok

SJK (C) Ijok is a Chinese school located in Simpang Tiga Ijok. The school was

established in 1952. From the 2009 record, SJK (C) Ijok had a total enrolment of

317 pupils consisting of 154 boys and 163 girls with 21 teachers.

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The multi-purpose hall of SJK(C) Ijok

The basketball court of the school

The contact number of the school is 03-32779 1593.

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Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Hilal

Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Hilal

Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Hilal was established in 1985. In the early year, the

class was held in a surau. In 1997, the school was chosen as the best example of

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KAFA(Islamic school) in the state of Selangor due to its 100% achievement in

Ujian Fokus Peperiksaan KAFA (Focus examination of KAFA) for seven years

consecutively.

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Social, Cultural, Religious practices

Ijok is a peaceful village. The lifestyle is casual and relaxing. The villagers start

work early and rest early. During their free time, they hang out in the kopitiams

(coffee shops) and chit chat with friends and family.

Ijok town with a main street lined with shops, food and small buildings

Furthermore , the villagers of Ijok lead a healthy lifestyle. There are a lot of sport

activities

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such as basketball, badminton, football which the villagers are actively involved

in.

Teenagers playing basketball in SJK(C) Ijok

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Some villagers prefer family recreation activity like fishing. There is a fishing

pond operated by the locals in Ijok and that is the main place for fishing. It is quiet

with a peaceful surrounding.

A family enjoy fishing together by the pond

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It is said that pasar malam(night market) is a Malaysian culture. There is a night

market from 4 to 7.30pm on every Sunday in Ijok. There is a collection of stalls

that sell fruits, vegetables, food, snacks, toys, clothes, shoes, ornaments, cds and

others. Villagers could get their weekly supply and do some light shopping from

thereThe Ijok pasar malam area that will become crowded on Sunday evening

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As for religious practice in Ijok, we can see the Malays here practise Islam while

the Chinese practise Taoism.

A mosque in Ijok

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A temple in Ijok

A taoist is praying with joss stick

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Problems and Needs of People

There are several issues now that can hinder the development of Ijok. There are

only primary schools and no secondary schools in Ijok. Although there is a plan to

build an Islamic secondary school, it has not been initiated yet.

A signboard on a site showing the plan of building a secondary Islamic technic

school

Currently, the nearest secondary school from Ijok is in Batang Berjuntai which is

approximately 7 km away. This is a dangerous distance for teenagers to travel by

bicycles. As a result, many villagers do not send their children to secondary

schools, and this is the reason for the low education level among the people in

Ijok.

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Also, it is worrying that there is no fire brigade in Ijok. There are some wooden

houses, and a lot of plantations around Ijok. In case there is a fire, without a fire

brigade, the loss or damage by fire will be serious. Without fire fighters, other

emergencies that need immediate assistance or rescue can be complicated.

Furthermore, littering is a habit among some Ijok villagers. Recycling is not

common here. This has become an environmental issues in Ijok. As a result of

this, the health of people will be jeopardized.

Spotted rubbish piles inside a plantation

Sadly, there is no hospital in Ijok. There are only a few goverment clinics with

scarce resources and manpower. The nearest hospital from Ijok is Hospital Sungai

Buluh which is 22km away. In case of emergencies, it is difficult for the people

here to get medical attention. This problem can become serious and lives may be

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endangered.

As Ijok is a transiting town for travellers to Kuala Selangor, the number of

vehicles here are tremendous. As a result, the main road surfaces are near to

damaged. The roads are full of pot holes. Besides, the smaller roads and alleys are

not tarred and rocky. These road conditions could cause road accidents and

endanger road users.

Although Ijok has a very well maintained bus station, public transportion is still

lacking in terms of frequency and coverage. The only buses which pass by Ijok

are Selangor Omnibus number 147 that goes to Puduraya and number 141 that

goes to Rawang. The bus service is infrequent as the waiting time is more than

one hour in between bus arrivals.

The people are waiting in the lonely Ijok bus station

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Tourism Value

A signboard indicating the Ijok rest stop in 1km from here

Ijok is a popular transit town for travelers heading towards Kuala Selangor and

Teluk Intan via the Selangor North Coastal Road. Sited at a junction that leads to

the bigger and relatively more developed Batang Berjuntai, Ijok is, in a sense, a

'cowboy town' with a main street lined with shops and small buildings on both

sides. It moves unhurriedly behind the Klang Valley growth corridor but business

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thrives when visitors stop by for a meal, to buy some fruits or to top-up petrol.

Begger Chicken

One of the many attractions is the food at Restaurant New Beggar’s Delicious.

The Star newspaper even has covered it .

(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/20/sundaymetro/17690258&se

c=SundayMetro)

To get there you first have to pass by an oil palm plantation by turning into a

junction from the main road opposite a mosque and the rest stop. The business is

so good until they are only open three days a week-Wednesday, Saturday, and

Sunday from 5pm onwards.Signboard showing the direction to the restaurant

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The popular dish in this restaurant is beggar chicken. It takes a lot of chinese herbs

and 7 hours to cook the chicken. Thus, the chicken is very tender. Besides that,

there is beggar duck, which does not taste like the usual duck. The gamey taste is

not that strong anymore and the texture feels more like chicken rather than duck.

The gravy goes very well with the duck. There is also a dish named, beggar pork

knuckle and it literally melts in the mouth. It does not feel very fatty at all. The

yam that cooks with it absorbs all the gravy and pork goodness. Next would be the

glutinous rice. It is baked instead of steamed as the usual way to prepare glutinous

rice. As a result, it is more solid and stickier than the ordinary glutinous rice.

There are a lot of salty egg yolks with mushroom and pork in it. Finally, the pig

stomach pepper soup is simply awesome with the thick pork stock and the fragrant

pepper. After consuming all the meat dishes, take a sip of soup is divinely

refreshing.

Top:Begger Chicken Top:Begger Pork Knuckle Pig Stomach Pepper

Soup Bottom:Glutinous Rice Bottom:Begger Duck

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The location of New Beggar’s Delicious Restaurant is N: 101 25' 8.7” E: 3 18'

24.0”. Telephone number is 03-3279 1936 or 019-317 3687. Reservation is a must

due to a need of prior preparation of the food.

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Danau Pancing Damai

The second attraction is Danau Pancing Damai. This is a fishing pond that

promises and allows recreation between you and family. The concept of fishing in

the park is inspired by the owner because of his love for natural beauty.

Danau Pancing Damai entrance

The location is not far from Kuala Lumpur. It is a suitable place for fishing, dining

or taking a break before continuing the journey. After a hectic and tiring day

working in the city, it is good to relax and refresh during the weekend. Danau

Pancing Damai does catering for family day packages, BBQ, training and

wedding.

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A family fishing together by the pond

Fishing at Danau Pancing Damai allows you to experience the excitement and

satisfaction of fishing with friends and family. The relaxing and comfortable

environment with soft wind is very refreshing.

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The facilities available at Lake Fishing Peace:

Pond fishing area

Parking area

Surau

Lake Cafe D'

Hut rest

Bathrooms

Hire Chalet / camp

Hire a fishing pole

Beautiful and tranquil place for fishing

Danau Pancing Damai has a website at http://danaupancingdamai.blogspot.com/.

The contact of Danau Pancing Damai 012-318 1277/012-298 6895. It could also

be contacted via email dpdijok@gmail.com.

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Entrepreneurship Opportunity

As Ijok is on a well known route for travelers heading towards Kuala Selangor

and Teluk Intan , it has great potential for entrepreneurship.

One possible opportunity is large scale cultivation of oil palm. There is a 35,000

square feet area international research facility in Ijok. The largest oil palm tissue

culture laboratory in the world is in Ijok. Thus it could be concluded that Ijok has

all the facilities for research and development for sustainable oil palm cultivation

and the production of palm oil in the area. The strategic location and easy access

to highways are value added opportunities for investors. Ijok has the potential to

be one of the main oil palm plantation owners in Malaysia. Thus there is an

opportunity for institutions to invest in large scale high yield plantations in Ijok.

Another opportunity for the entrepreneurs would be opening petrol stations in Ijok.

Travellers travelling from downtown to Kuala Selangor and the transportation of

the palm oil from the growing plantations in Ijok to other places need fuel. Thus

there is a high demand of petrol in this small village. Ijok would be a good

location for entrepreneurs who want to start a petrol station business here.

There is also an opportunity to start gardening business in Ijok. Entrepreneurs

could set up nurseries to supply gardening materials from Ijok to other places. The

cost of setting up a nursery here is relatively low as there is plenty of land in Ijok.

Hence entrepreneurs could grab this opportunity to start their own business in here.

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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 the contents of the report, please contact:

Department of Soft Skills Competency

Tel: 03-79551511 ext 157 (Klang Valley Campus)

05-4662323 ext 2297/2299 (Perak Campus)