UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT REPORT NAME OF NEW VILLAGE: KLIAN INTAN 连义达 PERAK Project carried out by: Student Name ID Number Course Year /Semester 1.Chew Siew Shia 08AB02473 Business Administration Y1 S1 2. Patrick Lim Han Jin 11AB01367 3. Liew Jia Yee 11AB00209 4. Wong Kuan Hoong 11AB00157 Business Administration Business Administration Business Administration Y1 S1 Y1 S1 Y1 S1 DATE OF COMPLETION: FEBUARY 2013
ABSTRACT Klian Intan was established in 1909 and is over 110 years old. It is located in Hulu Perak. It situated in 36km from Bandar Gerik and 15km from Pengkalan Hulu in the state of Perak, Malaysia. The main attraction in Klian Intan is Rahman Hydraulic Tin Ore Sdn. Bhd. Its main economic activities are mining activities, farming and plantation. The main sources of income in this village are basically from the farming and plantation. This report is stated the information about the new village in Klian Intan from the aspects of population, economic, social, education, tourism value, entrepreneur opportunities and so on..
INTRODUCTION/HISTORY First of all, the information given is based on the head of village. We have interviewed the head of the village in Klian Intan, Mr. Tony Ng Kim Meng, and contact number is 016-5128886. Klian Intan is located in Hulu Perak, Perak. Nearby towns include: Gerik which is 36 km from Klian Intan. Pengkalan Hulu which is 15 km from Klian Intan. According to E.W. Birch, in the record of Datuk Sri Adika Raja, the name Klian Intan has been used since the early stage of the discovery of the mining site since the locals believe that there is intan or diamond there. According to Birch, referring to the record written by Raja Azman Bin Raja Abdul Hamid, there was once a dignitary from Reman country named Wan Itam. It is believed that Wan Itam is the one that has opened up klian or the tin mine near Mount Paku. Since then, the place is called Klian Wan Itan and eventually it change to Klian Intan and the name remains until now. Quoting another story from other sources that have a connection with the existence of the name and area of Klian Intan, at the end of the 18 century, Klian Intan was situated at the border of North Perak and it was here that the miners paid their taxes to the Sultan s representative. At the same time, at the state of Pattani, a kin of the ruler declared himself as the ruler of North Pattani and is known as Raja Reman. In 1821, when the Siamese soldiers launched an attack towards Kedah and Perak, Raja Reman seized the opportunity to widen his power until the state of Perak including the mining area of Klian Intan. This sleek ruler has captured mines and enjoyed tax revenue for several years. Klian Intan is declared officially belong to Perak in 1909 after Bangkok Treaty between Siamese government and the British on 10 Mac 1909. Before Klian Intan
officially became part of Perak state, a series of wars occurred between the people of Perak and the Siamese soldiers which has cost many lives. Klian Intan has a building called Klian Intan Town Committee. This building stored many historical events for the nation. It is said that it was here the first peace negotiation was held before the Baling negotiation. It was also here soldiers collected the dead bodies of Communist guerrillas. Those are past history. Now the building is turned into Pasar Besar Klian Intan by the local authority. Lastly, Klian Intan is under Malaysian Chinese Association.
POPULATION In new village of Klian Intan the majority of the residents are Chinese and the rest are Malay, and the foreign workers from Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. Due to Mr. Tony, the foreign worker from Myanmar is temporary stay in Klian Intan until the permit to work in USA to be approved. Even though they are from different races and religions, they maintain good relationship and always help each other. The household size in new village is around 300. The residents have dropped 94% since 1970, which is from 5000 to 300 people. Nowadays, the teenagers choose to leave the village to further their studies and working in the city after graduated. In term of residency, most of the people here feel more comfortable living in the houses that they build themselves in rows and clusters. The traditional architectural elements are absorbed into their culture, especially the Siamese. For the Chinese, they feel more comfortable to live in housing area in front of the school and the community clinic. They build their own houses and feel more comfortable living faraway so that they can do some small scale farming and involving in mining activities. The geographic area in Klian Intan is surrounded by mountains and located at latitude (5.633 degrees) 5 37' 58" North of the Equator and longitude (101.017 degrees) 101 1' 1. There river flowing through the new village is Sungai Kijang.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Rahman Hydraulic Sdn. Bhd is indeed one of the major sources of occupation for the majority of the Klian Intan residents in 1970. It is estimated that at least 97 percent of the residents work here as miners and some also hold higher position jobs in this company. Today, the Rahman Hydraulic Sdn Bhd is under a listed company which known as Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad (MSC). Lesser residents to work in the mining sites nowadays and it take over by the foreign workers. The Rahman Hydraulic Sdn Bhd is responsible to process the tin ore into 99% pure, and then the MSC will hand over it and process into 100% pure. This industry has brought the potential opportunities for Klian Intan to develop into a better city. Besides that, the agricultural sector is one of the main income sources of Klian Intan residents in nowadays. Even though it is not done in big scale, the income from selling fruits and vegetable often gives moderate revenue. The D24 durian has developed the economic in Klian Intan which is available to export to Singapore during durian seasons. Furthermore, Klian Intan also producing rubbers supply. The average agriculture area in new village is 6 acre. The total agriculture area in new village is 2000-3000 acre. The main farming and plantation products are durians, bananas, several of vegetables and corns. The village now only have 2 cows instead of more than that number because cows faeces bringing serious problem in village. The average of monthly income that gaining by the residents is around RM1000-2000. Probably generate from the sales of agriculture products. A lot of Klian Intan youngsters migrated to find better income in big cities. Regardless whether holding positions in the public or private sector, their income can supplement their family's earnings back in the village. A few of them open small businesses in Klian Intan which is under the supervision of their relatives. We can see the car plate numbers are probably from Penang. The old shop lots in town of Klian Intan also partially contribute to the economic growth since they provide jobs for the locals especially the youngsters. There is a small market in town in selling the fresh meat and vegetables everyday but not really happening.
Mr. Tony has owned a bird nest business in Klian Intan as well besides the Rahman Hydraulic Sdn Bhd. The business is initially soft opening and still in the progress to become more stable in market.
Pictures above show the process of the mining activities. This is the sample picture of the building of bird nest house in Klian Intan.
Rubber trees. Durian trees.
SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES Klian Intan new village has a population consisting of majority of older residents and mainly is Chinese and foreign workers. Because of the composition of its population, the main languages spoken are Mandarin, Malays and Hokkien. The most commonly spoken language is Mandarin. Religion practiced in this village is Buddhism. Place of worship is located at the entrance of Klian Intan, a Chinese Temple. The main festivals held in the village are related with Buddhism. For example, we have attended a musical festival night that featured with dancing n singing performance in the temple. There were hundreds of people joined the event. People were encouraged to involve themselves in the performance. We can see that it is a harmony society between the residents. There is a Buddhist society in the new village. The security status is under control in the new village. The head of village, Mr Tony said that even the keys remained at the motorbike when walk off, not even one of them will steal it. Basically, there is low possibility for the crime case to happen. The water source in the new village is from the Sungai Kijang, however the water supply they are using is tap water. The electricity supply is from Tenaga Nasional Berhad. The waste disposal ways are through landfill, through government, combustion and river. The sewage way is through flushing. There is no any clinic available in new village. The only medical place is only just for pregnant women with 2-3 nurses. If the residents in new village need some medical consultation, they need to drive for approximately 15 minutes to Pengkalan Hulu. There is police station in the new village but there is no fire station. The religious building that providing in new village are one temple, one graveyard, one masjid and one surau. There is a multi-purpose hall, two rows of shop lots, market, and post office in village. The transportation vehicles that widely use by the residents are cars, motorbikes, bicycles and taxi.
Entrance of the temple. Klian Intan Buddhist Association.
Office and Business workplace of the head of village. Police Station.
Multi-purpose Hall in Klian Intan. The old style electric supply by using the wooden box.
Wireless services. Post Office.
EDUCATION Klian Intan New village has only one primary schools, namely Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Kung Li, Klian Intan. In 2013, the total students in school are 30 persons, last year is 23 persons. The total teachers is 10 persons. Based on Mr. Tony, there is an association that formed by some Christian, which help to increase the number of Chinese students in SRJK(c) Kung Li, Klian Intan. The Chinese students occupied 50% of the 30 persons only. The head of village hope that more Chinese students can study and remain in Klian Intan. They are facing of shortage of students and Mr. Tony play a joke that, the numbers of teachers are more sufficient than the number of students. Due to there is no any secondary school in new village, students after graduated from primary school, most probably will further their studies in Pengkalan Hulu. Before the asphalt road has developed, students and teachers need to climb up 288 steps of stairs to reach out of the school, which is provided in the picture that consists of the piano-painted stairs. Today, the stairs still remain but students and teachers are using the other road that can go through by motor vehicles. It s more convenient and save time for them. However, the staircases have very good feedback from the residents. Some said they have recovered from the sickness, more healthy because they have climb up and down in daily basis. Some said, the staircases have trained the good stamina of the school athletes. Group of us has a try on climbing it, proved that it is really need 288 steps to reach out. There is another primary school in Klian Intan known as SK Klian Intan, but it is not located in new village.
TOURISM VALUE The Lata Kasut is one of the popular waterfall recreational areas at Pengkalan Hulu, Perak which is 6 km through tarred road and another 6 km passing through individual lots or village area. The cool and beautiful surroundings of the waterfall make it a suitable location for picnics and swimming with families. Visitors who prefer outdoor activities can camp and hike to the top of the waterfalls. Rahman Hydraulic Tin Sdn. Bhd (RHT) is Malaysia s long established and largest operating open-pit alluvial tin mine. It is the symbolic of the Klian Intan village, just mention about Klian Intan and we will remember the tin ore mining area which has existed since decades ago. It is the largest tin mining area and also the only active mining site in Malaysia. Every year, tourists from Europe and Asia alike such as from Australia, United States of America, New Zealand, Austria, Korea and Japan will surely visit this open mining site to observe how residents of Klian Intan mine using old methods that they cannot see anywhere else in the whole world, especially mining using pan. 288 steps higher than Batu Caves. A primary school, S.R.J.K.(C) Kung Li is located behind of the Klian Intan new village, students have to climb 288 steps of the piano stairs to school everyday, which is as tall as a 10 floor building. Cited from Guang Ming Newspaper, most of the students claimed that they very enjoy using stairs to go to school rather using motorbike or car, because they feel happy to walk with friends and they become more healthier and stronger than before.
^ The beautiful view of the Tin Mining area in Rahman Hydraulic Tin ^ Piano stairs.
PROBLEMS There are several issues that might prove as a problem for the development of the new village. The main problems faced by Klian Intan are as follows: The village only has one primary school, they have no kindergarten, secondary school, university and college. The nearest secondary school is approximately 12km away from Klian Intan (which is located at Pengkalan Hulu). Therefore, many villagers do not attend secondary school education or are force to choose other secondary school with dormitory where will located more far away from their hometown. Garbage problems keep increasing although the garbage truck comes once two days. Besides, villagers still using the old way to clean the garbage, for example like, some villagers carry out open burning which they believe that this will ward off the mosquitoes, and throw the garbage into the river. Mr. Tony claim to us that he already warned the villagers not to throw the garbage into the river or open burning the garbage, but they still repeat the same thing again and again. Next problem is that the village only has one clinic which name Klinik Desa Klian Intan, which only provide maternity check up. Patients with serious illness are requiring traveling 12km from Klian Intan to the Pengkalan Hulu for further treatment. Besides, this clinic has very least manpower with only 5certified nurses and no doctors available. The population of the village is keep decreasing year by year due to there are a lot of young generations moving out from the village. Many of the shop lots and houses are left vacant for many years. The new wet marketplace was built for the villages; provide them a chance to have small their own small business in selling vegetable, meat, and so on. But nobody best use of this chance, end up the new wet marketplace is leaving empty for few months.
^ The empty shop lot ^ The schedule of collecting garbage
RECOMMENDATIONS In relation to the opportunities (e.g. tourist attractions, future expansion, investment potential) and problems (e.g. facilities, social problems,) mentioned above, the following recommendations are made. In our opinion, there should be at least a secondary school in the village, so that students do not need to travel so far for school or everyday live in dangerous. Besides, in order to retain the younger generation, we suggest that must have at least a college or university set up in this small village. The existing of college or university in the small village not only will help to retain the young generation, it help to boost up the economy of the small village too. Furthermore, the small village should be at least having a doctor in the clinic or increase the numbers of staff. Besides, they should also consider having a hospital located near to the village. Government has to put the hand together with the villagers to bring up the economy of the new village. Government can propose some plan or activity to boost up Klian Intan economy. The main activities of the villagers are plantation and farming, for example of plantation are durians, rubber, and bananas. Government should help the villagers to find buyer from all over the place in order to sell the fruits and rubber all over Malaysia or export to other country.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITY Although Klian Intan is a small village, but there have endless entrepreneurship opportunity. Klian Intan have some abandoned mine lake, villagers can best use of this lake by feeding fish. They can also open up the abandoned mine lake as one of the tourism place to attract more tourist come over. As we know that young generations are leaving the village, many of the shop lot had been abandoned and left vacant. The owner of the shop lot may consider participating in the swiftlet business. Special thanks to Mrs. Ng for allowing us have a simple tour of the Malaysia's largest Tin Mining area.