UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEWVILLAGE:

PERKAMPUNGAN JAWI 爪夷

PENANG

Project carried out by:

Student Name

Student ID

Course

Year / Semester

1. Chin Sze Chian

08AAB001033

Advertising

Year 3 Sem 1

DATE OF COMPLETION:

JULY 2010

JAWI

1

ABSTRACT

Jawi new village is located in the district of Seberang Prai Selatan, Penang. Over

90% of its residents are Chinese who speak Mandarin, Hokkien dialect and

Teochew dialect. Jawi’s local cuisine such as the “Laksa King” and its cultural

practices are assets in attracting tourists to this village.

JAWI

2

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

During the period of Emergency after World War II, the British

authorities set up New Villages in the Malay Peninsular. The objective was to

prevent the rural folks from providing supplies and support to the communist

insurgents.

Jawi Village

In accordance with the Emergency Regulations 1951, there was food

rationing and close surveillance of villagers and the flow of vehicles, foodstuffs,

medicine and other goods. Jawi New Village was formed by grouping together the

residents of villages in this area.

Currently, Jawi New Village has a population of around 430 families or

2,000 people. Chinese villagers account for 90% of the population.

The second largest ethnic group is Indian, followed by the Malays. In

Jawi village, there are excellent facilities such as: clinics, church, primary school,

post office, basketball court, kindergartens, voluntary fire brigade, voluntary

security team, Chinese temple, police station, etc., There is no wet market in this

village. The villagers often grow their own crops and open small stalls along the

road side to sell meat, vegetables and food.

JAWI

3

The nearest police station to Perkampungan Jawi

Indoor Basketball Court in Perkampungan Jawi

JAWI

4

The Self-Volunteered fire fighters in the village

The Self-Volunteered fire fighters in the village

JAWI

5

Chin Chi Kor

Jawi Village Community Hall and Kindergarten

JAWI

6

The predominantly Chinese population speaks in Mandarin, Teochew

dialect and Hokkien dialect. The older villagers are especially likely to

communicate in Teochew dialect.

Most villagers celebrate all kinds of Chinese festivals of which Chinese

New Year is the most important. Besides that, villagers celebrate festivals such as

the Dragon Boat festival, Mooncake festival, Tian Mu temple festival and more.

Most residents do not lock their doors because they are very confident

that their voluntary security patrol will do a good job. Members of this Security

patrol are in close contact via walkie-talkies.

JAWI

7

EDUCATION

The majority of village children study at the local national-type (Chinese)

primary schol. For their secondary school education, these children travel to

Waldor village.

The national type (Chinese) primary school was named after the village,

Jawi. Students and staff were initially housed while the permanent school building

was under construction. The British authorities and the MCA provided funds for

the construction of the permanent buildings.

When the school was founded in November 1954, it stood on

approximately 4 hectares of land. The School buildings were divided into two

rows with wood fences and lead sheet roof. There were seven classrooms. It had

only 103 students who were in standards 1 to 4. Classes in those days were

conducted in Chinese language only.

In its second year of operation, the school in Changkat village (Zhen

Hua school) merged with primary school in Jawi. This is because villagers from

Changkat moved to Jawi. By 1958, there were 167 students and 11 teachers. At

this point, Bahasa Malaysia was introduced as a subject in the school and all

levels of primary school (standards 1 to 6) were covered.

In 1962, the number of students increased to 311 and the Ministry of

Education classified this a C-type school. In the same year, the national-type

(Chinese) primary school was entitled to full government support. Many years

later, the relevant parties applied to the government to renovate the school.

JAWI

8

In 1982, the school received government funding and sufficient

donations from the people to expand one wing of a two-storey building with 12

classrooms. This renovated building was officially launched by YB Datin 周 宝

琼 Deputy Education Minister on October 29, 1984.

Mr. Zhong Ruifeng, is the current chairman of the school Parents-

Teachers Association (PTA). He ha served as chairman for many years. His

brother 钟瑞平 is a former President of the association. Three generations of his

family have lived in this village and they are all enthusiastic about and supportive

of Chinese education.

Today, there are total 239 students in this primary school. Mr. Chan

Choi from Accounts department and Mr. 钟瑞丰, Chairman of PTA attribute this

decline in student population to the outmigration of villagers who wish to seek

better work/career opportunities in urban areas.

The Chinese primary school isn’t big but it has a conducive learning

environment: dedicated teachers and principal with lofty ideals.

Teachers, staff and directors of the school work together to improve their

students’ academic achievement and to nurture leaders of tomorrow.

The Primary School in Jawi Village (Main Entrance)

JAWI

9

Jawi Primary School

The outlook of the Jawi Primary school

JAWI

10

ECONOMY

When the village was first established, its economy was agriculture-

based. Overtime, light industries were introduced. Currently, there are only 7 to 8

farms (pig farms and chicken farms) in the village and several small furniture

manufacturers.

Although Jawi does not have a wet market, villagers set up small stalls

by the roadside every morning. Villagers sell home grown vegetables, meat from

their farms and other food items.

There is a famous fried noodles stall which has been in operation for

about 20 years. The proprietor informed us that she opens her stall at about 7.00

am each morning and she sells 9-10 big plates of noodles per day. Besides noodles,

she sells tasty pastries as well.

Fried Noodles stall

JAWI

11

Pastries

One of the stalls selling vegetables is run by a friendly lady. The lady

informed us that, besides her home grown vegetables, she also sells vegetables

purchased from neighbouring farms.

Vegetables stall

JAWI

12

Vegetables planted by the stall owner

The stalls by the roadside include one which sells pork. The proprietor

sells pork from his farm and sells the meat from a mini-van which is equipped

with a big cutting board, knives, etc. Sometimes, he drives his minivan to nearby

villages to sell the meat.

JAWI

13

The proprietor with his mini van to sell the meat

Besides, there is a shop named Lai Li. This shop sells daily necessities

ranging from stationery to preserved food to skin care products. This shop sells

Chinese traditional wedding items and handmade products.

The shop's owner, Mr Fang is originally from this village. His wife who

is from Valdor village assists him. This shop opened nearly 15 years ago. The

shop opens at 10.00 am and closes at 10.00 pm every day. There are several shops

in this area which sell traditional wedding items, and it would be difficult to sell

such items if there were no unique selling point. Therefore, Mr Fang decided to

sell handmade products in order to meet the needs of customers.

’

Handicraft made by the shop owner

JAWI

14

Handicraft made by towel

Chinese traditional wedding supplies

JAWI

15

CULTURE AND TRADITIONAL

The Tien Hau temple in Jawi was established in 1953. In those days, the

temple was built with wood and “Attap”. In 1975, the temple went through major

renovations and the new buildings include an opera stage opposite the temple.

Teochew operas perform here 3 times a year.

Villagers go to the Tien Hou Temple for prayers on the 24th

day of the

3rd

moon (Lunar calendar) every year. Besides providing a place for worship, this

temple also serves as a centre for welfare work and education.

Outlook of the temple

Tien Hou temple

JAWI

16

The stage opposite the temple

JAWI

17

FOOD

A village specialty is its Assam Laksa with shrimp crackers.

Everyone calls this famous Assam Laksa the “Laksa Kang". There is a

family which has been selling this dish for almost 60 years.

The Assam Laksa soup is prepared by at home by the matriarch of the

family who still uses a wood and charcoal stove. This soup is then distributed to

her sons who sell the “Laksa Kang” at different locations. The brothers will then

vary the additional seasoning to suit the local tastebuds of customers where their

stalls are located.

Additional ingredients of “Laksa Kang” include fried shrimp crackers,

small shrimps. Customers who prefer a stronger sour taste may add a small piece

of lime.

Locations and schedule of “Laksa Kang” stalls:

(Monday – Jawi Village Night market)

(Tuesday – Rest)

(Wednesday - Sungai Jawi Night Market)

(Thursday - Valdor village night market)

(Friday – Along Jawi housing estate)

(Saturday – Pai Her Garden Night Market)

(Sunday – Koh Ean Night Market)

JAWI

18

Laksa with shrimp crackers, fried tofu

“Laksa Kang”

JAWI

19

RECOMMENDATION

Health and Safety:

Garbage is often dumped into the drains and ditches. This obstructs the

flow of water and leads to flooding. It is also a fertile breeding ground for

mosquitoes.

Garbage obstructs the flow of water

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, 8656, 8269 (Klang Valley Campus)

05- 4688888 ext 2295/2297/2299/2300 (Perak Campus)

JAWI

20