Call to redevelop new villages, help them attract youths

Placemaking concepts can be explored in an attempt to revitalise new villages such as Kampung Baru Bukit Merah in Ipoh. – Filepic

CHINESE new villages can be revitalised and developed further for economic growth.

State Chinese new villages committee chairman Woo Kah Leong said many new villages had basic facilities but needed an identity to move forward.

“One of the strategies includes introducing the placemaking concept.

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“We can learn from Taiwan and Japan how to reinvigorate areas that lack youths, economic activity or development,” he said in reply to Ong Boon Piow (PH-Bercham) who asked about plans to develop Chinese new villages.

“One of the steps is to record the history of new villages so that people, especially youths, can learn about them.

Woo said once a new village’s identity was established, it would pave the way for people including youths to take it to greater heights.

“We can attract youths to return to their villages or make efforts to retain them so they need not migrate to the city,” he said.

To a supplementary question from Ong on how new villagers could get help to repair dilapidated homes, Woo said they could apply for funds from the Local Government Development Ministry.

The state, he said, did not have specific allocations for repairing villagers’ homes but the ministry had schemes offering up to RM20,000 for such purposes.

“To build new houses, the assistance can go up to RM80,000,” he said.