UTAR NEW VILLAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT

REPORT

NAME OF NEW VILLAGE:

PEKAN AIR PANAS阿逸班那新村

JOHOR

Project carried out by:

Student Name

ID Number

Course

Year/Semester

1.Goh Hui Xuan 13UHF02231 Foundation in Arts Y1S1

2.Jasmine Chan Ak Jet 13UHF05176 Foundation in Science Y1S1

3.Lee Jian-Hui 13UHF02143 Foundation in Science Y1S1

DATE OF COMPLETION

OCTOBER 2013

PEKAN AIR PANAS

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ABSTRACT

Pekan Air Panas was established in 1949. It is located in the district of Segamat in the

state of Johor. Towns which are close to this new village are Labis and Kampung

Tenang. The main sources of income in this village is rubber tapping. Small businesses

such as automobile workshops provide another source of income.

Figure 1 : A map from Labis to Pekan Air Panas. (A – Labis ; B – Pekan Air

Panas )

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INTRODUCTION

Pekan Air Panas is located in the district of Segamat, Johor. Nearby towns are

Labis which is 13km to the south-west and Kampung Tenang which is just next to Pekan

Air Panas.

There is a river flowing though the village and a hot spring. In fact, this village is

named after the hot spring which is called „Air Panas‟ in Malay language. Tranquil and

serene are the words to describe this small and peaceful village with beautiful flora and

fauna at the roadside. A few years ago, Pekan Air Panas is also famous for its “Mata

Kucing”(a sweet fruit) but this is no longer the case. Pekan Air Panas has a population of

about 60 in the year 2013. The Malays are the main ethnic group in this village (75% of

the population). Chinese form the second largest ethnic group in this village, and the

orang asli is the smallest ethnic group in the village (1% of population). When the village

was founded in 1949, it had a population of 700 people. Over the years, the population of

this new village dwindled.

Figure 2: Welcome to Pekan Air Panas

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Figure 3 :A river at Pekan Air Panas

Figure 4: Hot spring pool at Pekan Air Panas

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Figure 5: Hot spring pool at Pekan Air Panas

Figure 6: A small playground just at the entrance of the hot spring pool

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Figure 6: Mata Kucing grown at the Pekan Air Panas

Figure 7: Interview with Mr Woon and Mr Chong (Ex-President of Pekan Air Panas Village

Committee)

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Figure 8: A typical village scene

Figure 9: A typical village scene

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ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The main sources of income in Pekan Air Panas are as follows:

Paddy planting. His was the main source of income in the past and the harvest

was sold to other part of the country. However, paddy planting is currently of

minor important as a source of income.

Rubber Tapping. This is a more important source of income.

Small businesses such as automobile repair workshops and small grocery stores

are run by local families.

(source: interview with Ex-President of the village)

As there is no wet market or shopping complex in the village, residents have to

travel to nearby towns to get their supplies.

There is potential for a homestay programme at Pekan Air Panas. The hot spring

could attract visitors and the tranquil setting of this village is an added bonus. Many

houses are not occupied or have few residents because the young or generation have out-

migrated to the cities in search of better opportunities.

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Figure 10: Automobile workshop

Figure 11: A grocery store

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Figure 12: Rubber plantations line the road to Pekan Air Panas

Figure 13: Rubber plantations

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SOCIAL, CULTURE AND RELIGIONS PRACTICE

T

F

Figure 15: Villagers’ life (Malay and elderly)

The population of Pekan Air Panas has declined steadily from 756 in 1991 to 688

in 2000 and then to a merc 60 in 2013. The majority of villagers are Malays (75%),

followed by Chinese (24%) and Orang Asli (1%). Most residents are either senior citizen

(65+ years of age) or young children (1 to 12 years of age). The youths have left this

village in search of better education or employment opportunities. As Islam and

Buddhism are the main religions, it is not surprising that there is a mosque and a

Buddhist temple in the village.

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Figure 16: Buddhist temple in Pekan Air Panas

Figure 17: Buddhist temple in Pekan Air Panas

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EDUCATION

Pekan Air Panas has the following education institutions:

2 primary schools, SJK(C) Tenang and Sekolah Agama Pekan Air Panas. SJK(C)

Tenang has 5-10 teachers and 10-15 students while Sekolah Agama Pekan Air

Panas has 5-10 teachers and 20-40 students.

Figure 18: SJK(C) Tenang

Figure 19: SJK(C) Tenang

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Figure 20: Sekolah Agama Pekan Air Panas

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INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

This village has one government operated clinic, Klinik Kesihatan Peakn Air

Panas. There is also a small „pondok polis‟ which handles village security matters. The

crime rate in Pekan Air Panas is low. Overall, its road, drainage and garbage disposal

systems are satisfactory.

Figure 21: Pondok Polis Tenang Kampung

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PROBLEMS

The main problems faced by Pekan Air Panas are as follows:

The small local clinic treats minor oilment only. Residents have to travel to

nearby towns for treatment of more serious cases.

Lack of public transport. Villagers also have to travel to nearby towns to shop or

to use its banking and other facilities. The lack of public treansport causes great

inconvenience for such travel.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Villagers need better access to medical facilities and to public transport.

There could be a boost to the village economy if facilities at the Pusat Rekreasi

Kolam Air Panas are improved. Further publicity could attract visitors.

In addition, there is potential for investment in local homestay programs. Many

houses have extra rooms which could be rented out to tourists.

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 (Klang Valley Campus)

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