Epilogue

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Today, Malaya is known as Malaysia, a name adopted following the formation of the federation that included Sabah, Sarawak, and, for a brief period, Singapore.

It now stands as an independent nation. The more than 400 New Villages across the country no longer face the restrictions that were once imposed on their residents’ predecessors. The barbed wire fences have been dismantled, and residents now enjoy the freedom to come and go as they please.

It is important to note that while the majority of New Village residents were Chinese, there were also a few families from other racial backgrounds, including the Orang Asli, Indians, and Malays, who lived alongside them.

The houses, once considered temporary settlements, have endured far longer than anticipated, sheltering several generations of families. For many younger Malaysians, especially those with family roots tracing back to this historical event, these New Villages have become cherished places filled with fond childhood memories, rather than symbols of confinement.

This book is a tribute to the collective memory of the community who lived in the New Villages in Malaysia and acknowledges their struggles and triumphs.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

The following photos were taken by me during my travels to Malaysia.

Houses

I took these photographs when I was in Perak, Malaysia. Personally, I am not sure when these houses were built or if they were a part of a New Village. However, they looked like houses with a lot of history. The roof and walls looked to be made of wooden planks and Zinc boards hammered together.

This was what I imagined Haiyan’s family house to look like.

Gopeng, Perak

In recent times, many houses in the New Villages have been renovated, and it’s common to see new and old houses standing side by side.

Ipoh, Perak

The third picture is that of a Hibiscus flower by a metal fence. If you peer closely behind, you will see the outline of houses and cars.

I took this photograph at my grand aunt’s house in Kampar, which used to be a New Village. One of my memories was the rambutan tree at the side of the house. We would pick rambutans from the tree using a long stick and they always tasted so juicy and delicious.

Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of the rambutan tree. However, they are the main reason why rambutans were mentioned in the book.

Kampar, Perak

Ipoh

On Haiyan and Zi’s first day at Yuk Choy High School, they left the New Village and took a bus into the town of Ipoh where Cousin Yu introduced the sights of Ipoh to them. The bus passed by the Kinta River, rows of shophouses, Sam Poh Tung and the Colonial Style railway station.

Kinta river

Shophouses

Sam Poh Tung

Railway station

Limestone hills

Perak is known for its mountainous landscapes, with limestone hills easily visible whether driving on the highways or within the towns. Several famous temples have been built inside these limestone caves, such as Kek Lok Tong and Sam Poh Tong in Ipoh.

Kek Lok Tung

Kek Lok Tung

On the highway of Ipoh

Yuk Choy High School

My cousins studied at Yuk Choy High School, the school which the secondary school students from the New Village studied at. During my visit to Ipoh in 2022, they took me on a tour of their school. We went on a Saturday, so the school was mostly empty and I was able to take photographs freely.

The school’s design, which features a pavilion, a small pond, red lanterns, and Chinese characters, clearly reflects its Chinese heritage. My favourite part of the school is the main entrance which overlooked a large green field, with rows of houses and hills in the backdrop.

School logo

School garden

School pavilion and pond

School study tables

School study tables

School field

This is the last article of this publication. Thank you :)