More to discover: Chor (left) taking a closer look at a map on the distribution of new villages in west Malaysia yesterday at the exhibition of UTAR's New Village Community Project Webpage in Kampar.

CITY boy Benjamin Foo Sih Vai had expected Kampung Baru Juru villagers in Penang to be living in wooden houses.

But to his surprise, the new village was nothing like he imagined as the villagers lived and prospered in a vastly developed area.

Foo, 22, a Year Three Advertising student from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar branch, said it was really an eye-opening experience when he set foot in the new village.

"I was surprised that the new village is like a small town with modern facilities. The villagers are a friendly lot and I was warmly welcomed by the chief".

"The people at the new village are so much nicer compared to those living in cities. Interestingly, each villager holds a walkie-talkie and they are able to communicate with each other easily," said the youth from Petaling Jaya.

Foo was speaking to reporters after the launch of the university's New Village Community Project Webpage by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung at the university's Kampar branch yesterday.

Eye-opening experience: Benjamin Foo showing the pictures he took during his voluntary survey at Kampung Baru Juru in Penang.

The webpage project, started in May 2009, plans to collect historical, factual, economic, cultural, environmental information on all 450 new villages in Malaysia to promote their uniqueness.

Sharing Foo's sentiment was his fellow coursemate, Chee Kok Donq, 22, who travelled to Kampung Baru Wellesley, Penang, to gather information about the new village.

"I was brought around the new village to conduct interviews with the locals and they were more than willing to share their cultural stories and historical facts about the village".

"At the new village, everyone is practically like family and they treat strangers like close friends too," he said.

Chee, however, noted that while development at the new village was notable, there was also room for improvement.

"The new villagers still face problems with public transportation and other public facilities. The roads there are narrow which made it bothersome for villagers with cars".

UTAR president Datuk Chuah Hean Teik said a total of 22 new villages had been surveyed by students who worked in teams to survey and study such villages nationwide.

"It is our hope that the webpage could help improve the quality of life of these new villagers and also to look out for potential tourist attractions".

"This is an on-going project that will involve different batches of students in the future," he added.

Chuah also noted that the project would also help the students improve their teamwork, communication, creativity and entrepreneurial skills.

Source:
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/8/31/north/6947472&sec=north