PARLIAMENT | Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu said it is time to stop perceiving new villages solely as a legacy of the British colonial counterinsurgency strategy.
This was in response to Ismail Muttalib (PN-Maran), who noted that Chinese new villages were originally established by the British to curb communist influence within the Chinese community.
Aiman said that although Chinese new villages were established under the Briggs Plan during turbulent times, the country had since moved far beyond that period.
“We need to realise that we have been independent for more than 60 years. We have Malay villages, traditional villages, Orang Asli villages, and Chinese villages, which we now simply refer to as new villages.
“The question raised by Maran is still linked to the Emergency and the communist threat. I believe things are very different now compared to 60 years ago,” she said.
The Briggs Plan, introduced in 1950 during the Malayan Emergency, was a counterinsurgency strategy aimed at isolating communist insurgents by relocating villagers, mainly rural Chinese residents, into guarded settlements known as “new villages”.
‘Govt committed to development for all’
Additionally, Ismail asked how much in allocation new villages receive from other agencies and whether the government planned to restructure such settlements to become more multiracial.
The concerns, he said, come amid disparities in allocation between new villages.
Aiman said the Madani government remained committed to developing all communities regardless of race, noting that different types of settlements fell under the jurisdiction of various ministries and agencies.
She explained that traditional villages are administered by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and district land offices, while housing estates come under local authorities.
New villages, meanwhile, are under the purview of the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Aiman also stressed that the government is paying attention to the needs of the Indian community, saying that development efforts for Indian villages had also been stepped up.
“Whether we should restructure new villages, that falls under the jurisdiction of other agencies and ministries.
“I believe our government’s focus is on ensuring development and assistance reach our people wherever they may live,” she added. - Mkini
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