<figure id="attachment_3123926" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3123926" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3123926 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/c487f6aa-new-village-bernama-resize-010825-1.webp" alt="new village" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3123926" class="wp-caption-text">New Villages were established as relocation settlements to curb the communist insurgency in 1948. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP today urged the government to clarify its decision to transfer the administration of New Villages from the national unity ministry to the housing and local government ministry.
Ismail Abdul Muttalib (PN-Maran) said New Villages were established with the objective of fostering unity, social integration, and community development.
“However, following changes in ministerial portfolios, these affairs were transferred to the housing and local government ministry, and the primary focus now appears to be on physical development rather than unity, community building, and social reform.
“It is not wrong to allocate funds for physical development as long as they are properly audited, but the question here concerns the ministry&#8217;s policy direction,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
Ismail, a former deputy housing and local government minister, also said the government had pledged to create a national development plan for New Villages under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
“Therefore, the Dewan Rakyat has the right to know the specific reforms that the ministry plans to implement,” he said.
Ismail also suggested that the ministry consider redefining the status of New Villages to include those in rural areas, as well as Orang Asli villages.
Historically, New Villages were established as relocation settlements for rural Chinese communities along roadsides during the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960). Since then, many have evolved into fully developed residential towns and villages.

MatchPoint Times

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