KUALA LUMPUR: The debate surrounding Chinese new villages should stop, and attention be paid instead to developing and leveraging on their strengths.
Citing studies conducted by Tunku Abdul Rahman university (UTAR), MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the establishment of Chinese new villages aimed to gather all Chinese settlers to oppose the communists during that period.
"According to studies from UTAR on Chinese settlements, we cannot deny that the villages existed to gather all Chinese settlers in one area. They aimed to avoid reliance on the communists for food as they opposed the government.
"On the issue of racial settlement, it cannot be denied that it occurred during the emergency period from 1948 to 1960, and every place has its own historical background.
"For us in MCA, as leaders in shaping the new villages, we advocate for continuous development. These villages have never been neglected, especially by the people residing within them," he said during today's press conference.
Previously, the Dewan Rakyat erupted in chaos for a second day in a row after Maran member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib linked Chinese new villages to communists.
The brouhaha first started when Ismail, during a motion of thanks on the royal address, questioned the Housing and Local Government Ministry's proposal to designate such villages as heritage sites.
Wee, also the Ayer Hitam member of parliament, emphasised the need for further studies before considering Chinese new villages as heritage sites, while advocating for their development.
Currently, he said, Malaysia only had 420 Chinese new villages.
"As a former minister overseeing new villages, I understand that discussions on heritage designation would involve diverse opinions.
"However, it's crucial for the government to demonstrate commitment to developing these villages. I defer to the government on how best to achieve this. We can explore their potential as tourist destinations, moving beyond urbanisation transformation.
"If considering heritage status, it's essential to recognise the limitations, as not all villages may be suitable for such designation."
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming had on Feb 1 made the proposal to list the villages in Selangor as a Unesco World Heritage Site to recognise their cultural and historical significance.
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