KPKT officer Cheong Siew Thong (third from left) and Lim (fourth from left) outside the centre. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
RM126,000 Kampung Chempaka community centre focus of seniors, kids activities
Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has funded the construction of a 83.6sq m building in the compound of Balairaya Kampung Chempaka, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The building, which cost RM126,000, was completed within eight months.
Kampung Chempaka village chief Theresa Lim said the building would be used as a community centre for its 9,000 villagers.
“We intend to use it for health talks for seniors, seminars, mobile clinics, community tuition for children and as an activity centre for seniors.
“About 40% of the villagers are seniors and we need space to gather them for activities,” she said.
She added that the previous community centre lacked space.
“With this new building, we plan to expand the activities that used to be held in the previous centre that was over 30 years old.
“This is our only community space and we actively carry out community events,” said Lim after the launch of the building.
At the same event, the village head handed out donations of RM890 each to seven villagers whose houses were destroyed in a fire.
Villagers enjoying a festive meal at the new community centre in conjunction with the Winter Solstice.
In the April incident, five of the villagers’ houses were completely razed while two other houses were partially burnt down.
“We created a disaster fund and the villagers donated generously. We managed to raise RM6,227 for the victims,” said Lim.
The houses affected were located at PJU 1/4E and 4F.
On the same day, some 15 residents gathered to prepare tang yuan, or glutinous rice balls, for the villagers to celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival.
Interestingly, the village has its own savoury type of tang yuan, which is unique to its residents whose ancestors came from Guangdong province in China.
“We call this see hui and it is our village speciality,” said Lim.
“Usually, the colourful chewy tang yuan balls made of rice flour are served in sweet ginger soup.
“We serve the same rice balls in our soup which contains minced meat, mushroom and coriander.
She said it was a practice in the village to make the tang yuan dish and serve it to all the villagers.
“We go to the houses of the seniors who live alone and serve them this dish.
“The dish is a symbol of unity and togetherness,” she said.
At the new community centre, villagers were served chicken rice and tang yuan.
