Visitors taking in the sights at Papan New Village in Perak. – Filepic
In Malaysia, there are more than 100 new villages facing severe population loss.
These new villages are mainly located in Terengganu, Kelantan and Perak.
Young people from these states are moving to urban areas in Penang, Klang Valley, Johor Baru and Singapore.
This results in an ageing population in the new villages and a gradual loss of vitality in the local industries, leading to a vicious cycle of decreasing job opportunities.
The Local Government Development Ministry recognises the development dilemma of new villages in rural or remote areas.
It has comprehensively examined four major crises – decreasing population, ageing population, talent outflow and declining local industries.
The ministry has formulated local revitalisation policies and begun to promote the construction of new villages with a focus on both hardware and software.
The aim is to create a conducive environment for job opportunities, attract population and revitalise the local economy.
If states continue to lose young population, their future economic development will be difficult to sustain, let alone achieve sustainable development.
The concept of local revitalisation originated from Japan, with the aim of utilising local characteristics and advantages to develop the most suitable local economy.
It allows people to choose to work in towns or cities or return to their hometowns so they would not feel constrained to working in big cities.
This approach fundamentally addresses problems of population outflow, declining local industries and uneven urban-rural development..
Local revitalisation emphasises the uniqueness of the local brand and young people born and raised in local areas are the most knowledgeable about the characteristics and needs of their homeland.
Therefore, retaining young talents or calling back young people from big cities is key in the development strategy for new villages.
Each new village has its unique landscape, historical origin, local customs, cultural heritage, economic products and talented people. Adapting to local circumstances is the core concept of new village development.
It is essential to excavate the unique assets of local customs and cultural heritage. This policy cannot be solely reliant on the government. There must be young people with passion and creativity as well as determination to infuse vitality and value into the new villages.
Drawing on the successful experiences of Japan and Taiwan, local revitalisation requires not only retaining or calling back young people but also local residents’ collective efforts plus the elders’ support and encouragement.
Government assistance in policies and resources is also required to achieve the best results with minimal effort.
The most positive significance of local revitalisation is not just about promoting a few products or building a few tourist attractions for photo opportunities.
Rather, local revitalisation aims to invigorate the local economy, making life in new villages the benchmark for urban living.
The more colourful urban life becomes, the more relaxed and comfortable life in new villages is – allowing everyone to choose their preferred and enjoyable lifestyle without compromising on quality and standards of living.
CHIONG YOKE KONG
Political secretary of Local Government Development Minister
