Section 48: Pak Ka Choon Village
Pak Ka Choon Village Bahau: Enduring Storms, Inheriting Rural Memories
The history of Pak Ka Choon Village can be traced back to the 1960s. At that time, the land was originally a fertile rubber plantation area, surrounded by several other villages known as plantation area. The majority of the residents were engaged in agricultural work, with many of them working as rubber tappers. However, with the passage of time and societal development, the area gradually transformed into a brand new village.
According to Mr. Lee Guan Sheng(李观胜) recollections, in 1962, Pak Ka Choon Village was approved for housing development by the government, becoming the first New Village with 100 houses, hence its name " Pak Ka Choon " which means "a hundred families". Though today there are only around seventy houses remaining, with the other thirty turned into open spaces, the name still holds significant meaning, bearing witness to the village's rise, decline, and the journey of inheritance.
Previous Village Heads of Pak Ka Choon : 1st: Late Liang You (梁佑)(70s-80s) 2nd: Liang Yajin（梁亚金） (80s-90s) 3rd: Ho Zihao（何子浩） 4th: Zhong Mingfu（锺明甫） 5th: Late Yap Qinghua（叶清华） Current: Yap Yunhua（叶运桦）
Back then, the infrastructure planning of Bahau New Village, including drainage ditches and road facilities, was not yet fully established. Bai Jia Village, covering an area of 20 acres, was the most orderly newly developed area among the Chinese New Villages, and many of these development areas evolved into the planned residential neighborhoods of today.
Bahau is approximately 3 kilometers away from Pak Ka Choon Village, and in the past, villagers usually took buses to Bahau for school or grocery shopping. Owning a car was considered a sign of affluence for families in the village.
The current village head, Yap Yunhua(叶运桦), mentioned that the residents of Pak Ka Choon Village are predominantly elderly, constituting half of the village's population. The younger generation may consider leaving the rural area in pursuit of better opportunities and living conditions, among other reasons. However, the memories and emotions of these elderly people towards the village are the deepest.
In the 1970s, after Pak Ka Choon Village was established, the village suffered from several floods. To address this issue, some houses were originally built on stilts to prevent floodwater from inundating them. In the 1990s, the government widened the rivers in the village, effectively reducing the frequency of floods and providing some security for the villagers. However, last year (2022), due to heavy rainfall, Pak Ka Chon Village experienced two major floods once again, causing significant losses and difficulties for the villagers. In the face of the force of nature, the villagers of Pak Ka Choon worked together to restore order and their way of life.
The history of Pak Ka Choon Village bears witness to hard work, hardships, and the changing rural landscape. Despite the continuous march of time, Pak Ka Choon Village remains true to its traditions and culture, with the residents passing down the memories of this land through their actions. As time goes on, it is believed that Pak Ka Choon Village will become even better.