Walk into the History @ Sg Way New Village Museum

Sungai Way in the Petaling Jaya district is strategically located beside Federal Highway. Sungai Way New Village is named after the river that flows through the village, Sungai Way, and is a tributary from Sungai Penchala. It is believed that the discovery of tin ore at the end of the 19th century at Sungai Way attracted a lot of Chinese migrants to the area.  Selangor‘s Resident Sir Frank Swettenham constructed rail lines from Kuala Lumpur to Klang in the 1890s. One of the stations was located in Sungai Way. Sungai Way is also named Seri Setia afterwards.

Sg Way New Village Museum is located in the basement of Seri Setia multipurpose hall. It opens on Saturday 9am-1pm and needs booking prior to the visit on weekdays. I was told by the village headman that this mini museum is funded by MBPJ local council.

The village headman was seen on duty that day to give a brief tour guide around the museum. Nevertheless, the entrance to the museum is free of charge.

In the 1930s, rubber had outperformed the tin mining industry and become the main economic activity in Sg Way. As rubber plantations flourished, many Chinese became the owners of rubber estates. 

1941-1948, during the Japanese Occupation in Malaya, Sg Way was in turmoil and everything was ruined.

1950, Briggs Plan forced the Chinese to relocate to this place (concentrated camp) and several other locations and named them as "New Village".

23-10-1953, US Vice President Richard Nixon along with his wife Thelma, stopped at the village and visited now-SJK (C) Sungai Way.

Top Left and Right: 

Requisition Certificates for Materials or Firearms 

Bottom Right:

US Vice President Nixon watched the dredging operation at Petaling Tin (not documented in Wikipedia for his visitation in Malaya). 

During British colonial times, Private Purchaser Card limited rice purchasing among the villagers to combat the communist (hidden in the jungle) who asked help from villagers nearby for food.

This is the measurement tool for rice purchasing in old days, said the village headman. This container is equal to 1 gantang (roughly 3.6kg).

A rare collection in the museum is the carbide lamp (pelita kabaid). Honestly, I have never seen this before.  Mr Ding was showing me how to use it. 😂 Please comment if you have this at home.✋

Armor Fan Speed Regulator was made in England in 1941.

Over 70% of the mini museum’s contributions came from the community itself. Donors contributed artefacts and sponsored painting, wiring and renovation.

Instagrammable spot

 Although the museum is only 1000 square feet, it plays an important role to preserve the local history which is not documented in the book. You could see the hard work of the local community to put all these things together to set up this mini museum. I was hoping that MBPJ, the local council would continue to support this effort with continuous funding. For those who come here for food, you are recommended to spend an hour or less, discovering the history of Sg Way in this mini museum.

Location: Koridor Sejarah 新村历史文物馆 (Jalan SS 9a/1, Sungai Way Free Trade Industrial Zone, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor).