Unlocking the Precious Moments of Sungai Way @ Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia

After enjoying a hearty breakfast at the bustling Sungai Way Market, we embarked on a short walk to explore Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia.

Tracing the Origins of a New Village

Out of Malaysia’s 613 new villages, 77 of them are nestled in Selangor, and Sungai Way New Village, now officially known as Seri Setia, is one of them. The name Sungai Way is derived from the Malay word “Sungai” meaning river and the English word “Way,” signifying a road. Sungai Way is situated on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, bordering Selangor and adjacent to the Federal Highway. This makes it one of the earliest new villages to be urbanized.

Capitalizing on this unique location, the Seri Setia New Village community management council (MPKK) wasted no time and, in 2019, during the 70th-anniversary celebration, announced the establishment of Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia. This museum serves as a historical and educational hub and has become a new tourist attraction for the village.

The Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia is situated opposite the Sungai Way Market, at the bottom of the Seri Setia New Village Multipurpose Hall. The site was previously an underutilized car park. The mini museum cost approximately MYR 110,000 to set up, with over 70% of the contributions coming from the community itself. The museum is also known as the Sungai Way Mini Museum and is the first of its kind in Malaysia to be developed by an MPKK.

Charting the Development of the Village

Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia may not be large, but it houses a diverse collection of over 600 artifacts, including items that were an integral part of the villagers’ lives and the tools they relied on. What makes this museum truly special is that nearly all of these artifacts were voluntarily donated by the villagers, preserving genuine pieces of their history.

As you enter the museum, you are greeted by the façade of a traditional village wooden house, complete with authentic doors and windows. The heartwarming part is that these doors and windows were donated to the museum instead of being discarded. The act of “rebirth” adds significant meaning to the exhibit.

The mini museum houses artefacts from the early days of the new village when it was a mining community, as well as records documenting the achievements of its pioneers. The museum also features a wall adorned with a brief history of the village, narrating the transformation of Sungai Way from a thriving tin mining and rubber plantation area to the bustling urban village it is today. In the 19th century, Sir Frank A. Swettenham, the British Resident of Selangor, built a railway that passed through Sungai Way, connecting Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang, and thus initiated its industrial development.

The tin mining industry in Sungai Way, most notably the Sungai Way Tin Company with an 800-acre mining field, thrived during the early 20th century.

Later, as rubber demand surged globally in the early 20th century, Sungai Way ventured into rubber cultivation, occupying around 2,500 acres. The museum displays items like rubber cups, latex buckets, and rubber mixing machines, highlighting the challenges faced by the villagers in their everyday lives.

Chinese immigrants who arrived from southern China initially engaged in tin mining and rubber tapping. The 1960s marked the opening of the Federal Highway, along with the introduction of the KTM Komuter electric train service to Seri Setia station, further boosting the local economy. Sungai Way New Village earned its nickname as the “New Village in the City” due to these developments.

Collecting Relics from the Past

Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia boasts a wide range of exhibits, all with a strong connection to daily life. Since these items were donated by local residents, they are genuine remnants of their era. Here are some highlights.

A hand-drawn map of Sungai Way from the 1950s

A model of the Santa Maria – one of Christopher Columbus’s three ships during his first voyage to the Americas.

Antique telephones, typewriters, and record players

The museum’s first donation – an antique clock from the 1970s.

Vintage measuring instruments, including the Gantang, a unit of measurement for rice before the metric system became prevalent.

Various historical documents such as citizenship certificates, business licenses, marriage certificates, and permits from the Japanese occupation and the state of emergency periods.

Plaques “陇西” bearing the names of ancestral halls (堂号), which distinguished clans, geographical origins, or family lineages.

Toys from the 1950s

To show their gratitude, the museum labels each artifact with the donor’s name, emphasizing the importance of these contributions. Donors who visit the museum with their descendants can provide detailed explanations of their historical belongings, creating a deep sense of connection. Likewise, the descendants can feel a strong sense of belonging when they see their grandparents’ items on display.

The museum’s walls are adorned with black-and-white photographs, musical instruments, and various other nostalgic items, all of which bear witness to the passage of time.

An antique lamp used for lighting in the absence of electricity.

A 1950s cosmetic box

Can you recognize any of these items?

Old-fashioned Kopitiam (Coffee House)

There are many more awaiting you to discover!

Some exhibits come with explanations, such as baby carriers made from traditional clothing materials.

A corner of the museum also promotes environmental awareness.

Sungai Way Khuan Loke Lion Dance Troupe

In the early 1980s, Persatuan Tarian Naga & Singa Khuan Loke was established, which later developed into a crane dance troupe and began participating in official high-pole lion dance competitions, achieving remarkable success in numerous national and international competitions. Interestingly, the high-pole lion dance is an innovative performance by the Malaysian Chinese and has been listed as part of Malaysia’s national heritage.

Is Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia Worth Visiting?

The most remarkable aspect of the Sungai Way New Village History Museum is not just its lifelike exhibits but also the narrations by the villagers themselves. Yes, as long as you visit during the museum’s opening hours, local residents volunteer as guides. Having these elderly villagers, who have lived in the village, share their stories makes the experience even more meaningful.

This is a place for nostalgia, for children to learn about history, and for everyone to step into a tunnel of history. We encourage you to visit and explore this hidden gem!

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to WhatsApp Foodveler!

Sungai Way | Koridor Sejarah Kampung Baru Seri Setia
🚦 Getting There ~ It is recommended to drive. Alternatively, take the KTM train to Seri Setia station and walk to the museum.
🕰️ Opening Hours ~ Saturdays and Sundays: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.; Mondays to Fridays: At least one day booking required. 012-3910538 或 010-2317462
💰 Admission ~ Free
⏳ Recommended Duration: 1 hour
👚 Attire ~ Casual and comfortable
📸 Notes ~ The narrations are available in both Chinese and English. Feel free to ask the staff for assistance.