Sungai Muntoh
Encyclopedia
Sungai Muntoh is a semi-agricultural small town in the district of Jelebu
in Negeri Sembilan
, Malaysia with less than 3,500 in total population. The town is located about 30 miles southeast of Kuala Lumpur
and is situated near the border between Negeri Sembilan
and Selangor
.
as compared to the rest of Jelebu.
In early February 2005, Malaysia’s temperature rose to almost 39 degrees Celsius—the worst in 30 years and in Southeast Asia
, second only to Myanmar
. Being the warmest and the driest place in Malaysia, Sungai Muntoh bares shortage of water supply and possible drought.
and India
, who were paid low wages.
Sungai Muntoh has itself placed in the history of mining and rubber
plantation in Negeri Sembilan
. Sungai Muntoh was the earliest and most reputable mining site in Jelebu
back in the late 19th century. A lot of valuable centuries-old artifacts were found there and are now displayed in the state’s museum.
During World War II
, when Jelebu was invaded by the Japan
ese, cruel acts performed on the locals included massacre and genocide
. There were about 1,500 people killed during the Japanese invasion, and about 3,500 more in the rest of the state, making Negeri Sembilan one of the states having the highest death toll.
, natives (Orang Asli
) and some Indians make up the rest. Most of the Malays reside near a rehabilitation centre, working as law enforcers.
and Seremban
. Recently however, the rubber plantation industry undergoes a resurgency since world demand for rubber has increased since 2005.
Vegetable and fruit farming also contributes to the town's economy and prosperity. Vast land areas surrounding the town are planted with vegetables. Local sugarcane
s and pineapple
s are famous throughout the country. Fruits that are grown in Sungai Muntoh include coconut
s, rambutan
s, durian
s, mangosteen
s and mango
s and other tropical fruits.
s, peanut
s and chinese cabbage
s are grown in the farm.
s, crocodile
s, wild boar
s and lizard
s. Rare types of blue-headed centipedes and the highly venomous colorful scorpions are found in Sungai Muntoh as well. A colorful peacock-like long-tailed flying creature about 2 ft tall was a usual sighting too, until illegal deforestation took place in less than a decade ago.
Serpents are common in this town. Black snakes are the only snakes native to Sungai Muntoh. Other species of snakes are rarely seen. Pythons—which can grow up to 5 meter long—are also one of the common sightings.
However, the rich biodiversity of the forest has brought problems to the local community as well. The town is famous for wild-animal invasion and attacks on livestocks and plantations. These include tigers, boars, crocodiles and others.
. They did a full coverage on it, stating there could be a possible blue-collar crime going on. An investigation was initiated, but to no avail.
Jelebu
Jelebu is second largest districts in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia after Jempol, consisting more than 40,000 in population. Jelebu borders with the Seremban district, Jempol district, Kuala Pilah district, Pahang and Selangor...
in Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
, Malaysia with less than 3,500 in total population. The town is located about 30 miles southeast of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and is situated near the border between Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
and Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
.
Local climate
Sungai Muntoh is the warmest place in Malaysia. However, it also experiences heavy thunderstorms. That is mainly because it is at the higher tip of the end of Titiwangsa MountainsTitiwangsa Mountains
The Titiwangsa Mountains are the main mountain range that forms the backbone of the Malay Peninsula.-Geology:...
as compared to the rest of Jelebu.
In early February 2005, Malaysia’s temperature rose to almost 39 degrees Celsius—the worst in 30 years and in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, second only to Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. Being the warmest and the driest place in Malaysia, Sungai Muntoh bares shortage of water supply and possible drought.
History
Sungai Muntoh is believed to be founded by Chinese immigrants in early 19th century. The town’s booming mining business and rubber plantation drew foreign indentured labors from ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who were paid low wages.
Sungai Muntoh has itself placed in the history of mining and rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
plantation in Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
. Sungai Muntoh was the earliest and most reputable mining site in Jelebu
Jelebu
Jelebu is second largest districts in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia after Jempol, consisting more than 40,000 in population. Jelebu borders with the Seremban district, Jempol district, Kuala Pilah district, Pahang and Selangor...
back in the late 19th century. A lot of valuable centuries-old artifacts were found there and are now displayed in the state’s museum.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Jelebu was invaded by the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese, cruel acts performed on the locals included massacre and genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
. There were about 1,500 people killed during the Japanese invasion, and about 3,500 more in the rest of the state, making Negeri Sembilan one of the states having the highest death toll.
Demographics
Sungai Muntoh is a neighborhood with a Chinese majority. Chinese accounts for almost 60% of the town’s population while MalaysMalay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
, natives (Orang Asli
Orang Asli
Orang Asli , is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia...
) and some Indians make up the rest. Most of the Malays reside near a rehabilitation centre, working as law enforcers.
Economy
Most Chinese of older generation work in the rubber estate as rubber tappers. The rubber business is in decline over the years since younger generations seek to improve their lifestyles in nearby cities with most notably Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and Seremban
Seremban
Seremban is the capital of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, located within the district of Seremban, one of the seven districts of Negeri Sembilan. The town's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council or Majlis Perbandaran Seremban...
. Recently however, the rubber plantation industry undergoes a resurgency since world demand for rubber has increased since 2005.
Vegetable and fruit farming also contributes to the town's economy and prosperity. Vast land areas surrounding the town are planted with vegetables. Local sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
s and pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
s are famous throughout the country. Fruits that are grown in Sungai Muntoh include coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
s, rambutan
Rambutan
The rambutan is a medium-sized tropical tree in the family Sapindaceae, and the fruit of this tree. It is native to Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, although its precise natural distribution is unknown. It is closely related to several...
s, durian
Durian
The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family . Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk...
s, mangosteen
Mangosteen
The purple mangosteen , colloquially known simply as mangosteen, is a tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia. The tree grows from 7 to 25 m tall...
s and mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
s and other tropical fruits.
Places of interest
Malaysia's first solar-powered organic farm, The Titi Eco Farm, the 28 acre (113,000 m²) resort is located just about 3 miles (5 km) from Sungai Muntoh. It is the perfect place to learn to coexist with peace and nature. The countryside retreat is located on a hilltop 100 feet (30 m) above sea level. Along the way to the farm, mist-covered hills and lush greenery greet visitors. You will also hear the sound of roosters, ducks, birds, ostriches and squirrels. The resort is surrounded by fruit orchards, a herb garden and a vegetable garden. About 30 types of common Malaysian vegetables like gourds, legumes, carrotCarrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
s, peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s and chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage can refer to two distinct varieties of Chinese leaf vegetables used often in Chinese cuisine. These vegetables are both related to the Western cabbage, and are of the same species as the common turnip...
s are grown in the farm.
Flora & fauna
Sungai Muntoh's dense rainforest is home to a huge variety of flora and faunas, including many endangered species. This includes tigerTiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
s, crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s, wild boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
s and lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s. Rare types of blue-headed centipedes and the highly venomous colorful scorpions are found in Sungai Muntoh as well. A colorful peacock-like long-tailed flying creature about 2 ft tall was a usual sighting too, until illegal deforestation took place in less than a decade ago.
Serpents are common in this town. Black snakes are the only snakes native to Sungai Muntoh. Other species of snakes are rarely seen. Pythons—which can grow up to 5 meter long—are also one of the common sightings.
However, the rich biodiversity of the forest has brought problems to the local community as well. The town is famous for wild-animal invasion and attacks on livestocks and plantations. These include tigers, boars, crocodiles and others.
Rehabilitation centres
There are more rehabilitation centres in Sungai Muntoh than the rest of the state. The state’s biggest and most reputable prison for junkies and drug-addicts is located there. In early 1997, a breakout of the junkies became national headline. Chaos and mayhem occurred when prison guards tried to arrest the fugitives on the streets. In late 2004, another similar headline caught the attention of NTV7Ntv7
Natseven TV Sdn Bhd or better known as ntv7 is a terrestrial television channel in Malaysia. It was launched nationwide on 7 April 1998 and was the country's third private free-to-air TV station after TV3 and Astro. Its mission is to promote a happier and more enlightened Malaysia...
. They did a full coverage on it, stating there could be a possible blue-collar crime going on. An investigation was initiated, but to no avail.