Val d'Or, Penang

Val d'Or is a town in South Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. The mainly agricultural town is located between Simpang Ampat to the north and Sungai Bakap to the south, both of which are also within the South Seberang Perai District.

This article is about a town in Penang, Malaysia. For the similarly-named city in Quebec, Canada, see Val-d'Or.
Val d'Or
Town
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese华都村
Val d'Or
Location in Penang
Coordinates: 5°14′44.6706″N 100°29′8.9304″E
Country Malaysia
State Penang
DistrictSouth Seberang Perai District
Government
 • Local GovernmentSeberang Perai Municipal Council
 • PresidentMaimunah Mohd Sharif
 • Batu Kawan Member of ParliamentKasthuriraani Patto (DAP)
 • Bukit Tambun State AssemblymanLaw Choo Kiang (PKR)
Time zoneUTC+8 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)Not observed
Postal code
14200
Area code(s)+6045 (landline only)
Websitempsp.gov.my

Jalan Valdor serves as the main thoroughfare within the town, with the southern end of the road connecting with Federal Route 1, which runs the length of western Peninsular Malaysia.

Etymology

In French, Val d'Or meant a valley of gold. The town of Val d'Or had a French connection in the mid-19th century, when two Frenchmen arrived and set up an agricultural estate within the town.[1]

History

In the mid-19th century, a Frenchman by the name of Donnadieu arrived at what is now Val d'Or. He subsequently established a sugar cane plantation at the area, and was later joined by a second Frenchman, Léopold Chasseriau. However, Donnadieu came to a tragic end when he was murdered by unknown assassins.

Meanwhile, in 1852, Kee Lye Huat, an ethnic Chinese, landed in Province Wellesley (now Seberang Perai). Starting out as a coolie, he gradually became a successful sugar planter and the owner of the Val d'Or sugar cane estate; he is now credited as the founder of the town.[2] Kee also played an instrumental role in the development of nearby Sungai Bakap. In 1872, he established the Kee Poh Huat Kongsi in Sungai Bakap, where his descendants still reside to this day.[3]

Education

Val d'Or is home to a Chinese primary school and a high school, SJKC Valdor and SMK Valdor, respectively

Transportation

Val d'Or is accessible via either the North–South Expressway's Jawi Interchange (Exit 156) or Bukit Tambun Interchange (Exit 158). Federal Route 1 links both interchanges with the town.

See also

References
  1. Maxime Pilon, Danièle Weiler (2011). The French in Singapore: An Illustrated History (1819-today). Editions Didier Millet. ISBN 9789814260442.
  2. Tan, Kim Hong (2007). 檳榔嶼華人史圖錄. Penang: Areca Books. ISBN 9789834283476.
  3. http://www.pht.org.my/newsletters/2000_06.pdf
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