Malaysian Chinese New Village secretariat chairman Khoo Poay Tiong said there were 613 New Villages nationwide, each with its own unique history, art, and culture.

“It is indeed the Madani government’s target to upgrade the infrastructure in all the New Villages and enhance the areas to make them part of the country’s tourist destinations.

“When a New Village becomes a tourist destination, it will stimulate the local economy, providing opportunities for residents to increase their income,” he told reporters here today.

Khoo, who is also the Kota Melaka MP, said the upgrading of facilities in these villages was being done with allocations provided by the housing and local government ministry.

He added that other initiatives to promote New Villages as tourist destinations included a nationwide Chinese New Year village decoration competition.