Val d'Or is a town in
South Seberang Perai
The South Seberang Perai District ( ms, Daerah Seberang Perai Selatan; abbreviated "SPS") is a district in Penang, Malaysia. It covers an area of 242 square kilometres, and had a population of 162,905 at the 2010 Census. The district is bordered b ...
,
Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the M ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...
. 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.
Jalan Valdor serves as the main
thoroughfare
A thoroughfare is a primary passage or way as a transit route through regularly trafficked areas, whether by road on dry land or, by
extension, via watercraft or aircraft. On land, a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a multi-lane highw ...
within the town, with the southern end of the road connecting with
Federal Route 1, which runs the length of western
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...
.
Etymology
In
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
, 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.
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
Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is situated on the Malay Peninsula opposite Penang Island, bordering Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. Its city centre is located in Butterworth, while its local ...
). 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. Kee also played an instrumental role in the development of nearby Sungai Bakap. In 1872, he established the Kee Poh Huat
Kongsi
Kongsi () is a Hokkien transcription term meaning "company", especially businesses which have been incorporated. However, the word has other meanings under different historical contexts. ''Kongsi'' were most commonly known as Chinese social orga ...
in Sungai Bakap, where his descendants still reside to this day.
[http://www.pht.org.my/newsletters/2000_06.pdf ]
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
*
Sungai Jawi
Sungai Jawi, commonly known as Jawi is the district seat of South Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia. It is located in the middle of the district and beside the North-South Expressway.
Transportation
Car
North–South Expressway Northern ...
*
Nibong Tebal
References
{{Penang
Towns in Penang