Val d'Or, Penang explained

Official Name:Val d'Or
Settlement Type:Neighbourhood of Seberang Perai
Translit Lang1:Other
Translit Lang1 Type:Mandarin
Pushpin Map:Malaysia Penang Seberang Perai city centre
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Seberang Perai in Penang
Coordinates:5.2457°N 100.4858°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2: Seberang Perai
Leader Title:Local Government
Leader Name:Seberang Perai City Council
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:14200
Area Code:+6045
Area Code Type:Area code(s)
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:+8
Timezone Dst:Not observed
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:South Seberang Perai
Leader Title1:Mayor of Seberang Perai
Leader Name1:Azhar Arshad

Val d'Or is a residential neighbourhood within the city of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. The mainly agricultural area 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 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, Leopold 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

Notes and References

  1. Book: Maxime Pilon, Danièle Weiler. The French in Singapore: An Illustrated History (1819-today). Editions Didier Millet. 2011. 9789814260442.
  2. Book: Tan, Kim Hong. 檳榔嶼華人史圖錄. Areca Books. 2007. 9789834283476. Penang.
  3. Web site: Exclusive Guided Heritage Site Visits . 2024-01-14.