Why is Nga Kor Ming defending heritage status for Chinese New Villages?

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Nga Kor Ming Defends Heritage Status for Chinese New Villages Due to Ministerial Responsibility and Historical Context

Housing and Local Development Minister Nga Kor Ming is defending the proposal to recognise Chinese New Villages as heritage sites, asserting it is his direct responsibility as these villages fall under his ministry's purview. He has clarified that the initiative originates from Icomos Malaysia, a non-governmental organisation associated with Unesco, which established a working group in March 2021 to assess the suitability of these villages for nomination. Nga has strongly refuted claims that this recognition equates to endorsing communism, emphasizing that the villages were historically victims of communist actions, not supporters, and were forcibly relocated starting in 1948.
Ministerial Duty to Champion Settlers

Nga Kor Ming articulated that his role as the minister responsible for the Housing and Local Development Ministry inherently obligates him to advocate for the settlers within the Chinese New Villages. He posed rhetorical questions in Parliament, asking who else would champion these communities if not him, and why the issue was being raised now. His stance is that neglecting the welfare and heritage of these villages would be a dereliction of his ministerial duties.
Icomos Malaysia-Led Nomination Process

The minister elaborated that the proposal for Chinese New Villages to be a heritage site is an initiative spearheaded by Icomos Malaysia. This international non-governmental organisation, affiliated with Unesco, is dedicated to the conservation and protection of cultural heritage. To this end, Icomos established a New Village working group in March 2021, comprising seven members and seven experts, to conduct a thorough study and assessment for the nomination.
Refuting Communism Association

Nga Kor Ming firmly dismissed the suggestion that recognising Chinese New Villages as a world heritage site implies an endorsement of communism. He explained that these villages were established as a result of the communist insurgency, and their residents were victims who were displaced and forced into relocation camps from 1948 onwards. He argued that this historical context demonstrates the villages' opposition to, rather than support for, communist ideologies.
Challenging Opposition's Scrutiny

The minister questioned the selective scrutiny from opposition Members of Parliament, pointing out that previous ministers from Barisan Nasional, such as Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Tan Sri Ong Ka Chuan, and Tan Sri Kong Cho Ha, also oversaw these villages for decades without similar public criticism. Nga implied that he was being unfairly targeted, asking why he was being made a "punching bag" when the villages have historically been under the purview of his ministry.

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Why is Nga Kor Ming defending heritage status for Chinese New Villages?

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