By FAZLEENA AZIZ

At the crack of dawn, Kampung Baru Batu 14, a small town at 14th mile Puchong, slowly awakens.  

At 5am, traders at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) wet market were already busy preparing to start their businesses, while dedicated Hindus began their days with prayers at the temples. The Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple beckons early birds with music. Kuthu villakhu (lights) were lit while traditional pooja (prayer) was done.  

Roll call: Students arriving at SJK (C) Han Ming for the afternoon session.

Housewives with their shopping from the wet market were among the villagers and outsiders who dropped by for breakfast, and perhaps a cup of coffee to kick off their day. 

Chen Kaw, 64, who has called Kampung Baru Batu 14 home since he was born, has witnessed the development of the village throug the years; the most significant one, perhaps, being the change from wooden houses to brick houses.  

“I welcome the development. The upgrading works within the village or the mushrooming of industrial areas nearby has brought prosperity,” said the active member of the village development committee. 

A few steps away from Chen’s coffee shop is SJK (C) Han Ming, which is believed to have stood there for more than 80 years.  

Devotions: Devotees can be seen performing their daily rituals at the Hindu and Chinese temples in the area.

Around noon, kids arrive in private cars, vans or school buses, most of whom appeared energetic and ready to absorb new knowledge. Another round of traffic congestion along Jalan Masjid in the evening marked the end of school for the day, but it certainly did not mean the slowdown of activities at the village. 

The village, well known for its Puchong Yong Tau Fu Restaurant, attracts a steady stream of outsiders to savour the Chinese cuisine for dinner, or even supper.Just a street across, one can find Restoran Puchong Lim that has been there since 1983, always ready to whip up meals with snake, squirrel, etc, that are believed to bring health benefits to eaters.While the night slowly crept in, the whole village became quieter under the black blanket, and the harmonious sound of traditional Chinese percussion echoed through the night. 

Inside the SJK (C) Han Ming compound, members of the lion dance team under the Zhong Hua Welfare Association were practising the music that accompanies the lion dance.  

At the same time, Muslim children could be seen walking home in the dark after their Quran reading class at the Kariah Batu 14 Mosque, the only mosque in the area.At about 11pm when most parts of the village were quietly falling asleep, activities were bustling at the Kim Ying Temple. 

Taoists were busy preparing to celebrate the birthday of one of their gods, the Mao Shan Fa Shi, while devotees were queuing up to receive blessings from the god through a medium.  

Daily life: Life may be slow in old Puchong, but the residents like it, while at the same time welcoming development that has come their way.

Resident Shahrul Salam, 27, who has been living there for almost a decade, thinks that the old Puchong is pretty mundane most of the time. 

“Everyone goes to Puchong Perdana and Bandar Puchong Jaya, where there are attractions like the IOI Mall, 24-hour restaurants and entertainment outlets.  

“Things are not so ‘happening’ around here but we like it the way it is,” he said.