Today, it is called Valley of Hope.
Back then, it was called The Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement.
Sungai Buloh used to be the 2nd largest leprosy settlement in the world.
Completed in 1930.
Thanks to Dr Ernest Travers, Selangor’s former state surgeon, he created this leprosarium as a “Garden City”, an open settlement with social amenities and modern medical facilities, within this enclosed area of 562 acres.
Used to have more than 2000 patients, today, around 80 patients are still living this is leprosarium.
Today, we got a golden opportunity to tour the Valley of Hope, to meet some residents, to enjoy their museum and listen to stories of yesteryears.
An insightful and enlightening experience for us 🩷
Thanks to our dedicated and knowledgeable guides, Irene and Cecilia.
VOH’s Dewan Orang Ramai
This is a multi purpose hall with a historic structure. It houses a small museum with beautiful photos and detailed explanations in our 3 main languages. Very well done.
Irene (left) and Cecilia (right), 2 of many passionate volunteers and guides at VOH
Original look of the settlement back then (bottom pic)
We were on the Eastern section (top pic)
There used to be an arch along this main road. They printed the arch on a fan which was an excellent idea.
Main road into the settlement
The residents of the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Settlement back then were called Inmates. With a number. This was because many were forced to live here once they had this disease. However, this place was not at all like a prison with cells. This was like a small city on its own, just with borders. Nobody was allowed to visit and nobody was allowed to go out of the borders.
Uncle Yeoh is still a resident at VOH. He is one of the artists here.
We met him. Very jovial fellow. He was doing printing from templates.
Another resident was riding his bike towards us. Stopped to say hello. Very friendly.
Chalet with kitchen (little room with chimney attached to the main house). This was the chalets back in those years. Hundreds of them are abandoned now.
Today’s chalet. It is a 2 unit house, kinda what we call a Semi D out here. Very small. Just beds and cabinets. No toilets. Toilets are outside, shared.
