Separated by a highway, Kampong Baru is probably the only century old place where it seems stagnant in development compared to niceties of the city next to it. Landowners turned down many offers before to sell their land since they demand true value for their lands / inherited homes. If you are looking to see the real Malay village with real poor wooden homes like in the Malaysian 90's, just turn your car away from the main road and drive trough the Kampong Baru arch. As for now they (Kampong Baru residents) still hold the best in town for real Malay street foods (living in a progressive city is hard, so many are selling something), real Malay homes (many rents their homes) and real village Malay lifestyles and values.
