www.ipohecho.com.my echoechoYour Voice In The Community May 1-15, 2010 PP 14252/10/2010(025567) FREE COPY issue 96 rom 1st June please inform your news vendor to deliver the >> Pg 3 >> Pg 4 FIpoh Echo every fortnight if you wish to continue receiving your community paper. We are still a free paper. To help us defray A FOOTHOLD IN IPOH – A FEEDER AIRPORT FOR THE REGION our distribution costs, we’re asking you, dear reader, to pay your news vendor 30¢ per issue for delivery, i.e., a cost of 60¢ per month. A small sum for you to keep up with the latest news and information of your Ipoh community. Thank you for your continuing support of the Ipoh Echo – Your Voice of the Ipoh Community. IPOH’S SPROUTING FAME augeh or bean sprouts is yet another Ipoh iconic product. It is as synonymous with the city as pomelo and Tgroundnuts. When served blanched, with a simple mixture of sesame oil, soya sauce and accompanying poached chicken, it is transformed into the one dish that most visitors to Ipoh clamour for – ‘Nga Choy Kai’. This delectable dish, which some folks even claim as the most renowned dish in Ipoh, have become famous throughout the country and as far away as Singapore; and is usually the first dish that visitors will request. It is said that if you visited Ipoh and have not tasted the “chicken taugeh” then you have not been to the city. Although taugeh can be found everywhere in , even in neighbouring countries, those grown in Ipoh are reputed to be the best. In fact, Ipoh’s taugeh has a distinctive quality, a special taste that is not found elsewhere. They are shorter and thicker and are sweet, crunchy and juicy. Photographs by Rosli Mansor Continued on page 2 2 May 1-15, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community

IPOH’S TAUGEH Is Second To None nderground Water tail price per kilogramme He thinks that taugeh to be watered five times holes in the bottom to drain that many taugeh growers UIt is thought that the is between RM1.20 and have been grown in the daily. Toon has four em- excess water. from other states do visit unique taste of the Ipoh RM1.60. area for more than ployees to assist him. It is A circular mosquito regularly to learn the tech- taugeh is mainly due to the Due to stiff rivalry a hundred years. He still a continuous process and net is placed on top of the nique and discover why underground water from among the growers, facts follows the same old meth- has to be done 365 days of beans. The bins are some- the taugeh grown here are the limestone hills that and figures about the in- od used by his grandfather. the year. The taugeh can- times covered by gunny tastier. contain traces of dissolved dustry are being held close The only change made was not be exposed to sunlight sacks. At the end of the first calcium carbonate. to their chests, with each to replace the wooden tub and must always be under day, the beans start to ger- Beans Price Increase What is interesting is one claiming that it is their for growing taugeh with the shade. minate. There are several According to Toon the that this highly sought af- “trade secret”. Their lack plastic drums. The black mung beans rows of drums containing price of the bean has gone ter ‘taugeh’ are being pro- of unity has also resulted Another producer required to grow taugeh are taugeh in different stages up from RM70 to RM110 duced by just eight fami- in their inability to form Hong Pak Leong, 53, is purchased from Myanmar. of growth from the first for a 25-kg bag. He said lies located in the Buntong an association to look af- a first generation taugeh Toon said that to the sixth day that he cannot reveal the New Village, just within ter their common interests. grower and has been in the as far as in the back- quantity he produces or the city centre. Therefore, the middlemen business for more than 30 he can yards of the price. Taugeh is nor- The families have often dictate the price of years. He learnt to grow re- e a c h mally sold in drums of 60 been rolling out drums of the taugeh supplied to taugeh through trial and o f kg each. He added that the the bean sprouts grown them. error. Hong added that all eight families are not unit- from their backyards daily producers use the same ed and are very secretive as for the last seven decades. Taugeh Veterans method and grow taugeh well as compete with each Each family produces Eighty-two-year-old Toon in the same type of blue other. They sometimes un- about 1,400 kg per day, Yow Pooi is one of the pio- plastic drums. dercut each other in pric- mostly for local markets, neers in the industry who is ing. restaurants and hawkers’ still working. He said that Continuous Process Asked about the ex- stalls. The wholesale price he took over the business Taugeh growing requires port market, Toon said per kilogramme supplied from his grandfather and plenty of water which is it was difficult to do so by the growers to the mid- has been growing taugeh pumped from wells about because taugeh must be dlemen is often unstable, for the past 70 years. ten metres deep. There the moist and cannot be kept but the re- is no shortage of under- fresh for long. He is not ground water in the new hous- aware whether any tech- village which is close to the mem- es. nology exists for packing Kledang Range and which ber that During and transporting taugeh in also has a higher rate is where the the first four a fresh state. of rainfall in beans have been pur- days, the growth is within Ipoh taugeh is fa- chased all along. He added the drum. On the fifth day, mous and has potential that even taugeh produc- the shoot of the taugeh pro- for export, especially to ers in China buy the beans trudes the drum by up to Singapore where there is from Myanmar. five centimetres and on the a great demand. However, sixth day when it is ready the growers need to look Six Days to Market for delivery it protrudes into the availability of the It takes six days of grow- about six to eight centime- modern technology to ex- city. ing before the taugeh can tres above the drum. pand their business rather A l l be sent to the retailers. The When asked whether than be contented with the t h e process of growing taugeh any foreign businessmen old methods their parents work is done starts first by cleaning the had come to Ipoh to find or grandparents had adopt- manually and the beans. The cleaned beans out about the method used, ed. taugeh is grown in are then placed inside plas- Toon replied in the nega- moist conditions and has tic drums with perforated tive. However, he added A. JEYARAJ Get your FREE copy of the Ipoh Echo from: Canning Gdn: Ariff Store, 40 Jalan Lee Kwee Foh. New Wing Fook Merchant, 56 Jalan Lee Kwee Foh. Lourd Enterprise, 7 Lorong Cecil Rae. Ipoh Gdn: Muhibah Hair Stylist, 103 Jalan Dato Lau Pak Khuan. Mama’s Home Baked Bread Stall (after 7 pm), Aneka Selera. Ipoh Gdn South: Pasar Mini Manaf, 17 Jalan S.A. Lingam. First Gdn: LSF Sun Li Hardware Sdn Bhd, 50, Jalan Ng Weng Hup. Labrooy Road: LSF Sun Li Hardware Sdn Bhd, 16A Jalan Labrooy. Meru: Golf Reception Counter, Meru Valley Golf & Country Club. New Town: Ruba Rubi Ent 154, Jln Sultan Idris Shah. Tel. No 017- 5048531 Chan Sam Lock Photo Studio, 77-81 Jln Sultan Idris Shah. Pooran Enterprise (opp Super Kinta), 5 Jln Dato Onn Jaafar. S.Y. Dry Cleaning & Laundry, 1 Jln Chung Thye Phin. Simee: Newsvendor (morning), Opposite Simee Market. Tmn Ipoh Jaya: Rasu Enterprise, 271 Jalan . Tmn : Bawal Jaya Enterprise, 66 Psrn Desa Tambun 7, Desa Tambun. Tiger Lane: Perak Academy, 28 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. Golf Club Road: Fitness Junction, 2 Jalan Kelab Golf. P.N. Book Centre, 7 Jalan Dato Ahmad Yunus.

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www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH From the Editor’s Desk echoYour Voice In The Community by Fathol Zaman Bukhari A FOOTHOLD IN PERAK trade exposition elimination of tariffs and The six original he said. “Response from A in June at Stadium non-tariff barriers within ASEAN members also the Wenzhou manufactur- Indera Mulia Ipoh will member countries. reduced tariffs on 99 per ers has been good. Our herald the entry of China ●●Attract more foreign cent of goods traded be- target of 300 exhibitors into Malaysia, and Perak direct investment to tween them to zero and was oversubscribed.” The has, unwittingly, become ASEAN. this too became effective overwhelming response is the beneficiary. This The mechanism for in January 2010. However, indicative of the Wenzhou marks the beginning of achieving the objectives things seem good on paper business community’s faith the long awaited ASEAN above is the Common only, as Malaysia contin- in the fair. “Only quality Free Trade Agreement Effective Preferential Tariff ues to impose taxes on products will be on dis- (AFTA) which was signed scheme, which established imported cars to protect play”, Charlie remarked, in Singapore on January a scheduled reduction of its infantile car industry. goods more expensive south-eastern Zhejiang mindful of the perception 28, 1992. tariffs beginning in 1992. The controversial APs than the local alternatives. province of the People’s the world has on Chinese- The other objective of (Approved Permits) are Protectionism is a mecha- Republic of China. made goods. Background AFTA, one which is more still given to crony com- nism to keep local prod- A dedicated team was “We’ve no desire At the time of signing the relevant, is to counter the panies to enable them to ucts saleable within the established early this year to retail these goods in Association of South East growing economic prow- bring in luxury cars with- country. But it is another to undertake the respon- Malaysia but to establish Asian Nations (ASEAN) ess of China and India. out taxation. Revenue in thing when the goods are sibility of organising the a manufacturing hub in had six members, name- Tariffs Reduction excess of RM100 million sold abroad. The differ- trade fair. The Wenzhou Perak”, Charlie revealed, ly Brunei, Indonesia, The free trade agree- is lost annually because of ence in price of a similar (M) Trade City Group dismissing fears of Perak Philippines, Singapore, ment reduced tariffs on these permits, which the Proton model in the coun- Sdn Bhd is essentially a being made a dumping Thailand and Malaysia. 7,881 products or 90 per government promised to try and in Dubai is a case liaison team consisting of ground for Chinese-made Four other countries, cent of imported goods to terminate by 2015. in point. officers from the China products. “We’ll manu- Laos (1995), Vietnam zero. This reduction took Reducing tariffs and Council for the Promotion facture the goods locally, and Myanmar (1997) and taxes have its downside. Trade Exposition mark them as “Made in effect in China and the six The upcoming trade ex- of International Trade Cambodia (1999) joined original members of the Such action will have a (Wenzhou Sub-Council) Malaysia” before export- subsequently making it negative impact on local position in June will see ing overseas”, he quipped. Association. The remain- Chinese-made goods be- and officials from the ten in all. Signing the ing four countries will fol- producers when it comes Perak State government Ipoh was picked as the AFTA agreement was to open competition. ing exhibited for viewing team’s base over Penang low suit in 2015. The aver- by the general public. The who act as interpreters and made conditional for the age tariff rate on Chinese Economies of scales de- co-coordinators. Jhang and Kuala Lumpur because four countries to join the cide the competitiveness expo will provide a window it is less hectic. goods sold in ASEAN of opportunities for local Xiao Qun or Charlie, as he Association but they were countries decreased from of goods manufactured prefers to be called, is the The Wenzhou Brand- given a longer time frame and since local producers businessmen to participate name and Quality Products 12.8 to 0.6 per cent on in joint-ventures with their liaison team’s chief. to meet the agreements’ January 1, 2010, pending do not necessarily have the Exposition at Stadium obligations. capacity to compete on an Chinese partners. Among Litmus Test Indera Mulia from June full implementation in the the manufactured items to Ipoh Echo met up with The objectives of remaining countries by even keel, they seek pro- 24 to 27 will be a litmus AFTA are two-fold: tection from the govern- go on show are men’s and Charlie at Towers Regency test for the effectiveness 2015. China offered simi- women’s footwear, electri- Ipoh recently, where the ●●Increase ASEAN’s com- lar privileges to goods im- ment. Protection comes in of AFTA. So far there has petitive edge as a pro- the form of tariffs which cal appliances, furniture, team is currently located, been too much talk but little ported from ASEAN coun- apparels, etc. They are and was briefed on the duction base through the tries. invariably make imported action. Many have doubted among the 29 items iden- pending exhibition. its viability believing the tified for display. All of “Planning for the fair worse would befall our lo- SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY these products are from the was initiated in January in cal manufacturers. But the many individually-owned conjunction with the eas- by Peter Lee die is cast. We shall now and private enterprises of ing of trade restrictions be- wait for the outcome with hong, Tan and Ng are directors and equal shareholders of a Wenzhou, a major city in tween China and Malaysia”, Cprivate limited company which manufactures condoms for bated breath. the local and overseas market for the past 20 years. Due to their hard work combined with the trust, tolerance and understanding for each other all these years, the business is now worth RM10 Million. The operation of the business was running smoothly un- til Tan died suddenly in a road accident. Soon after Tan’s funeral was over, his family found out that he did not have a Will. So his family applied for the Letter of Administration (L.A.) to unlock his frozen assets and one of his assets is the shares held by Tan in this private limited company. Under L.A., as Tan is survived by his wife and son, one-third of his assets, includ- ing the company shares, would be given to his wife and two-thirds to his son. However, Tan’s wife informed Chong and Ng that she would renounce her one-third entitlement and give it to her son Jerry who has just graduated from university. At the same time she also told Chong and Ng that it was always Tan’s wish that Jerry can join the business if anything were to happen to him. Upon hearing this, Chong and Ng accepted Jerry as the new Director of the Company as a form of gratitude to Tan’s contribution. After all, they were also thinking on the lines of injecting new blood into the business. Not long after this was settled, Jerry became very aggressive and nasty towards Chong and Ng. There were endless quarrels between them over every aspect of management matters in the Company; so much so that Chong and Ng felt like they were sleeping with the enemy. Due to this, the company’s business began to deteriorate. At this point, Chong and Ng regretted not having put in place some form of business protection plan to avoid such problems. To solve the above problems, shareholders like Chong, Tan and Ng could set up a business value protection plan by first preparing a Buy-Sell or Cross Option Agreement where the terms of the agreement covers the agreed price to buy and sell the shares, events where a sale between themselves is to take place, arrangement to fund the pur- chase and mode of payment. The common triggering events in such an arrangement are death and total permanent disability. To ensure that this agreement is executed quickly and effective, it includes the usage of Power of Attorney, Trust Deeds and life insur- ance policies to provide funding for the purchase. The Power of Attorney authorises Rockwills Trustee Bhd, being the trustee of the arrangement, to transfer the shares to the purchasing shareholders when a sale and purchase is to be made in the future. The Trust Deeds by all shareholders provide instructions to Rockwills Trustee Bhd on the distribution instruction of the sale proceeds received by the exiting shareholder. The usage of life insurance policy provides the cheapest form of funding to purchase the shares of exiting shareholders. The idea of this plan is to transfer the shares of the de- ceased shareholder to the surviving shareholder without any hassle and at the same time the family of the exiting shareholder receives a fair and reasonable value for the shares as agreed upon in the agreement. This would avoid interference from third party in the business. The reason for choosing a Trustee company like Rockwills Trustee Bhd to be the Trustee is because it has the expertise, impartiality, professionalism and perpetual existence. Peter Lee is an Associate Estate Planning Practitioner (Wills & Trust) with Rockwills International Group. He is also an Islamic Estate Planner providing Wills & Trust services for Muslims. He is based in Ipoh and can be reached at: 012-5078825/05- 2554853 or [email protected]. 4 May 1-15, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community

PUBLISHER THINKING ALOUD Ipoh Echo Sdn Bhd (Regd No 687483 T) By Jerry Francis IPOH – A FEEDER AIRPORT No 1 Jalan Lasam 30450 Ipoh Perak Darul FOR THE REGION Ridzuan Tel: (605) 249 5936 Fax: (605) 255 2181 Email: editorial@ipohecho. com.my

EDITORIAL Fathol Zaman Bukhari G. Sivapragasam Jerry Francis

REPORTER James Gough he need for a good vi- Airport. “We have to re- alternative international air Other Activities Pick Up able commercial air- The question is when define our strategy... not terminal in Perak. The cost, The airport’s statistics be- GRAPHIC DESIGN T Rosli Mansor Ahd Razali port in Ipoh has been felt can the much publicised competing, but as a feeder estimated at RM1 billion, gan to gradually decline ever since Air Asia aban- extension of the runway, airport to link to other is to be provided through a and by 2007 only 814 MARKETING & doned the Sultan Azlan which has been an off-and- airports in the country and foreign humanitarian fund. passengers went through DISTRIBUTION Shah Airport in 2006, cit- on topic for years, be car- region to attract visitors A memorandum of the airport and 10 metric MANAGER ing unsuitable runway as ried out? and investors”, he added. understanding was said tonnes of cargo were han- Ramesh Kumar the reason. The state government to have been signed with dled. Fortunately, other WEB ADMINISTRATOR Now that plans for a Runway Extension A also signed a five-year col- the State Development activities at the airport Titus Raj RM60 million extension Priority Project laboration agreement with Corporation and that the began to pick up. Its role of the runway have been Even the Menteri Besar Firefly, which now flies Civil Aviation Department began to switch from be- PERMISSION AND RE- approved by the Federal Dato’ Seri Zambry Abdul daily between Ipoh and had approved it. Just as ing a passengers’ airport PRINTS Government, there are Kadir could not firmly Singapore. fast as a flash flood emerg- to a hub for light aircraft. Materials in Ipoh Echo may talks to turn the airport state when the construc- Zambry said Firefly’s es and subsides, the news There was an increase of not be reproduced into a feeder airport in the tion would begin. cooperation with the state about the proposed airport aviation activities at the in any form without the written permission of the region. “I’ve spoken to was in line with the vision too suddenly fizzled out. airport. There are currently publisher Being a big state, Transport Minister Datuk to make the Sultan Azlan What surprises me is how a flying academy, a police Perak needs a strategically Seri Ong Tee Keat to speed Shah Airport a feeder air- so much was said to have air wing’s base and aircraft PRINTER located functional airport up the work on the exten- port. been done and achieved maintenance facilities at Konway Industries Sdn to boost economic devel- sion of the runway at the However, can it ma- since 2006 and yet, a cur- the hangars. As a result, the Bhd opment. This is generally Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. terialise? Having seen a tain could suddenly be number of aircraft move- Plot 78, Lebuhraya the view of the people, par- I do not know when work number of projects fail to drawn over the project. ments took a sharp climb Kampong Jawa 11900 Bayan Baru, ticularly those in the busi- will start but it is a prior- take off in Perak, we can- to 32,462 in 2008 from just Pulau Pinang ness and manufacturing ity project for the State”, not blame anyone for ex- Peak in 2003 954 in 2006. Tel: (604) 644 7507 industry, who have made he was quoted at the recent pressing doubt. Sultan Azlan Shah Airport, various appeals to the state launching of Silver Fly, a at its peak in 2003, han- State Involvement government for the revival budget airline, at the air- Humanitarian Airport dled about 116,000 pas- Needed USEFUL of the Sultan Azlan Shah port. And let’s not forget that sengers and 500 metric However, having a viable CONTACTS tonnes of cargo with 1,572 commercial airport alone aircraft movements. It was is insufficient to attract Ibu Pejabat then interlinked with ma- investors and tourists to Polis Daerah (IPD) jor towns in the country, the state. There must be 05 2451 500 including Kuala Lumpur good investment environ- and Penang. International ment and good tourist at- 999 (emergency) flights from Singapore tractions. Otherwise, such Ipoh General Hospital and Sumatra also arrived an airport will only serve 05-253 3333 on a frequent basis. As outgoing tourists from Ipoh Ambulance such the airport was fully the state and not the other 05-522 2506 supported by various fa- way round. Who would 993 (emergency) cilities, including customs want to come to the state and immigration. It started if there are no ideal invest- Ipoh Fire Brigade to slide in 2005 when the ment opportunities or re- 05-547 4444/994 Light aircraft maintenance activities at the hangars of the airport North-South Expressway nowned tourist attractions? (emergency) was completed and travel- Therefore, the state needs Perak Immigration Dept just before the General ling times by road to the to improve and develop 05-5017100 Election in 2008, there had Penang and Kuala Lumpur business and tourism as- Perak Water Board been much publicity on were sliced. The Malaysian pects, commensurate with 05-254 6161 the proposal to establish a Airline System (MAS) be- the development of the first airport in the world to Ipoh City Council gan to reduce the number airport so that it would not (Complaints) be dedicated to humanitar- of its daily flights schedule merely facilitate transpor- 05-208 3378/9 ian efforts, at Bandar Seri and eventually it stopped. tation but be an avenue for Iskandar in Perak Tengah The final blow was when economic development. Perak Anti-Corruption District. Air Asia too terminated its Agency 05-253 1982 The airport, about 50 Senai-Ipoh route. km west of Ipoh, would State Secretariat provide emergency medi- 05-253 1957 IMPIANA HOTEL IPOH SWIMMING cal care for the Asia- POOL MEMBERSHIP Railway Station Pacific region – described 05-254 7987 as one of the most disaster Individual Membership Airport prone areas on the planet, ●● RM900 per 12-month subscription 05-312 0848 with earthquakes, volcanic ●● Entitled to bring 1 guest Registration Department explosions, tsunami and ●● Additional guests at RM5 per person 05-528 8805 floods occurring regularly. ●● 10% discount for renewals Perak Government was to ●● Highlight – complimentary voucher for 2 nights Tenaga Nasional Berhad allocate 800ha of land for stay in Superior Room 05-253 2000 the transit hub of the glo- Lembaga Air Perak bal relief operations. It will Family Membership 1800-88-7788 include at 500-bed hospi- ●●RM1,100 per 12-month subscription tal and a 3,760-metre-long ●●Entitled to bring 2 guests and 3 children under 18 Directory Service runway to accommodate ●●Additional guests at RM5 per person 103 aircraft, such as Boeing ●●10% discount for renewals Perak Women for 747, and other related fa- ●●Highlight – complimentary voucher for 3 nights Women Society cilities. stay in Superior Room 012-521 2480 Apart from accommo- Call: Miss Yeong 012-505 0547 dating rescue aircraft and 05-255 5555 05-5469715 (office) helicopters for deploy- ment to disaster areas, the AA Ipoh airport will also host com- 019-574 3572 mercial airlines’ facilities 017-350 8361 – thereby becoming an Your Voice In The Community IPOH ECHO May 1-15, 2010 5 MUSINGS ON FOOD SEEFOON GOES [email protected] DOWN MEMORY LANE

By See Foon Chan-Koppen

have to admit to a se- prawns for people to drive able flavour. Added I cret of why I fell in love all the way from there and to this was the tex- with Ipoh. Oh yes the ma- back just for them. We set- ture of the rice, each jestic limestone formations tled for the corner restau- grain separate, just took my breath away and rant Luen Fong, reputed to the right degree of the friendliness of Ipohites be one of the original and fluffiness and not in cemented the bonds of at- oldest one on that street. the least bit oily.....un- tachment but I have to con- Luen Fong was opened RM70 for like some other fried rice fess that the first time I was more than 80 years ago by the slight- t h e i r I have had the misfortune served Tualang prawns, Mr. Cheong Kin Chong’s ly small- er h o m e - m a d e to encounter elsewhere – the Foodie devil in me grandfather and today is than large ones. Prices vary chilli sauce which RM6 (small), RM10 (me- planted the seeds for my in the hands of the fourth was to my taste – not dium) and RM15 (large). according to season. deep fried a sec- relocation, whispering ad- generation, who helms the too sweet and just tangy Fully sated, our group The steamed prawns ond time. This was served monitions for me to move kitchen as head chef while enough. The fried prawns reluctantly dragged our- arrived first and we pol- with a salad sauce as a dip. from the chaos of Kuala his father mans the front. followed, fried in soya selves to our respective ished these off with gusto, Crispy, delectable and a Lumpur where I was then Tanks with the prawns sauce and served on a bed cars, only stopping to buy juicy and succulent, dieter’s nightmare! RM10 living and settle in Ipoh. of various sizes of scallions. still some more food from the right degree (small) and RM15 (large). That was 14 years ago and stand the stalls lining the streets of ‘done- Next on the table was many Tualang prawn feasts Hot to Trot and the Deep outside. An unforgettable n e s s ’ , their pig’s-cauls-wrapped later. dipped Fried Devils Tualang Sunday! My hosts had pre-ordered spring roll. Essentially a i n fried Chinese sausage, the Tanjung Tualang (a must-have and must-do) cauls serves as the ‘skin’ Ask any Ipohite the braised pig’s trotters holding the stuffing to- worth his foodie which arrived in a thick LUEN FONG gether instead of the tra- salt where these gravy, chewy yet tender – ditional pastry wrap. The 19, Market Street prawns come from RM12 (small) and RM25 cauls produce a lighter and where to get (large). This was followed 31800 Tanjung crisp to the spring roll and the best ones and the by one of their signature creates a smoother mouth Tualang, Perak answer will always dishes; Yau Cha Kwai feel – RM6 per piece. be Tanjung Tualang. or Deep Fried Devils Tel: 05-3609267 Legend has it that these (Chinese crullers) Irresistible Charcoal Open: 11.30 a.m. prawns were found in the stuffed with fish The final crème-de-la- ponds and lakes left by the paste and to 9 p.m. crème to the meal was mining industry although definitely their best sig- they are now commer- nature dish, their Fried cially cultivated. I recently out- Rice which I know took a trip down memory side the restaurant, some of my Ipoh lane and made a visit to a source of enter- friends will drive Tanjung Tualang itself, the tainment for the out there just to eat location for the freshest of children as well this. The rice ar- these freshwater prawns or as tourists. Inside rived with that spe- Udang Galah as they are the air-condi- cial tang and aroma known in Bahasa. For the tioned smallish that only frying over scientifically minded the restaurant, we ask charcoal can produce name is Macrobrachium for recommendations and Foodies like myself rosenbergii, although com- and placed our orders. swear by this unsurpass- monly mistaken for the other giant Tiger prawn, Bigger not Better Penaeus monodon. We opted for the small- to medium-sized prawns as By MARGARITA LEE Luen Fong we believe they tend to be RECIPE A half-hour drive took sweeter, done two separate us to Tanjung Tualang, ways, some steamed and past the Herb Garden and some fried. Usually in Ipoh when I eat these at some HAINANESE STYLE CHICKEN RICE Kellie’s Castle, the must- Ingredients: restaurants I will have the see tourist sites on any 1 chicken head steamed and the tail tour, to crowded Market 10 slightly crushed pips of garlic fried but only for the ex- Street housing a few of the 5 slightly crushed shallots tra large prawns which restaurants specialising in 3-inch piece ginger can easily run to RM30 these freshwater prawns. 1 tbsp salt or more per piece. Here Cars with KL number 4-5 tbsp cooking oil in Luen Fong, we paid by plates occupied many Chicken fat (optional) the kilo which was about of the available parking 3 cups rice RM75 for large, RM60 spaces, a testimony to the 1 sprig coriander, root removed for small and medium, and fame and quality of these 1 cucumber 1-2 tbsp fried garlic

Preparation: ●● Bring a pot of water to the boil, put in chicken and Chilli Sauce: immediately switch off the heat. Soak for about 15 red chillies, 5 cili padi, 3 cm young ginger – 45 minutes. pounded ●● Remove chicken from pot and soak in ice cold 1 tbsp chicken oil (scoop from the chicken stock) water for 10 minutes. 2 tbsp lime juice ●● Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Garnish with Dash of sesame oil or garlic oil coriander. Mix the above ingredients, add in salt and sugar to ●● Strain the broth for later use. taste. ●● Wash rice and allow to soak for a while. ●● Heat oil in frying pan and add chicken fat, garlic, To Serve: small onion and ginger, fry till light brown. Fluff up rice, press rice into a rice bowl and invert it ●● Remove garlic and small onion. onto a serving plate. ●● Add rice and fry for 3-5 minutes. Garnish chicken with cucumber or tomatoes. ●● Transfer rice to a rice cooker, add 4½ cups Serve with chilli sauce and dark soya sauce if chicken broth, and cook until rice is done. desired. 6 May 1-15, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community LETTER FROM ULU KINTA THE BEAUTY OF

sabella Bird, the shrubs, fifty-three trail- frailty of man. Litter is another problem. strawberry jam, a delight- IVictorian lady, de- ers, seventeen epiphytes News of a cable car We want progress, but ig- ful array of cakes and deli- scribed in ‘The Golden and twenty-eight ferns. project up Bukit Larut is nore its downside. And we cate sandwiches, served Chersonese’ the beautiful She described the but- the lat- are only too aware of the with favourite English Perak countryside when terflies, colourful birds, est state’s ‘tight restrictions’ teas such as Earl Grey or she visited Malaya in orchids and flowers. and ‘strict requirements’, Assam. Not mee goreng or 1879. She was on an ex- She was enthralled by or rather their lack of cucur bawang or pisang pedition and stayed with the colour schemes of regulating these. goreng! Maxwell Hill was the Assistant Resident of the flora and fauna as well Once Bukit Larut a retreat for the expatriate Perak, William Edward as the swirling mists and has been ‘modernised’, community and still is a Maxwell in Taiping. multi-coloured hues of the awe- with food outlets and haven for nature lovers. Maxwell Hill, or Bukit sky above the jungle. some in their other amenities for our Don’t destroy the reasons Larut as it is now called, Her journey through isolation. For instant entertainment and which made it famous but was named after him. the hills of Taiping and the those who gratification, the destruc- instead work on improv- Isabella Bird wrote surrounding countryside have visited tion will be hastened. ing these positive points. about the ‘bracing air’ and was undertaken over 130 these places, Sadly, our children and Taiping is the wet- ‘the cool nights’. She was years ago. We are proud all are affected grandchildren will never test place in Peninsular fascinated by the trees that Malaysia is blessed in one way or fully enjoy nor appreciate Malaysia. The hills above and plants in the jungle. with an abundance of nat- another. Very few an- what was once a heaven it are constantly shroud- She was excited that in a ural attractions. We have are unmoved by their nounce- on earth. ed in mist and cloud. day’s journey she counted locations that are so wild beauty. The vast majority ment for Perak. Should Why can’t the exist- Similarly, the reasons for one hundred and twenty- and barren, or extensive leave with greater respect we treat this disclosure as ing facilities be smartened championing this cable car six different trees and in their spread, or simply for God’s power and the a masterpiece, or a mis- up? Begonias, thunber- project up Bukit Larut are guided act? gias, daisies and ferns also unclear. A constant stream of all of which Isabella Isabella Bird mar- PARENTING day-trippers will have dire mentions, or other native velled at our magical consequences on the frag- flowers could be grown in countryside. Between ile ecosystem. We may abundance. Why not make then and now, who knows HOLY HANNAH not feel directly involved the hill a focal point for how many species of flora in the destruction of the gardeners with terraced or and fauna have been de- HOMEWORK HELL natural beauty, but have landscaped gardens and stroyed? Sadly, at the rate What is the magic ingredient that most parents, if not all, we not heard or even ex- the sale of seeds or cul- we are going, it is possible perienced ourselves, how tivated bulbs as a crowd that much of that richness wish their kids possessed when it came to homework time? other hill stations have lost puller? Preserve the beau- and beauty may not be At 7 years old, I was not their charm? They have ty but provide jobs, too. around for our grandchil- expected to read full sen- become too commercial- Another attraction is dren to enjoy. tences in Math of what ised, polluted, congested, to serve English teas, as it YAM would happen if Sumathi too big and too warm. should be, with scones and had 27 apples and 15 or- anges in her basket and while running home at 3.6 km an hour, she fell and sent 2/3rds flying into a pond. At that age, I was running alongside Sumathi and falling beside her and laughing our heads off, after we climbed some Rambutan trees trying to add to our fruit collection adventure. tion centres here in Ipoh. ask? Very honestly, simply So, the burning ques- Math, Bahasa Malaysia, because I do not have the tion again is: what is the Moral, Chinese, Science, patience to go through magic ingredient? Some English, and Art? Mind all their homework and missing chromosome, you, that is only the pri- still remain poised and some gene x that did not mary school we’re talking composed at the end of it meet some gene y? More about. Correct me if I am all, and I cannot guarantee importantly, how do I get wrong. I thought Art is a that my kids will not end some for my kids? creative subject, and it is up in tears and hate me for When it was just my something from within life for trying to help them first-born, and I was a stay- and not taught? Yes, some understand the benefits of at-home mother, it was a guidelines here and there, homework. natural progression from but have you seen some of At the end of the day, learning the ABC’s to ad- the artwork on display by I am saying that as far as ditions and subtractions. some of the students from I remember, school used Then things started to get an art school? It reminds to be a lot more fun, where complicated when frac- me of a production line in students had a good bal- tions and decimal points some factory. ance of school work, tui- came into play, ahem! I So, there you go tui- tion and a healthy social am referring to myself and tion, tuition and more tui- life. So there is no magic not the child.... told you I tion. How did education gene, no special chromo- was out climbing trees that become so competitive? somes that will take away day. Sometimes, I wish It is obvious that I the homework blues, just I still possessed some of have a bone to pick with plain old fashioned bump my Std 1 books so that I the education system here, and grind, put your back have an AB comparison. but that’s another can of into it and do your home- Nowadays, the poor little worms I do not care to work, please. drooly kid next door, who open at the moment. What As a parent, what can is barely out of diapers, is irritates me is the fact I do? Be patient, be un- learning the multiplication that my kids have a ton derstanding and finally, be tables. All right, I could be of homework and most of the best cheerleader I can exaggerating a tad, but is the time, I need to send be for my kids. That is the it really very far from the them to tuition for extra least I can do!! truth? help. Why can’t I help Look at all the tui- them myself you might BIG MOMMA Your Voice In The Community IPOH ECHO May 1-15, 2010 7 DIRT VIGILANTES By James Gough

A PROUD NEIGHBOURHOOD Standing tall (l-r): Bernard Wong, Ooi Eng Huat and Loke Hooi Hong, during evening maintenance

nyone passing Jalan in the habit of throwing AWu Lean Teh in Hock rubbish there on the way to Lee Garden will not fail work daily, subsequently to notice a beautiful land- shifted to throwing them at scaped garden around a the adjoining roads. garden that is appreciated children’s playground and Taking this as a cue, by all who pass by. on the road shoulder in Bernard Wong, 67, and Hopefully this report will front of the houses. other residents promptly spur other residents to The place could be organised a gotong-royong begin to beautify their own just another neglected to beautify the area. That neighbourhood. playground found in most was more than eight years A common cause of housing estates in Ipoh, ago. an untidy neighbourhood but a group of elderly resi- Another resident Loke is due to residents from dents have painstakingly Hooi Hong has literally other areas ‘casually’ and creatively transformed gone further by landscap- dumping their domestic it. ing the road shoulder wastes wherever conven- They laid rocks and leading towards the play- ient, while on their way to grew shrubs and flowering ground. work. This is a fact which plants. The result is a well- Since then the play- Ipoh Mayor Dato’ Roshidi maintained and colourful ground and the road around Hashim had highlighted rock garden in a neigh- it has been continually de- during his ‘turun padang’ bourhood which the resi- veloped and maintained. sessions. dents can proudly claim to Its aesthetic environ- ‘Casual dumping’ is be their home. ment has caught the at- about the motorcyclist It is a testimony of tention of the authorities ‘dropping off’ a plastic bag how residents can work and politicians who have of rubbish at a spot where as a team to contribute provided the residents with most of the residents place towards keeping the city garden chairs, footpaths, a their garbage awaiting col- clean and beautiful. reflexology walk and re- lection by the MBI dump- It started when Chong cently a lawn mower. ster. The habit becomes a Hon Kee began a small So what started off as problem resulting in heaps vegetable patch at the a preventive action against of rubbish building up playground in front of his ‘casual dumping’ has along roadsides or open house. Passers-by, who are blossomed into a beautiful spaces. 8 May 1-15, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community ANAK PERAK IPOH BOY Makes Electronic Waves olin Poh (electro. immersed in music, he of the most turbulent times to progressive trance, he’s Cpup) has lived a life taught himself how of his life, Colin had an determined to conquer and that most of us would to play the guitar in epiphany, deciding to final- challenge the local and in- have only dreamt of. A high school with ly make his musical dreams ternational music industry man of many hats, he is hopes of becom- a reality, again. with his own brand of face- a producer, composer, ing a rock-star. Having once sampled scrunching, head-banging, musician, multimedia His efforts paid life as a raver, discovering feet-shuffling, fist- designer and an actor. off during his the addictive, emotional pounding electro His musical influ- college years and somewhat spiritual sound. ences range from heavy when he was qualities of electronica mu- electro. the metal to rap to pop to accepted as a sic, he noticed the lack of pup produces with title at hard electro and progres- replacement gui- local electronica produc- P r o p e l l e r h e a d ’s the awards event sive trance; including and tarist for local un- tions and dived head-first Reason 4 and held at Mist, Bangsar, on not limited to, Chemical derground rock band into producing. He has not DigiDesign ProTools January 17. VIMA was a Brothers, Motorcycle, – Stone Angelina, which looked back since. 8 in his private studio. The local independent music Dash Berlin, Tiesto, Mr. he played with for a year Colin has also dab- name electro.pup is derived awards event organized by Oizo, Toby Emerson, The Early Years before everyone went their bled in the world of acting, from his love for electronic voize.my. The Prodigy, Chicane, Born and bred in the sleepy separate ways. landing a role on Astro’s music and dogs. electro.pup has re- ATB, Yoji Biomehanika, tin mining capital of the Initially trying his ‘Suatu Ketika: Apa Dosa cently been nominated for Metallica, Killswitch world, Ipoh, he received hand at multimedia design, Ku? The Sybil Kathigasu Awards & Nominations Best Electro/Dance Act at Engage, Machine Head, his early formal music ed- Colin enrolled himself at Story’ produced by Red electro.pup was nominated AVIMA 2010 (Asia Pacific Slipknot, Marilyn ucation through classical Limkokwing University Films, a subsidiary of Red for Best Dance Act at VIMA VOICE Independent Manson, Chimaira, Linkin piano training at the age and majored in Multimedia Communications, to be 2010 (VOICE Independent Music Awards) represent- Park, Madonna, Michael of 10. Music has always Design. He eventually aired mid-2010. Music Awards) in December ing Malaysia alongside Jackson, and Eminem. flowed through his veins worked minor stints in 2009. Garnering votes acts from Japan, Indonesia, A mélange of Chinese, ever since he was mesmer- Malaysian TV, theatre, Forming electro.pup from fans across the globe, Philippines, Iran, and Indian, Dutch and English ized by the insanely ad- event and advertising in- Forming his own forte via as well as impressing the India. descent, Colin channels dictive tunes from Sesame dustries. electro.pup while draw- international panel of judg- To hear electro.pup’s his ancestry of different Street. A few years down the ing inspiration from genres es with his doggedness, music, log on to www.col- cultures for inspiration. Wanting to live a life road, after enduring some varying from heavy metal electro.pup went on to win inpoh.com.

COMMUNITY NEWS SPORTS PANTAI HOSPITALFamily Day CARNIVAL FOR is aimed at motivating the staff to strive for greater PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES heights. Guests present were treated to a video presenta- tion, which showcased the hospital’s commitment as a responsible corporate player in the state. To date it has organised more than 40 Corporate antai Hospital cel- CEO of Pantai Hospital, Social Responsibility events Pebrated its Family Day Dr Ruslan Razak, MDAC and Beh Yen San, Director and 44 health programmes on Sunday, April 18 at the Chairman , Mohd Aiyob, of Paloh Medical Centre throughout Perak. After the sports carnival for per- Nilavani, Mr Lee Kok Lost World of Tambun. GM Human Capital were among the VIP guests presentation, Dr. Dilshaad A sons with disabilities Seng and Mdm Choo Kim Over 1,200 staff and their Management Pantai present. Dr. Dilshaad, in flagged off the first sports was organised by Sathya Lan. family members were in at- Holdings, Yean Wing his address, attributed the event marking the begin- Sai Baba Centre of Ipoh tendance. Dr. Dilshaad Ali, Cheong, HR Consultant growth of Pantai Hospital ning of an eventful day for at Kampung Teluk Kurin to the diligence shown by the revellers at Ipoh’s only ‘A’ on a Sunday morning the consultants and staff. water theme park. recently. IPOH IN BRIEF The “Yes I Can” theme Members of the organ- for this year’s Family Day DINESH KUMAR ising committee included officials from Persatuan EMPRESS JANET’S Pemulihan Dalam Ko- muniti (Association ROYAL BANQUET for Community Based Rehabilitation, Buntong). Its objectives are to present wheelchairs under the SAI CARE project, to provide members of the Sathya Sai Baba Centres an opportu- nity to serve persons with disabilities and to celebrate disabled persons’ day. Thirty-five persons with disabilities took part in the sports carnival. Among the sports were “Tortoise Walk” race, fill- ing water into bottles, hit- Seated: Michelle (l), father (middle) & mother ting targets and wheelchair Datin Janet Yeoh (r) with other family members race. Organising chair- t was a night of glamour Yeoh graced the occasion to man Mr. L. Alageswaran and revelry as some of celebrate with her mother thanked various organi- I Ipoh’s glitterati dressed but her poor fiancé Datuk Caroline (right) with sations, including Jusco, up to celebrate Datin Janet Jean Todt was grounded by Datuk Jimmy Choo Tesco Extra, Fraser & Yeoh’s 70th birthday at the ash cloud in Europe. Neave, Gardenia and the Tower Regency Hotel. Datuk Jimmy Choo of her captivating red gown McDonalds, for their con- Themed ‘Empress Janet’s designer shoe fame also and Cheng Hao Nam the tributions. Royal Banquet’ guests were came by, albeit for a brief best dressed Prince. A live Wheelchairs were pre- invited to come dressed as appearance. Caroline Wong band entertained as guests sented to four people with Princes and Princesses of was selected best dressed danced and ‘karaoked’ disabilities. They were the world. Datuk Michelle Princess of the evening in through the evening. Mr Prakash Rao, Miss Your Voice In The Community IPOH ECHO May 1-15, 2010 9 IPOH IN BRIEF DATO’ BROTHER VINCENT CAKES rother Vincent J. the thousands of our ever faithful alumni”, he said. BCorkery, Director of Brother Vincent, who was dressed in the ceremonial FOR THE SULTAN La Salle Centre in Ipoh, costume of Perak’s Dato, received the award at an investi- described the datukship ture ceremony in the throne room of Istana Iskandariah in conferred on him in con- on April 19. A total of 912 people, includ- junction with the Sultan of ing the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Perak’s 82nd birthday as “a were conferred with awards and medals in the birthday’s signal” of recognition for honour list. St Michael’s Institution Brother Vincent was born in Ireland in 1928 and as a long established bea- came to Malaysia in 1948. He served in St Michael’s con of excellence, where Institution as vice-principal from 1957 and retired as prin- young people without cipal in 1988. He had also served as supervisor for Oral distinction are prepared English for Perak, secretary for the Conference of Heads to take their place in of Secondary Schools, secretary for the La Salle Brothers society and serve with in Asia-Pacific Region and a founding member of the

nd honesty and dedication. Perak Historical Society. n conjunction with HRH ’s 82 birth- He is happy to re- Ipoh Echo congratulates Brother Vincent on being Iday, a cake-presentation ceremony was held at the ceive the award, Dato’ conferred the Datukship. We sincerely hope it is indeed “a reception hall of Istana Kinta, Ipoh, on Saturday, April Paduka Mahkota Perak signal” of recognition to those like Brother Vincent, who 15. Cakes in various shapes, sizes and designs were (DPMP), on behalf of the La Salle Brothers and St had given years of dedicated service to the nation. presented to the royal couple. They were from well- Michael’s Institution. “It will be greeted with joy amongst wishers which included corporations, individuals and or- JAG ganisations. Among them were Impiana Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Tower Regency, Syuen, Pantai Hospital and one from Commander 2 Brigade, Brig-Gen Dato’ Pahlawan Zulkifli Mansor. “Our hotel chef has baked a special A CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED cake for a very special occasion for the Sultan”, said capped in the district. Shamsihdar Khirudin of Heritage Hotel to Ipoh Echo. Since its opening in March 1988, the centre had This brief but formal ceremony is an annual event in the been deluged by patients, especially infants and children, state calendar. RM brought by parents who learned of the centre’s existence. A larger premise had to be sought to accommodate the growing demand. The centre then occupied a rented bun- galow lot in Jalan Menon, Sitiawan, where it remained for A PEACEFUL nearly 20 years until recently. Upon receipt of a piece of state land (in Jalan Menon), the association started work on a new centre immediately. Funding was provided by PROTEST well wishers and individuals. Presently, there are over a thousand patients registered with the centre. Beside therapy treatments, vocational, job-placement and pre-school trainings are also provided. Those requiring corrective surgeries are referred to the appropriate medical authorities, pro bono. The staff t took over two decades for Manjung’s Association for consists of a senior and an assistant physiotherapist, a Ithe Physically Handicapped to have a dedicated cen- rehabilitation officer, a clerk, a driver and a housekeeper. tre to manage its activities. The Association was formed Annual grants from both state and federal govern- following a survey by Yayasan Raja Azlan Shah, the so- ments help keep the centre afloat. Although the amount cial welfare department, Rotary Club Sitiawan and mem- is substantial it is still insufficient. Donations from well- bers of the public. Dr. Manjit Singh, the Chairman of wishers, individuals and money from events organised by peaceful protest denouncing the pact between the Administration, there was no community-based organisa- the association make up the RM150, 000 needed to main- A Federal Government and media consultant, Apco tion which catered for the needs of the physically handi- tain the centre annually. SN Worldwide Sdn Bhd, was held in front of the state mosque on Friday, April 15. The protesters, numbering some 100- odd, were led by Perak PAS Youth Information head, Mohd Akmal Kamarudin and Perak PAS liaison chief, Nor Azli Musa. The object of the protestors’ grouse was GST FORUM aimed at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for GIRL GUIDES engaging Apco Worldwide, a public relations company with Jewish links, to promote and improve the country’s TO THE FORE and his image abroad. “We’ll organise road-shows around the country until the government terminates the contract with Apco and accounts for the USD24-million fee paid”, said Azli to Ipoh Echo. The protest began after Friday prayers and ended half an hour later. RM CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN 1MALAYSIA COLOURING COMPETITION he Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry T(PCCCI) recently held a briefing for its members to put all necessary internal procedures in place early to en- sure they are GST (Goods and Services Tax) ready. In his opening address to the members, the Chairman he Perak Girl Guides Association took time off to in- of the Chamber’s commerce committee Dato’ Chin Lean Tteract with the Orang Asli community in Kampong Choong said, “Although the government in recent months Lata Kinjang recently. Led by its president, DYAM Raja had deferred the tabling of the GST bill for a second read- Perempuan Muda Perak, Raja Nor Mahani, the 100-odd ing, nevertheless it would be a matter of time before the contingent, consisting of guides from all over the state, new tax would be implemented”. acquainted themselves with the villagers. It was part The GST is to replace the current Sales and Service of the World Thinking Day celebration which falls on Tax. The standard rate of GST is 4%, lower than the Sales February 22 of each year. The date marks the birthday and Service Tax rate. However the reporting of GST re- of Lord and Lady Baden Powell, founders of the world turns need to be accurate. Businesses will have to ensure ore than 50 children participated in a 1Malaysia’s Boy Scouts and Girl Guides movements. The visit pro- their billing and accounting systems can be tracked to en- Mart colouring competition held at the YMCA Ipoh vided the guides an opportunity to see the Orang Asli sure compliance with GST registration. recently. The children, age between four to fifteen years, community at close quarters and to appreciate their way The introduction of the GST will affect all businesses were divided into three age groups. They included chil- of life. The visitors arrived bearing gifts and foodstuffs whether supplying goods or services, or both. dren from Hannah Home for underprivileged children and for the villagers. A medical team from GH Ipoh provided To assist its members understand the details Sikh Single Mothers Association Ipoh (SIKHMAI). The free health screening while the guides set up education of GST, PCCCI invited the Executive Director of parents were seen to be more excited and restless than the booths for the benefit of the 49 Orang Asli families living PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services, Mr Fan Kah children who were drawing. The event was organised by in the kampong. The event, in essence, complements this Seong, to brief them. Y’s Men’s Club of Ipoh under their community service year’s World Thinking Day’s theme, “together we can end Over 230 members attended the briefing. The notes project. Charanjit Kaur, organising chairman, said that extreme poverty and hunger”. Executive Councillor and of the briefing have been posted on the Chambers website the event was an annual affair. All participants were given Adun for , Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon, was in www.pccci.org.my for referencing. prizes and lunch packs. JAG AJ attendance. RM 10 May 1-15, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community

By DINESH K YOUNG PERAK Secondary Schools English Drama Competition ROTARY DEBATE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

MK Methodist ACS Nyuk Yong. Each team from Team ACS for his SIpoh hosted the dis- was given a 20-minute role as Portia. Mohd Ramli trict-level English drama time frame to present gave away the prizes and ACS 1 competition for secondary their play. Methodist Girls thanked the students for schools recently. A total School Ipoh team gained their enthusiasm and show- of five schools competed top honours with their in- manship. each with a team of 15, sightful yet hilarious drama inclusive of cast and crew. entitled “Freedom”. Host The District Education Methodist ACS Ipoh came To Advertise Department was repre- in second with the timeless, sented by Mohd Ramli bin “The Merchant of Venice” Call: Mohd Baki, the officer in- while SMK Gunung Rapat charge of Co-curriculum got third placing with their Ramesh Kumar who was also the guest of version of “Pak Belalang”. 016 5531092 honour. The competition Consolation prizes went to www.ipohecho.com.my was judged by Charles SMJK Poi Lam and SMK IPOH Pooley (chief), Xavier Pinji. The best actor award echoYour Voice In The Community Fong U-Shin and Foo was won by J. Karthikeyen ANNOUNCEMENTS IIS Announcements must be sent by fax: 05-2552181; or email: [email protected], by the 9th or 23rd of every month in order to meet deadlines. Announcements by phone will not be enter- tained. Ipoh Echo reserves the right to verify any announcement before it is published. eld annually, the ACS. The winning ACS Wilson from IIS were vo- HRotary Debate re- team was led and coached ciferous in supporting the turned for the 45th time. by Ms Josephine Chong. motion that “Advertising Ipoh City Watch Get-together Dinner. Date and Time: Saturday, May 1 commencing SMK St Michael’s hosted In Category B, Ipoh has a negative effect on at 8 pm. Venue: Old Andersonians’ Club. Open to all (members and non-members). the preliminary rounds International School (IIS) society”. Looi Kian Seng Please call Kundan Lal at 012-5293913 or Ms Chong at 012-5089753 for details/ with 14 schools partici- thrashed SMK Gunung of IIS won the best speaker reservations. pating in two categories Rapat. Looi Kian Seng, award in the B Category. – A and B. In Category Michael Broom, Jasmine The team was coached by Malaysian Karst Society (MKS): Cave exploration at Gua Kandu, . May 8 A, SMK ACS Ipoh was Eleanor and Sean Mark Mr. Louis Rozario. (Saturday) at 9.30 a.m., Gopeng Town roundabout. Fee: members free; non-members adjudged the champion RM30/pax with 1 year membership. Confirmation by May 1. Contact: Bernard Lee at for the third year run- 017-5659313, C M Chan at 012-5028478, or David Foon at 012-5107555. Website: ning defeating SMK ADVERTISING SALES www.ipohecho.com.my www.mykarst.org/. Convent Ipoh. Speakers IPOH th EXECUTIVE FOR echoYour Voice In The Community 9 Malaysian Hospice Congress entitled, “Communication for Better Care” on May Pravinan Lai, Wong English speaking 7-9, Impiana Hotel Ipoh. Contact: Perak Palliative Care Society, 14 Lebuh Woods, Kah Woh, Angaindran Canning Gdn, 31400 Ipoh, Tel./Fax: 05-5469021, email: [email protected]. Gnanasagaran and Gulraj and fluent in Chinese Singh battled their wits No experience necessary – training provided St. Peter’s Church Ipoh Diocesan Children’s Carnival at YMCA Ipoh on May 8 defending the motion Basic salary plus commission (Saturday). There will be food and game stalls, fancy dress and colouring competition. that “Education is for Good career prospects For more information, call: Caroline at 016-5371298 (Colouring Contest) and Sulin at life not employment”. Send applications by email to: 012-5394670 (Fancy Dress). The best speaker award [email protected] or fax: went to Angaindran of 05-2552181 Ipoh Fine Arts Society presents Odissi by renowned dancer and exponent of Odissi, Guru Geetha Shankaran Lam. May 8 at 6 p.m., Dewan Serbaguna, Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Jalan Panglima Wahab. For further details contact: 016-5904420, 012-5712671 and 016-5321087. “Path To A Happy Mind” by Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche. Date and Time: Sunday, May 9 at 7.30 p.m. Venue: Excelsior Hotel, Ipoh. Admission: Free. Rinpoche will advise, from the Buddhist point of view, how to tame negative emotions in order to live harmoniously regardless of what is happening in the external world. Call Mike (012-5070104) or Fay (017-5790303) for details/ reservations or visit website: www. rymalaysia.org. Sathya Sai Organisation (Perak Chapter) Walk for Values. June 12 (Saturday) 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Taman DR Seenivasagam Ipoh. Organ pledge campaign, free goody bags, colouring contest, educational booth, cultural show, etc. Free entrance. Contact: Thiru – 012-5020704, Alages – 012-5155520 or Dr Elan – 012-5263293.

SMJK (I) , PERAK-FORM THREE 1975 GATHERING Class of Form 3-1975,SMJK (I) Bagan Serai, Perak,will be holding a grand gathering on the 12-06-2010 at SYUEN HOTEL,in Ipoh,Perak. For more details kindly contact:- Ganesan:016 551 9486 Mat Said:016 019 413 5774 or Lau Chin An:012 518 1318 Your Voice In The Community IPOH ECHO May 1-15, 2010 11

KAMPONG TALES Art for AIDS and education concern- pooling together ideas and and Ammin received third, ing the pandemic, within resources to bring AIDS but not least, prize of Malaysia, but there also awareness to the general RM250 for demonstrat- local, non-profit organisa- public’s view. Their intent ing, pictorially, ‘How tions, engaging in the dev- was to raise conscious- HIV cannot be Spread’. astating war against HIV/ ness, as well as funds, to All the artists and col- AIDS. continue the fight against laborators involved, as In between film mak- one of the world’s most well as those who voted, By Yusuf Martin ing and music making, last crippling virulent diseases deserve praise for just year local artist/musician/ – the HIV/AIDS virus. being involved in this he severity of the AIDS academic Kamal Sabran Known as Fighting initial project. Tpandemic remains a teamed up with a project AIDS with Art – an online However, all art prime concern across the worker – Dr Ismail bin visual art competition and is in a way subjective, world. Although statistics Lasa, president of Prostar exhibition, the Malaysian and the one work that from major monitoring Malaysia (programme for Art for AIDS initiative caught my eye is – Jerit organisations, including healthy adolescents) – a (Seni untuk AIDS) founded (scream), by Abdullah UNICEF, UNAIDS and the club raising awareness of a web based art competi- Hamdan (number 116 World Health Organisation HIV/AIDS among youth, tion which evolved into an on the website). This report some significant to engage in the spreading exhibition with over two is a poignant digital major changes in the viru- of awareness about HIV/ hundred stunning entries. artwork, for me say- lence of the pandemic in AIDS. Together, doctor A website poll enabled ing all there needs to be Seni untuk AIDS Malaysia, there still re- and artist initiated Art for visitors to vote for their fa- said about the fight against project initiative for this kaids2.blogs- pot, mains a great need for AIDS (Seni untuk AIDS), vourite image, or the most AIDS, the pain and suf- new year, concentrating Seni untuk AIDS can awareness of HIV (Human and successfully engaged effect/striking image and fering this disease brings specifically on photogra- be reached through a Immunodeficiency Virus) in bringing the anti-HIV/ closed with 1,693 votes not only to the individual phy. Facebook page. Links to and AIDS (Acquired AIDS message home to being registered on the whose body has been in- Seni untuk AIDS, in Facebook and to the web Immune Deficiency younger people. website meter. Prizes were vaded by the virus, but for this fresh venture, asks eve- pages of Kamal Sabran Syndrome), particularly The concept of Art for awarded for the top three those connected to that in- ryone, beginner, amateur and Dr Ismail Lasa can be among the young. AIDS may have begun in artworks at a ceremony dividual, friends and fam- and professional to send found on the aforemen- In Malaysia, where San Francisco (USA) some including the national poet ily. The top 30 artworks in their best photographic tioned website if further there are more than 80,000 fourteen years ago, when a A. Samad Said in Shah can still be seen online, at shots for the photography information is sought re- reported cases of HIV in- few local artists got togeth- Alam, February this year. http://seniuntukaids.blogs- exhibition which closes 12 garding both the Seni un- fection, and nearly 14,000 er and decided to sell art to Nur Suria Mansor won pot.com. noon May 31. As last year, tuk AIDS project itself, or reported cases of AIDS, help their friends suffering RM1,000 for her evoca- That was merely a there will be cash prizes this year’s initiative. official international and from HIV and AIDS, but it tive expressionistic work beginning. On March and certificates available to These initiatives are national organisations – continues worldwide with ‘Fading Away’ – a power- 28, Perak witnessed the the winners, and there will most important to draw like the Malaysian AIDS Malaysia also making its ful piece full of emotive launching of a second initi- be an online exhibition of attention to the AIDS pan- Council (MAC) spearhead mark. command, and obviously ative concerning art against the received photographs. demic, to facilitate spread- the fight against AIDS. In 2009, Seni untuk popular with the website AIDS. At the Prostar con- Entrants are asked to send ing awareness of the dis- MAC is seen to be in AIDS started in Malaysia voters. M. Syazwan gained vention, in Bukit Merah, their photographic images ease, promoting ways in the vanguard of authori- as a network of artists, RM500 for the nostalgical- Perak, YB Datuk Rosnah to seniuntukaids@gmail. which sufferers may be as- ties spreading awareness scholars and social activists ly resonant image ‘Mangsa’ Shirlin bt Hj Abdul Rashid com by May 31. sisted, and helping prevent Shirlin helped launch As well as a second fresh people from becom- BEHIND THE STREET NAMES ‘Drop the Hate’, the fresh website – http://seniuntu- ing infected in the future. By Yeun Yin Fong WHICH STREET?

Jalan Panglima (one of the streets in the middle of Old Town) Who was Panglima? sistant collector of land Datoh Panglima Kinta revenue in Kinta, an Ipoh Muhammad Yusuff was magistrate and the assist- the territorial chief of ant commissioner for co- Kinta. He was the tenth operative development. He Datoh Panglima Kinta. was also installed as the Datoh Panglima Kinta fourteenth Datoh Panglima Muhammad Yusuff trans- Kinta in 1951. formed Ipoh from a small Mohd Eusoff was village into the largest closely involved with the self into public service town in administration of Ipoh and organisations, of which throughout his career Perak in various capaci- he held no less than 56 from 1884 until his death ties, such as, Perak State appointments by the time in 1903. Council member in 1952 of his death, just before He left a great legacy and a member of Ipoh Town Merdeka (Independence) of his life in Ipoh by erect- Board in 1953. Besides in August 1957. ing the Panglima Mosque, that, he was the President by the river. of the All-Malaya Muslim Did You Know? Mohd Eusoff bin Missionary Society and Mohd Eusoff was the first Mohd. Yusuff was born in was nominated as the Malay to be made President Ipoh in 1897. He received first representative of the of the Ipoh Rotary Club and his early education in Orang Asli in the Malayan elected District Governor Anderson School (Ipoh). government. By shunning of Rotary International, He had served as an as- politics, he devoted him- District 330, for 1951/52. 12 May 1-15, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community PERAK GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT WAIVES PREMIUM CALL FOR CLARIFICATION CHARGE ON WATER EXTRACTION PROJECT he Perak Government has decided to waive the premium charge imposed he Perak Government Tby the Land Office on those who failed to convert their land from 99-year- Thas been urged to lease to freehold. clarify some of the issues State chairman for Local Government, Public Transport and Non-Muslim connected with the Batang Affairs Dato’ Dr. Mah Hang Soon said that however the RM100 for the application Padang underground water form and processing fee paid initially would not be refunded. extraction project. Dr. Mah was commenting on a complaint from a woman who had inherited a A report on the Sime plot of land at Menglembu New Village from her grandparents which had a 60-year Darby’s EIA on the project lease. by a group comprising of On expiry of her lease in 2003, she applied for renewal of her lease to 99 years Federation of Malaysian and her application was subsequently approved in 2006. Consumers Association When the Pakatan Rakyat came into power in 2008 they initiated a rule (FOMCA), Water and allowing residents to convert their leasehold title to freehold status, but before she Energy Consumer Associa- could get it approved the Barisan Nasional had wrestled back the power and put a tion Malaysia (WECAM) freeze to the conversion of leasehold title to freehold. and Forum Air Malaysia, In February, she received a notice from the Ipoh District and Land Office has questioned the issues informing her that her application had been approved for 99 years lease but not that are not covered in the for freehold status as requested. Additionally, she would have to pay RM670 for EIA and in total rejects the Abdul Rahman Said Alli, President, additional premium and processing fee. project. Persatuan Alam Sekitar Perak The resident, who prefers to be known only as Ms. Ng, approached Ipoh Echo Following the report, to highlight her plight and provided all her related documents. She stated that she Persatuan Alam Sekitar groundwater daily. Darby’s EIA. already had a 99-year lease which she surrendered to have it converted to freehold Perak (Perak Environment Association’s presi- Rahman reiterated status. Having to pay an additional cost for another 4 years of a 99 year leasehold Association), sent a letter dent Abdul Rahman Said that since the letter was title was unacceptable. to the Menteri Besar Datuk Alli said the clarification sent to the MB, he must A check with related quarters revealed that this was a common grievance by Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir requested is on the impact reply. The MB must ar- several others who had also applied to convert their titles to freehold status. Dr. Mah last December to reply to the project would have on range for a meeting with said in February the State was aware of this issue whereby 99-year leaseholders the issues raised by the river flow and surface water the association and other were required to pay additional charges. group report. which includes wetlands, interested groups to ex- According to him there were not many of these cases. The state has since The association also lakes and springs, living plain everything about the agreed to return to the owners their earlier title and not charge the additional costs wanted to know how the organisms on groundwa- project. underground water ex- and subsequently notified the respective Land Office of its decision. JAG ter, intrusion of sea water As a last resort, the traction project in Batang through seepage to fresh association plans to get Padang would benefit water area such as swamps the support of Orang SPORT Perak and how is it dif- and seaside ecosystems, Asli, NGOs, community CHESS GRAND PRIX ference from the Sarawak and on soil stability. leaders and residents of he 2nd and 3rd legs of model. Instead of replying Batang Padang on the Tthe Tan Sri Lee Loy The project aims to the letter, MB forwarded negative implications of Seng Grand Prix Chess supply raw water to the it to Jabatan Alam Sekitar the project and how they Championship 2010 was Klang Valley and when Negeri Perak (JAS) which would be affected, and held at Taiping on April it is fully operational by sent an unsatisfactory re- garner their support to op- 11 and Kerian on April 25 2013, it would extract ply to the questions raised pose the project. respectively. JAG 500 million litres of on the approved Sime A. JEYARAJ Participation at both locations was healthy with 192 entrants partici- VACANCIES pating in Taiping and 154 at Kerian. The breakdown We are an established wholesaler dealing with furnishing fabrics of participants for Taiping and are looking for qualified candidates to fill the position of: and Kerian respectively is as follows: 56/32 in the Ing Kiat, 3) Fadzil Nayan. Kit Win. 1. CUSTOMER SERVICE EXECUTIVE (Indoor - Female) open category, 62/31 boys Open category (Kerian): Under 12 (Kerian): 2. CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANT (Indoor - Female) and 29/12 girls in the un- 1) Liong Ing Kiat, 2) 1) Muhd Izzat Irfan Che 3. MARKETING EXECUTIVE (Male - able to drive) der-16 category and 37/56 Fong Yit San, 3) Tan Khai Mut, 2) Wan Muhd Adam ●● Aged 25 – 40 years boys and 8/23 girls in the Boon. Dani, 3) Amir Hamzah. ●● Good spoken English & BM with excellent communication skills. under-12 category. Under 16 (Taiping): The contest at Kerian ●● Able to communicate in Chinese will be an added advantage The mode of play had 1) Tang Kar Khei, 2) Nur was very close. With the ●● Computer literate the participants playing Afizan Amir, 3) Ee Kong top 10 players earning 6 ●● Related working experience will be an advantage against each other with- Yun. points each the standings out being separated into Under 16 (Kerian): had to be decided by a tie CONTACT PERSON: MS GERTRUDE categories. 1) Muhd Hafizi Muhamad, break system. th 17 Jalan Perindustrian Silibin 1 The top three win- 2) Ahmad Adib Abd Malik, The 4 leg of the Kawasan Perindustrian Ringan Silibin ners by category are as 3) Tang Wei Kit. tournament will be held 30100 Ipoh. follows: Under 12 (Taiping): at SMK Methodist (ACS) Tel: 05-526 4811 Fax: 05-527 9848 Open category (Taiping): 1) Nurril Syifa’natul Afifie, Sitiawan on May 16. Email: [email protected] 1) Fong Yit San, 2) Liong 2) Tang Wei Kit, 3) Chee JAG