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FREE for collection from our office and selected outlets, on 1st & 16th of the month. issue PP 14252/10/2008(007226) July 16 - 31, 2008 30 sen for delivery to your house by news vendors within . 54 RM 1 prepaid postage for mailing within , Singapore and Brunei. Scrap metal thieves cash-in on dirty deals

Ipoh houses, shops and factories are now being targeted day and night Read our full report - page 2 Photo by Rosli Mansor  IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

METAL THIEVES ON THE STREETS OF IPOH What can be done to halt the plundering? By Nisha Devina Roy As international met- nothing more than an ex- al prices soar so, too, cuse to monopolise the does the crime rate for RM350 million local scrap scrap metal theft across metal industry. The deal- Perak’s main urban cen- ers argued that metal theft tres – particularly Ipoh. could more effectively be Local thieves spe- reduced through police co- cialising in this nefarious operation with government “trade” are becoming bra- departments and agencies zenly indifferent to police rather than via operations countermeasures. Driven of a sole agent. by substantially increased However, an under- returns, they are now di- lying problem raised by recting their raids both some scrap dealers is how day and night. one identifies stolen scrap Working individu- metal? ally, in pairs and in groups A vital fire hydrant, all parts present and correct. Another vital fire hydrant - vandalized by scrap thieves One Perak dealer sim- of three or four, they are ply stated: “Many people plundering manhole cov- Authorities and the com- to pursue. Others are even more There is nothing more come into our yards and ers, telephone wires, air munity must put pressure The hopefully re- blatant. They masquerade to it. No need to fill out tell us they are renovating conditioner coils, sections on scrap metal dealers. formed criminal confirmed as construction workers to paperwork. No requirement their homes, throwing out of metal fencing, seg- While unquestionably not that a significant propor- target abandoned or vacant to reveal identities by old air conditioners and ments of power transmis- all such traders function tion of Perak’s scrap metal homes. In most instances, presentation of ID cards. such. It is not really our sion towers, aluminium deviously, this general thieves were drug addicts neighbours never question No official records need to problem to ask, is it?” gutters, copper down-pip- trading scene still harbours looking for their next fix. why ‘construction workers’ be kept. ing and lead roof sheath- the conduits for stolen “They just steal one or two are fiddling with manhole A significant number TACKLING THE ing. The list goes on. property. septic tank covers. They covers, down piping and of scrap metal dealers are PROBLEM The Ipoh Echo man- sell these and purchase such. reluctant to badger sell- RECORDS BROKEN aged to get in touch with drugs from their earnings. At some point metal ers about where the metal Possible measures to a former scrap metal thief. Everyone is desperate for thieves have to unload pieces they are offering counter stolen scrap metal Driven by demand in He was able to give an in- something,” he lamented. their pickings. Currently come from. Scrap metal is trading involves a require- China, the international sider’s view on how this One point Steven this is not proving diffi- just that - stray pieces of ment for dealers to tag and prices of copper and lead criminal activity has be- emphasized was perhaps cult. Numerous scrap metal metal with no clues to their hold items for a specific have broken all records period of time before re- over recent months. What sale. As far as the sale of is more, the experts are air-conditioning coils are predicting metal prices concerned, these should be across the board will con- restricted to licensed com- tinue to rise in the foresee- panies. able future. As a reflection Sellers of scrap metal of this, non-ferrous scrap should also be required to metal in 2001 fetched receive payment by cheque RM1.96 a pound. Today or voucher, eliminating all this price has shot up to cash payments. RM11.46 a pound. Homeowners and NEW RESTRICTIONS business operators, tar- geted by metal thieves, In the meantime, local are now having to meet far governments and councils steeper replacement costs could reduce the traffic for stolen gutters, siding, An intact manhole cover that has so far escapted theft. A stolen cover replaced by a cement replica of stolen metals by slap- downspouts, septic tank ping new restrictions on all covers and other steel, alu- come so prevalent. Steven worth noting; a segment centers in Malaysia and origins. points of sale. This could minium or copper items. (name changed to protect of the latest scrap metal adjacent territories will- While researching the identity) appeared rather thieves plying their trade in ingly accept metal for cash issue, the Ipoh Echo spoke include requiring all trad- ers in scrap metals to pro- SINGLE HEISTS nervous at first but, when Perak are decidedly more with few questions asked. to several scrap metal prodded, justified his innovative than their pred- While speaking to dealers who maintained duce identification cards. Making air-condition- On industrial sites, previous actions on the ecessors. In order to get a scrap metal dealer in they never accepted stolen ing units theft-proof might thieves are making off grounds of family require- away with bigger and bet- Perak, the Ipoh Echo was stock. They also main- be another approach. with copper coil and wir- ments. “I have a big fam- ter booty, they now drive told that the process was tained they reported to the Meanwhile metal ing worth hundreds of ily, he explained. get-away lorries while ac- not a complicated one. police any suspicious ac- thefts remain a serious thousands of ringgit in “Even with two jobs complices perform quick People simply pull up, tivity coming their way. problem for everyone planned, single heists. I could barely meet util- grab-and-runs with man- drop off their load, have On the other hand po- concerned - property While all this cre- ity and food payments. hole covers, drain covers it weighed, then drive off lice report that approaches owners, home builders, ates serious problems for Stealing manhole covers and gutters. with cash. of this nature from scrap public utilities and the the state. An intensifying and selling them as scrap metal dealers were ex- community at large. pattern for scrap metal metal was a good way to tremely rare. thievery is being imposed make extra money to buy nationwide. uniforms and shoes for my WHO REPORTS? www.ipohecho.com.my Clear indications are children. What else was I IPOH echoYour Community Newspaper that such activity is far meant to do?” They say most metal more rampant in areas The Ipoh Echo point- thefts are reported by Advertise in experiencing high unem- ed out that stealing a man- people whose goods have ployment and drug use. hole cover remained a been stolen. Appointments Herein, of course, lies an crime. Steven then main- Three months ago Classifieds important message for tained his former actions Sabah moved against the Ipoh. were non-violent and thus escalating crime of metal Call: Still, there is reason not as serious as other theft by appointing a sole Christine Tang for long term optimism crimes. “I was not hurting agent to purchase scrap providing local authori- people. I was helping my metal. The move triggered Executive ties recognize and act on family.” considerable opposition Tel : (605) 2495936 specific features of the This somewhat fatu- from scrap dealers. Fax : (605) 2552181 crime. One possible coun- ous “Robin Hood” phi- Any chunk of metal is a potential target - this time is was They maintained the ter-measure is obvious. losophy seemed pointless fence railing. government PLOY was Mobile : (016) 5450320 Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 

www.ipohecho.com From the Editor’s Desk By Fathol Zaman Bukhari IPOH echo Your Community Newspaper IT STARTED OFF QUIETLY ENOUGH, AND THEN . . . A dangerous relic is dicovered . . . a plane is ditched into a garden pond . . . and a former MB loses his cool

June seemed to be lining tax payers a few million pick a populated area to doors there were This prompted Sungei up as a run-of-the-mill ringgit. train? And finally, was the some decidedly Rapat Assemblywoman, sort of month. The only Which, of course plane airworthy? heated exchanges Hamidah Osman, to ut- event of any significance prompts the question: could According to a source taking place in- ter some derogatory re- slated for the 30 day a 67-year bomb really pose the trainee pilot was being doors. marks to the Speaker, V. period was the first sit- a danger after laying in wa- tested on switch-off and At the State Sivakumar. She declared ting of the Perak State ter for so long? switch-on drill. This in- L e g i s l a t i v e unabashedly: “I didn’t Legislative Assembly. Five days later, around volves switching off the en- Assembly, Tajol agree with the statement But then things began to lunchtime, an Eagle 150B gine and allowing the plane Rosli and his 28 but I wanted the Speaker Barisan Nasional to agree with me.” assemblymen, in A total of 24 police a rather unbecom- reports were made against ing show of pique, her throughout the coun- marched out of the try. State Assembly. Pete Seeger’s “Where That happened on have all the flowers gone?” Thursday, June 26 Tajol Rosli folk song comes to mind – day three of the at this point. Its closing week-long ses- one of their members was lines seem most appro- sion. denied the opportunity of priate: “When will they The BN representa- speaking first when the learn? When will they ever tives were unhappy because day’s sitting began. learn?

Remains of an Eagle 150B get inspected in what used to be an immaculate Taman Chempaka garden. happen . . . with a venge- airplane crashed into to glide before switching ance! the garden of a house in on the engine again. Such On Saturday, June 14, Taman Chempaka injur- manoeuvres require flying 2008 a man found a 1000- ing a trainee pilot and his at a minimum height of lb bomb – believed to be instructor. 1000 feet. either a Second World War Both were subse- Indeed, such training or a Malayan Emergency quently warded at the Ipoh is only permissible over relic – near a bridge span- General Hospital. the open sea and above ning the Sungei Panji in The two-seater Eagle beaches or low-density . 150B belonged to the population areas. The police, taking Integrated Training and It is going to cost the no chances, evacuated Services Academy based company a sizable sum residents within the area at the Sultan Azlan Shah in compensations and re- before Police bomb dis- Airport. placements. posal experts prepared to The locally built Eagle detonate the bomb in situ. A FEW QUESTIONS 150B markets at about Inexplicably, though, it RM600, 000 new. took the experts two sepa- An inquiry is ongoing. Third-party claims rate demolition blasts to It may take months to com- will take years to settle. render the old ordnance plete and the findings are There is one outstanding “harmless”. This, they unlikely to be made pub- claim and it is still in the were able to proclaim on lic. Still, a few questions court after more than six Saturday, June 21. In mon- are in order. Foremost, years. etary terms, the whole ex- why was the plane flying And while all this ex- ercise might well have cost so low? Secondly, why citement was going on out-  IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

PUBLISHER EDITORIAL We are Ipoh’s most effective voice. Ipoh Echo Sdn Bhd (Regd No 687483 T) LEGACY OF INCOMPETENCE Ipoh Echo is an inde- pendent community No 1 Jalan Lasam Speculation about the new mayor for Ipoh ended when structures lacking the required approvals. Officers of newspaper published 30450 Ipoh Perak Darul Mentri Besar, Dato’ Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Ismail’s ability, however, are few and far between. Ridzuan announced on Friday, July 4, that the vacant post would Appointing civil servants to a hot seat inevitably by Perakians for Pera- Tel: (605) 249 5936 kians. It is distributed Fax: (605) 255 2181 be filled by Roshidi Hashim. defeats the purpose of making a vibrant city like Ipoh EMail: ipohecho.ndr@ Roshidi has been Ipoh City Hall’s Secretary since tick. Pakatan Rakyat has failed to fulfill its pre-election free of charge. Our gmail.com July 2006. Prior to this he was private secretary to the promise to take the administering of local councils a notch costs are defrayed by former MB, Dato’ Seri Tajol Rosli. He has also served higher. advertisements placed EDITORIAL with the Anti-Corruption Agency for over 15 years as a Although it has appointed members of the public to sit by businesses and pri- prosecuting officer. on the state’s 15 local councils, this is far from enough. Fathol Zaman Bukhari vate individuals within The man may have the credentials but is he the right Ideally, the posts of council presidents and Nisha Devina Roy the state. They see person for the job? This is the burning question on the lips mayors should be elected. But since this is not possible the big advantage in GRAPHIC DESIGN/ of Ipohites. for constitutional reasons, the next best thing is to appoint PHOTOGRAPHY Since acquiring city status in 1988, Ipoh has someone outside the civil service circle. That someone dealing with us – our witnessed seven individuals taking on the mayor‘s post. should carry no excess baggage that might impair his fortnightly publication Rosli Mansor Hj. Ahmad Their performance has been mediocre, at best. Being performance. Without the “extras” he could then focus gives their ads more Razali civil servants, their loyalty is not to ratepayers but to their on micro-managing the town or city, with which he is mileage at less cost. entrusted. MARKETING & superiors. In this case, the superiors are the State Secretary, So, next time you Ipoh needs someone of high calibre to right the DISTRIBUTION the Mentri Besar and to a lesser extent, the Sultan; but not want to buy or sell a MANAGER necessarily in that order. wrongs of the past. Someone who calls a spade a spade, Only one person stood out in that crowd and he was someone who has the interest of residents at heart and house, a car, a dog or a Ramesh Kumar Dato’ Ismail Shah Bodin. Ismail was the second mayor of someone who is beholden, not to his many “bosses” but cat, please call our Ipoh from 1993 to 1994. to Ipohites per se. Classifieds at: PERMISSION AND RE- A disciplinarian, Ismail would walk the streets to Is the legacy of incompetence to continue unhindered? (05) 549 5936 PRINTS Has nothing changed? check on cleanliness, especially the city’s public parks, or 016 553 1092 Materials in Ipoh Echo may food courts and wet markets. He would check on house The Ipoh Echo pledges to observe and report fairly not be reproduced owners making extensions and would demolish those and objectively as the scenario evolves. Ramesh Kumar in any form without the written permission of the publisher THINKING ALOUD By G. Sivapragasam

PRINTER PARLIAMENT NEEDS DEMOCRACY Konway Industries Sdn Bhd And a free, fair and objective press remains a vital ingredient Plot 78, Lebuhraya Kam- pong Jawa Ostensibly Malaysia is Mulia, together with one The media have histor- necessarily out of writing is retard natural growth. 11900 Bayan Baru, Pulau Pinang rapidly becoming a dan- Deputy Speaker. No one ically been a critical com- equivalent to Democracy: gerous place. The latest else, including the Minister ponent of democracy. It is invent Writing, Democracy Delivery Form and News Tel: (604) 644 7507 evidence of this notion in charge of Parliament an institution as important is inevitable...... Whoever credibility was demonstrated by the Affairs, Datuk Seri Nazri as the legislature, judiciary can speak, speaking now to Useful contacts introduction of two re- Aziz, appears to have had and the executive. It is for the whole nation, becomes Ironically, as a con- strictions in none other an inkling of this decision. good reason that mass me- a power, a branch of gov- sequence of the dispute, Perak Main Police Staion than the very symbol of The rule caught not only dia are referred to as “The ernment, with inalienable the official launch of the 05-245 1222 sanctuary – Parliament the newspapers by surprise Fourth Estate”. weight in law-making, in government web log by 999 (emergency) House. but backbenchers as well, Nineteenth century all acts of authority. It mat- the Information Minister, Ipoh Main Police Station Literally, the ‘corri- some of whom ters not what rank Ahmad Shabery Cheek, 05-253 2222 dors’ of this august house were incensed he has, what rev- scheduled for July 25, had Ipoh General Hospital were declared off limits to enough to re- enues or garnitures: to be postponed. The intent 05-253 3333 news reporters and each move the barri- the requisite thing of this website is avowedly media house given a maxi- cades. is that he have a to counter false and inac- Ipoh Ambulance mum quota of five person- Surely the tongue which others curate information being 05-522 2506 nel to cover parliamentary whole unhappy will listen to; this published in the numerous 993 (emergency) sessions. episode, with all and nothing more is blogs and websites ruling Ipoh Fire Brigade The reason for this its acrimony and requisite.” cyberspace. 05-547 4444 move, supposedly, was se- embarrassment, These words Our government’s ap- 994 (emergency) curity. “How do we know could have been have never been proach is puzzling as in- Tenaga Nasional Berhad whether those showing the avoided. Prior more meaningful formation is information 15454 press tag are indeed jour- to the decision than in today’s in- whether it is provided in Lembaga Air Perak nalists?” was the quote re- the potential ternet age. electronic form or by other 1800-88-7788 ported. consequences means such as radio, tel- Purportedly, this was of such a step Evolution needs evision or newsprint. Directory Service the first time in the history should have time The perception that 103 of independent Malaysia been considered. information in electronic Rakan Cop that such regulations had C o n s u l t a t i o n It can be argued media can only be suc- 05-240 1999 been imposed – a measure with those likely that the Speaker’s cessfully countered with Perak Women for thought quite unnecessary to be affected action was partly electronic media is ques- Women Society even during the nation’s by such a rul- justified. The pan- tionable. The reason peo- 012-521 2480 most troubled periods. ing should have demonium often ple are turning to blogs and 012-505 0547 The media reacted to been undertak- witnessed in our websites is that they are the restrictions by boycott- en. Its august corridors must remain open to scrutiny Parliament’s pre- wary of the credibility of ing all press conferences cincts is, admittedly, information contained in and denying publication The Press in Democracy historian, Thomas Carlyle, very different from the dec- traditional media. www.ipohecho.com.myAdvertise in of press statements by asserted that the mass orous atmosphere that pre- One obvious approach IPOH both the members of the There needs to be rec- media in a pluralist lib- vails in similar institutions would be to work towards echoYour Community Newspaper Government and opposi- ognition that the press is an eral democracy fulfil the in first world countries. constructing source cred- tion. integral part of the demo- vitally important role of But, whereas the coun- ibility. This way public Classifieds The backlash resulted cratic process. The conse- being guardians of democ- tries that the Speaker refers perception of the trustwor- Appointments in the hasty removal of quence of limiting access racy and defenders of the to have had long histo- thiness of traditional media these restrictions. The to information affects its public interest. Edmund ries of two party systems, may change. Another vital Burke, speaking about Call: rules survived only one quality and, consequent- our parliament has just step would be to effect lib- day. ly, its value. Democracy the then Three Estates in emerged, for the first time, eralisation of the overall Ramesh Kumar functions successfully by Westminister, remarked: with a meaningful opposi- national press. To a degree Autocracy? delicately balancing the “. . . in the Reporters’ tion. the government has already Marketing Manager various institutions that Gallery yonder, there sat With time it will evolve begun this process by al- Tel : (605) 2495936 Apparently the ruling make the system possible. a Fourth Estate more im- and achieve maturity. lowing PAS to publish its was the result of a decision A seemingly insignificant portant than they all. It is The process cannot party newspaper Harakah Fax : (605) 2552181 taken independently by act can affect this balance not a figure of speech, or a be hastened by top down fortnightly and awarding Mobile : 016 5531092 the Speaker of the House, and have far reaching con- witty saying; it is a literal imposition of rules and Parti Keadilan a printing Tan Sri Pandikar Amin sequences. fact. Printing, which comes regulations. Indeed it may permit. Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 

ISSUES TO WATCH OUR CONCERNS A DEMOCRATIC EXERCISE AT THE CONTINUING DESTRUCTION THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL OF OUR FORESTS MUST BE STOPPED Finally, the villagers at RPT Tasek vote for Our state holds the dubious honour of having their ketua kampung incurred the biggest loss of permanent forest in a Kampung Tersusun In Perak, elections for Tasek. “Unity is my prima- period of four short years Tasek or Rancangan 874 ketua kampungs were ry concern,” he said. “The P e r k a m p o n g a n conducted over a period kampung folks are divided Photographs by Rosli Mansor Tempatan (RPT) Tasek, stretching more than a along political lines and as it is officially known, week beginning Thursday, this is bad. I’ll bring them is a 120-acre enclave June 19. together so we can agree off the Tasek-Tanjong The RPT Tasek elec- to disagree in a more civi- Rambutan trunk road. tion was held on Saturday, lised way.” Kampung Tersusun, as June 21 between 10 am Some of the lingering the name suggests, is a and 2.30 pm. Only a sin- problems that require at- planned village with the gle polling station was es- tention in the kampung are necessary infrastruc- tablished for the purpose related to drainage, public ture built specifically - the Kemas (Kemajuan transport and mosquitoes. for the rakyat living on Masyarakat) kindergar- “The scarcity of buses go- the fringes of ing to schools major towns in the city in Malaysia. centre is Those who problematic. qualify are Parents are each given a finding it dif- plot of land. ficult to send They are re- their kids to quired to build schools,” he their own l a m e n t e d . houses within Hashim in- The once breathtaking view from the fifth floor of the Tun Razak library is now marred a stipulated tends to raise by proofs of destruction time frame. these issues RPT Tasek with City is one of them. Hall and the It comprises state gov- Cik Gu Hashim, the newly elected ketua kampung 300 plots of ernment. He vows to unite the residents of RPT Tasek. which 245 are told the Echo occupied. The that he would kampung has a soon call for population of a residents’ about 2000 – meeting. to mainly retired get feedback Malay govern- and a clearer ment servants. picture of RPT Tasek fellow vil- was carved out lagers’ senti- of disused min- ments. ing land in 1984 The less and over time than encour- the kampung The only polling station aging voter has assumed turnout in the its own identity. Like all ten building beside the RPT Tasek election should On the road to , sightseers are greeted by patches of denuded areas. Old other villages in the coun- mosque. be addressed. timers speak of a time when these places were all a lovely green try, life revolves around Three men contested the mosque where people for the post of village head: VALUE OF Perak lost, according to Taiping and another near Nga Kor Meng, in his congregate for prayers and Abidin Jali Hijazi bin Mat INFORMATION official statistics, some have been cleared for opening remarks at the religious functions. Jiri, 57, Ahmad bin Sutan, 11,869 hectares of per- goat breeding. There were same Environment Day The mosque commit- 53, and Hashim bin Mohd Publicity is required. manent forest – the big- reports of illegal logging seminar, announced that tee, therefore, plays an Ali, 67. All had served on In future, the print and gest loss in Malaysia in the Belum forest. The the government would important role in the daily the mosque committee electronic media should –between 2001 and 2005. extent of the destruction launch a campaign to plant lives of the dwellers. and are, therefore, familiar be roped in to help along This is a dubious honour. is unknown as no informa- trees throughout the state. with the residents. with the Information In his keynote address tion has been forthcoming In the past, school children CHANGED A total of 496 voters Department which itself at the recent seminar on “Be ever since. were normally involved SITUATION had cast their votes when appears dormant. Green, Be Responsible” in projects of this nature. polling ended at 2.30 pm. There is an added held in conjunction with ALARMING However, since they are Ketua kampung (vil- The figure represented complication. The former Environment Day 2008, now being barred by the lage heads) in the coun- only 48 per cent of the nominated village heads Menteri Besar, Dato’ Trees at the foot of Education Ministry from try are nominated by the eligible voters. The poor are still being bankrolled by Seri Mohammad Nizar the Keledang Range were participating in state func- respective state govern- turnout could be attributed the Federal Government. Jamaluddin, remarked that being destroyed at an tions, the state government ments. The nominees are to poor publicity. So, in practice, there are since taking office shortly alarming rate. The damage will need to get NGOs and normally influential peo- two village heads in a after the March 8 election, can be seen clearly from religious groups to help ple with links to the ruling THE WINNER kampung. he had not approved the the fifth floor of Tun Razak with its greening cam- party. The objective is to This could jeopard- felling of even a single Library. paign. have policies disseminated Hashim bin Mohd Ali ise attempts by Pakatan tree. He stressed that the Ipoh city is fast be- The present govern- to the grassroots through obtained 213 votes and Rakyat at streamlining Pakatan Rakyat govern- coming a concrete jungle. ment has promised to these chosen proxies. was declared the winner. administration in states it ment is committed to pre- Trees must be planted in adopt a more prudent ap- However, things have He was a teacher at Sam controls. But at RPT Tasek, serving the forest. the city – let us do away proach to forest utilisation. changed since Pakatan Tet Secondary School Hashim is optimistic. with the plastic ones that About time. We ought Rakyat won control of Ipoh. Hashim and his wife, “There is no clash PAST EXCESSES were used previously. A to preserve trees not just Perak and four other states Sharifah Zenaidah, are of interests,” he told the former mayor said that for our benefit but for that in the March 8 elections. well-liked by the villag- Echo. “I know how to deal It has been pointed out City Hall would follow of future generations. Time True to their election man- ers who cite them for their with the situation and turn that the loss of permanent China’s example of plant- is running out. We have to ifestoes, Pakatan Rakyat pleasant dispositions. it in my favour.” forest was due in part to ing fruit trees along the start respecting the envi- has given villagers the op- In an interview with the excesses of the previ- road. What happened to ronment and the time to portunity to elect their own Ipoh Echo, Hashim out- FATHOL ZAMAN ous administration. that proposal? start is NOW. leaders. lined his plans for RPT BUKHARI A forest reserve near Executive Councillor A. JEYARAJ  IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

FROM MY ALBUM By Quicksilver

The surcharge – (as in overprint) – frenzy of the late 1800s When falling postal rates dominated colonial mail

If you read my previous vendor spotted an error. column you might recall There had been a fault in my reference to the flurry the overprinting process. of overprinting activity Seven stamps on the top that took place on Straits left of the printing block Settlements stamps in failed to show the 3 cent the final decade of the alteration. The stamp was 1800’s. immediately removed from There was, in circulation. fact, so much alteration This sheet of 3 cents work on stamp values go- overprinted on 32 cents ing on during this period – save the seven stamps that even today collectors All Correspondences went by ship, the sample above that failed to show the have difficulty keeping shows a cover from Singapore to Cambridge, England alteration – was subse- track of details. by SS Verona 1886 quently acquired by a Complicating matters prominent postal official in further for current stamp Singapore. enthusiasts is the fact that He used one of the the colonials in control 110 stamps on a registered cov- years ago described what er and kept the remaining 6 they were doing as “sur- stamps - one of which end- charging”. That was an ed in the royal collection. unfortunate misnomer as The other 5 misprinted most of the changes they stamps remain for sale at made to stamp values dur- £18,000 (Sterling) a piece! ing those years resulted in – or around MR126,000 devaluations. each - as listed in a Stanley A far more accu- Gibbons catalogue. rate description would be Another classic tale “overprinting”. during the early days of So, why did it become our postal system goes like necessary to switch stamp this. values so frequently at this The postmaster of time? Nebong Tebal, who hap- Colonial powers pened to loose or dam- 5,820 sf RM505,500 were opening and estab- age his obliterator, did lishing new international not wish to report it to the sea routes with alarming Sample of Straits Settlement Stamps used in Perak head office in Penang. He regularity. With this went including a cover posted in Taiping. thought he could get a new expanded merchant ship- one made locally. ping activity – particularly Pahang - used stamps of tive surcharge reprint con- It was put together to throughout South East the Straits Settlements for sisted of a huge figure 8 his instructions. But there Asia. Along with the ships local postage. smack in the middle of the was a mistake in the spell- went mail for traders, trav- There was even a case stamp – and in red! ing of the town. Tebal be- ellers and colonised people of the Government hav- Today’s collectors feel came “Tabal”. The secret alike. It must be appreciat- ing to reprint a stamp sur- this all resulted from a less was out and I am not sure ed that all letters for inter- charge TWICE! than subtle demonstration what happened to the post- national addresses in those master. days went by sea. There was certainly no airmail available. Flying machines had yet to be invented. A good example of this early sea mail is the envelope I am displaying at the top of my column. Inevitably, in- THE FAMOUS DOUBLE OVERPRINT creased mail enterprise The sample from my album shows the first overprint on saw postal rates in free the left and the second overprint on the right. Talk about fall. In order to cope with a can’t miss remedy! all the changing stamp val- ues, overprinting of sur- This occurred as early of pique by some official plus and outdated values as 1884 when the assist- in the Singapore printing became essential if terrible ant postmaster general in office who thought his wastage was to be avoided. Penang, a Mr Noel Trotter, first attempt at altering the Here are some examples of complained that the 8 cents stamp’s value was more than adequate. Extraordinarily, the most celebrated over- Urgently needed flyer distributors print was one that, in fact, NEVER WAS! (Male/Female) It stands a classic local Earn between stamp collecting tale! RM 30 to RM 60 daily. The year was 1894 and a 3 cent stamp was ur- Vacancies for interior designer, From left to right, the 1891 surcharge,10 cents on gently required in the colo- I shall end this column draughtsman and clerk. 24 cents and the 1892 thirty cents on32 cents. ny. The printers in London, highlighting the fact that to Computer knowledge a must. De La Rue, did not have stamp collectors this was a reprints which I have taken surcharge on a particular Call Sam at a 3 cent plate available so wonderful period to collect from my album. stamp issue was indistinct the problem was left to the and add to ones Straits 012-5866 112 or come in for a walk in To complicate matters and almost unreadable. Singapore printing office collection as there were interview at even further, the native Down in Singapore, to solve. They used a 32 so many varieties to spot 390A Jalan Pasir Puteh,31650 Ipoh,Perak. states of Malaya, Sungei the reprinting centre, his cent stamp and overprinted and discover. It was quite Ujung, Perak, Selangor, complaint had an immedi- a boon period for the avid Tel:-05-2537 518 a 3 cents surcharge. Negri Sembilan .and ate reaction. The alterna- An eagle-eyed stamp collector. Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 

Ipoh Facts and Fancies By Ho Tak Ming Kinta’s proud horse racing past Where race didn’t determine club membership At one time there were three Gymkhana Clubs – or turf clubs – in Kinta: at Gopeng, Batu Gajah and Ipoh. Their existence attest- ed not only to the eques- trian skills of the early British administrators and non-officials, but equally to the gambling proclivi- ties of the local Chinese. As far as the Chinese were concerned they saw horse racing as providing a wel- come divergence for bet- ting away from the hum- drum gambling farms. At the turn of the century colonial ladies came out in their The earliest of the finery on race day. As the years went by, race day became a far more male dominated occasion. three courses listed British institutions, mem- The fashion scene was similar gatherings any- effective setoff to the more the rainbow in its admix- above was the Gopeng bership was open to the magnificent, reminiscent where. sombre and less daring de- ture of hues. Gymkhana Club, founded locals. Among the office- of Ascot. The tin miners Race meetings in signs of the European folk. This meeting was the in the late 1880s; Gopeng bearers of the Batu Gajah entered their thorough- Malaya, and indeed eve- This feature was not lack- most largely attended and being the oldest station. club were Chinese stew- breds, which made for rywhere in the East, are ing yesterday. The course most successful that had One of its staunchest ards, who included many exciting betting. The book- given an added brightness round about the neigh- been held in Ipoh, and well supporters was Eu Kong, of the district’s leading ies waxed fat. The plush by the gay and fantastic bourhood of the starting able to claim the leading the principal miner in the towkays. There were also Grand Hotel had full occu- colourings of the native post was fringed by lines place among the race meet- town and holder of the Malay stewards includ- pancy on race weekends. It costumes which afford an of vivid colour, rivaling ings of the FMS. opium monopoly. He al- ing the Dato’ Panglima added a motor garage for ways hosted a lavish lunch Kinta, the Dato’ Sri Adika the use of the well-heeled at his house before each Raja and the Penghulu of connoisseurs of horseflesh meeting. When Eu Kong the town, Dato’ Pandak who came from outstation. Perak Pioneer died in 1890, his brothers, Akhat. The FMS Hotel made up a Established in 1894 Eu Tat and Eu Chun, car- However, tiny Batu special menu. ried on the horse racing Gajah was just an official ‘The oldest and most tradition. town. It had neither the THE IPOH RACES When the Kinta commercial enterprise nor widely circulated newspaper Gymkhana Club was the vigour of its neigh- IF YOU WIN, DINE Perak Pioneer founded at Batu Gajah in bour, Ipoh. As a result he AT THE in the F.M.S’ 1890, the Gopeng Club was racecourse at Batu Gajah F.M.S. HOTEL relegated to something of had all the look of an aban- an ulu concern. Batu Gajah doned mine between race IF YOU LOSE, COME THE WAY IT WAS . . . 100 YEARS AGO AND ENJOY was the district headquar- meetings. Regrettably, it AN EXTRA GOOD ters and its race meetings often lacked a Clerk of DINNER were always graced by Course, a Secretary – and Local & General * * * * * in the event of the and be cheered up! abolition of opium and the District Magistrate, funds. Local & General the Resident, or even the When the Ipoh SPECIAL TIFFINS AND Mr Cowan, the Protector the consequent loss of Resident-General when Gymkhana Club was DINNERS of Chinese, Perak, passed revenue to the Colony, the Federated Malay States founded in 1903, the rac- on the through this afternoon on Mr Long, the new to forego the military was formed in 1896. ing fraternity naturally RACE DAYS 18th and his way to Europe on a Superintendent of contribution for a period The racecourse on gravitated to the more ex- 19th February well-earned holiday. Government Plantations, of five years. the high, cool plateau of citing new happening. The Perak, comes from Kew, Should the above Changkat was a splendid Gopeng Gymkhana Club The town’s newspaper * * * * * where he has been an ac- be true, it is indeed one, indubitably one of the closed its doors in 1906, described one race meeting tive member of the garden- good news; good for finest in the FMS. The best and reverted to a social in 1913 thus: The Legislative ing staff. the Colony, but what is racehorses were entered club catering for pigeon Council of Hongkong has most important to us is making the gymkhana shooting, tennis, etc. The IPOH RACECOURSE A rejected by eight votes to * * * * * what will be done in the meetings exciting events Kinta Gymkhana Club at SCENE OF BRILLIANCE five a motion protesting case of the F.M.S. Will and the ladies had a chance Batu Gajah ceased to func- against the Imperial ‘The Spectator’ bitterly H.M. Government make to show off their finery. tion in 1910, and became The Ipoh Spring Meeting Government opium order. opposes the Government’s good the loss of revenue At Gopeng, on the oth- the Kinta Golf Club. The not only excelled itself at proposed concession of that will cease from total er hand, the only European old racing stables were the opening day yesterday, * * * * * votes to women. It argues prohibition of Opium, or lady present (besides the sold and the racecourse but also made a bold bid that a woman is not a man, will they in place take over native ladies) was Mrs. was turned into a golf for a winning place among Mr H.C.Ridges has arrived or, in other words, that the Guides and thus free Douglas Osborne, wife of course. all the race meetings of the at Ipoh and assumed duties nature has placed in male the Local Government the Secretary of the Club, The Ipoh Gymkhana country. as Protector of Chinese, hands the ultimate ratio of from the expense of their who gave away the prizes. Club, on the other hand, If the number of book- Perak. The Malay Mail in physical force. upkeep during the next The Kinta Gymkhana Club was a brilliant success from makers plying their trade noticing his departure from five years as in the case of made Batu Gajah famous the start. Considerable on the field is a criterion Kuala Lumpur says:– ‘The * * * * * the Colony? throughout the Malay credit for this must go to of success, then Ipoh goes whole of Mr Ridges long The military States and Colony in the the leadership provided right on top. There were and valuable service has Captain Graham, the new contribution of Singapore 1890’s. The Perak Pioneer by the club’s Founder five of them. And the fact so far been in Selangor, Commander of the Guides is one fifth of the described one such meet- President, Eric Maxwell, that they did exceedingly where he has made many Battery arrived from revenue, but the cost of ing in 1895: the Ipoh partner of the good business shows that friends. It is the general Hazara, India, yesterday, the maintenance of the “Visitors are com- legal firm of Presgrave, the crowd was large, sport opinion that this genntle- and assumed command of Guides falls far short of mencing to flock in to Matthews and Maxwell. was good, and there was man’s undoubted abili- the local guns. the revenues derived from Batu Gajah for the races Everybody agreed plenty of money about. All ties have never received opium in the F.M.S. Under from Singapore, Selangor that the racecourse was excellent signs. due recognition since Sir * * * * * these circumstances, in Of a certainty, the Ipoh William Maxwell’s time. what way will the F.M.S. and elsewhere, and it is most prettily situated and A Straits said that the meeting will bid fair to become the Spring Meeting is Kinta’s Sir William was a keen be recouped for the loss Ascot. The costumes of judge, we might almost contemporary has the incurred? attract more visitors than most popular in the State. following:– any held throughout the The race meetings were the ladies on the lawn and say a hard judge, of the To make this good, colony or native states”. important social events, the grandstand yesterday capabilities of his officers, will H.M. Government One reason why the attended by all of Ipoh and were the dominant note of and it is well known that It is rumoured that ‘His also undertake the upkeep turf clubs were so popu- its neighbours, including a a scene of brilliance well he had a high opinion of Majesty’s Government has of the Civil Service staff, lar was that, unlike many bevy of ladies. able to hold its own with Mr Ridges.’ signified its willingness, in addition to the Guides.  IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

Musings by See Foon Chan-Koppen Tips for a Better Life Let us review the daily patterns we live by and alter the ones that drag us down

we have to travel in small- “Spend time with people find crayon scribbling on have lost. minds, the grudges, resent- er cars, go on fewer holi- over the age of 70 and un- your newly whitewashed ments, the “might have days, eat out more infre- der the age of 6.” walls while your young- “Frame every so-called beens”, the “if onlys”, the See Foon quently. Instead of feeling ster grins in delight at his disaster with these words: “it’s their faults”, or the deprived, we can rejoice Older people have masterpiece?! ‘In five years, will this “cup is half-empty”. Why I received a lovely mail in more family time, plan- lived their lives and are Their views on life matter?” not half-full? from a friend recently ning more economically usually bursting with and love are equally uplift- A friend of mine who entitled “40 Tips for a healthful meals or making wisdom. Older folks ing. It may be a cliché but is one of the most posi- Better Life”. While I friends with your neigh- time really is a great heal- tive people I know has this won’t repeat verbatim all bours so you don’t have er. That broken relation- amusing habit of saying to 40 of these tips, I felt that to drive to friends’ houses. ship will mend and the herself: some of them are worth And the list is as long as business deal gone sour “Cancel, cancel, can- reflection. your creative mind will al- if not rectified, will turn cel” every time she finds For starters, I’ll share low. into new opportunities. herself saying or thinking the following tips: Your rebellious teenager a negative thought about “What other people think will mature and grow to someone or something. I “Life isn’t fair but it’s still of you is none of your respect you and every lit- couldn’t agree more. good. You can make it business.” tle molehill from which No one is in charge of better by doing whatever we create mountains, will your happiness except you. makes you happy.” Everyone has filters disappear. You are the only one through which they see who can make a decision While we’re all up the world and these are all “Get rid of anything that for your life, so make it in in arms about the fuel dependent on their condi- isn’t useful, beautiful or the way which makes you “Love is when mommy and food price hikes and tioning and values. When don’t have time to worry joyful.” happier. gives daddy the best piece people at every Kopitiam someone tells you they about “keeping up with And while you’re at it: of chicken.” gathering are worrying don’t like your hair, your the Joneses” and nor do This is not just about about how hard it will tie, your friends or your they care whether you’re clearing out the junk Dream more while you are And on how to make be to make ends meet, it spouse, thank them for dressed in the latest fash- we’ve accumulated in awake. someone fall in love with might be helpful for us to sharing and move on. Or if ion or what car you drive. cupboards. You know, you: stop moaning and apply you don’t particularly wish They do have great stories the stuff we keep think- And: our minds to finding cost to see the person again, say, to tell and a storehouse of ing, “Oh I’m sure I’ll find “Tell them that you own saving solutions. We’re all “I don’t believe I asked for knowledge on what works a need for it sometime in Try to make at least three a whole bunch of candy familiar with the usual ad- your opinion.” and what doesn’t. If only the future”. Which also people smile each day. stores.” monitions about car-pool- Don’t waste your we’d listen. applies to clothing and ac- ing, putting in natural gas precious energy on gossip, And young kids are cessories, kitchen utensils Those readers who When we spend time tanks, etc but it looks as if energy vampires, issues of glowing balls of energy. and gadgets, and any other would like to have the full with little kids, we have a the days of gas-guzzling the past, negative thoughts Notice how everything is paraphernalia which were version of the 40 Tips for a chance to recapture some of SUVs, MPVs, and deluxe or things you cannot an adventure for them? “must have’s” at one time Better Life, plus the bonus that innocence and naivete saloons are numbered ex- control. Instead invest They are full of excite- in the past. 50 Success Tips, you may that somehow, somewhere cept for the very rich. It’s your energy in the positive ment and discovery. Ever It is also a reference email the writer at: along the line, most of us not the end of the world if present moment . watched in horror as you to the accumulation in our [email protected]

Kafe Paprika’s COME ONE, COME ALL! INGREDIENTS 3. Blend or process Syrian Baba Ghanoush eggplant flesh with FOOD FAIR 2 large (1 kg) eggplants remaining ingredients & JUMBLE SALE ¼ cup (60ml) plain s k e w e r . until combined. yogurt Place whole Sprinkle with DATE: 2 tablespoons lemon e g g p l a n t s chopped parsley and Saturday, July 19, 2008 juice on oven serve with pita bread, if 1 clove garlic, crushed tray. Bake, desired. ¼ cup (60ml) tahini uncovered, in • Recipe can be made 2 VENUE: 2 teaspoons ground hot oven about days ahead. No. 28 Tiger Lane cumin 1 hour or until METHOD • Storage: Covered, in (Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah) ⅓ cup fresh coriander soft; cool 15 minutes. refrigerator. 31400, Ipoh leaves 2. Peel eggplants, chop • Freeze: Not suitable. (Makes about 2 ¼ cups 1. Pierce eggplants in flesh roughly; discard several places with a • Microwave: Not Time: from 10 am (560ml). skins. suitable. Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 

NO-FRILLS COOKING, part 1 STAY BUSY . . . ALSO, BE ACTIVE Cheng Sun Mooi is out to fashion the busy A blitz through 20 shopping malls nationwide aims person into a frugal gourmet to encourage the public to stretch, move and play for The recipes that appear 2 pips garlic, minced ½ eggplant (), and better health here have been created 1 slice ginger, minced keep the other half for in response to repeated 1 tsp. preserved soya beans another day. Wrap it in Perakians had the op- requests from numerous (towcheong) tissue and place in a plastic portunity to participate readers – many of them Spices to fry whole: bag. It can be kept 2-3 days in the 100PLUS Live single working girls 3 petals star of anise (pat refrigerated and can be Active Challenge mall – who lead busy lives. kok) used for bulking up a fish road show when it came Combining duties at work 1 thin sliver of cinnamon curry for another meal. to the Ipoh’s Greentown and the demands of home 1 small cardamom, slightly Shopping Mall, as part life can be daunting. No opened Eggplant - Wok- of a nationwide tour re- frills cooking should cently. lessen the daily stress. Marinade for chicken: Participants chose This is a series that will 1 tsp. sesame oil from various events that feature easy-to-follow 1 tsp. cornflour included vertical wall cooking methods that 2 tsp. wine (Hua Thiew) climbing, skateboarding, result in tasty dishes. 3 tsp. light soya sauce. basketball 3-on-3 chal- Chicken comes to mind lenge, football juggling, whenever a housewife finds Method: tyre challenge, cross train- that fish is too expensive for In a clay pot, over seared and steamed er treadmill challenge and her budget. But what can medium heat, dry roast the zig-zag dribbling or run- we do with fowl apart from spices till aromatic. Add Half an aubergine ning variation according white steamed chicken? in 1 ½ tablespoons oil and (eggplant, terong), cut into to limitation of locations. Here is an age-old recipe brown the sliced onions 2 inches thin slices (about The various challenges are which is very popular in and fragrant the minced 2cm width) designed to suit everybody, almost every Cantonese garlic and ginger, together 2 minced shallots regardless of age, gender h o u s e h o l d : C h i c k e n with the towcheong. 1 tbsp. Dried prawns, and fitness level. and Potato Braise. But Put in chicken and coarsely chopped Scheduled to be held this recipe has wafts of potato pieces. Stir fry till Soya sauce at 20 designated major salivating spice. The aroma chicken changes colour 1 tsp. Sesame oil shopping centres across Radio personality JJ attempting to prove he is up to the is very subtle. and potato browns at edges, Malaysia, 100PLUS Live vertical wall climbing challenge. adding water to moisten. Method: Active Campaign’s main lifestyle through simple, ties, 100PLUS is organ- Claypot Chicken and When content is aromatic, In smoking wok, objective is to motivate the fun and exciting physical ising the LRT Challenge Potato Braise top up with water to braise spoon in 2 tablespoons oil public to adopt an active activities that can be en- which encourages com- till chicken is cooked and to heat. lifestyle. joyed anytime, anywhere, muters to take the stairs potato yields softly to a Throw in eggplant The programme aims individually and or with instead of the escalators or fork. Gravy should be thick pieces and lightly sear on to focus on a number of sa- family and friends. lifts, then presenting them and just cover the chicken both sides. Push aside. lient points, among them: Chris Ng, Country with a bottle of 100PLUS. mixture. Mix minced shallots and Marketing Head at the There is also the Bus Season for taste - just dried prawns, stir until ● Better health can Regional Office of Fraser Stop Challenge in Penang a splash of wine, a few fragrant. Add oil if mixture be achieved if people in- & Neave (Singapore) Pte and Kelantan that invites drops of sesame oil and a gets too dry. corporate simple and en- Ltd inaugurated the Live the public to participate in few shakes of soya sauce, Ingredients: Serve eggplant topped joyable physical activities Active Campaign. stretching exercises while to taste. up with the shallot and that take up little time or At the launch, the waiting for the bus. Note: This main dish ½ kampung chicken, cut dried prawn crisps. effort in their daily lives. media were coaxed to For more information, can be accompanied by into bite-size. Mix with Put in 2 tsp. soya sauce ● People don’t have participate in the events. on the Live Challenge, two other simple dishes marinade and set aside. and the sesame oil. to compromise their their A number obliged, among please log on to 100PLUS. like a plain wok-tossed 3 potatoes, chunked Steam over the rice busy “must-do” existenc- them hitz.fm radio deejay, com.my. watercress vegetable dish 1 big onion, sliced (as for just before it is cooked (to es. JJ. and an eggplant dish. Use omelette) save on fuel energy). ● Promote an active As part of the activi- PETER KHIEW A TASTE OF PREMIUM WINES Special vintages delight lucky guests at exclusive Ipoh wine tasting event

Malaysians are more resort was a closed-door say, “Red wine in the Denise Wine Shop outlets. familiar with the Barossa affair. Attendance was by tropics needs to be chilled, Bird in Hand Pinot Rose, Valley and McLaren invitation only. It was the as drinking it at room Bird in Hand Shiraz and Vale regions of South first ever wine tasting- oc temperature may not be Bird in Hand Merlot are Australia than any other casion organised by the the wisest thing to do.” retailed at RM96.80 each. wine producing area Clearwater Sanctuary. He was, however, Its premium brand, Down Under. According to Mr. Kenny silent on young Nest Egg Cabernet Thus the Adelaide Yap who is Clearwater’s Malaysians’ wine- Sauvignon, costs Hills come as a relatively Executive Director, the drinking habits. RM288 a bottle. new “find” for most of us. tasting was a prelude to in- Adding Sprite, They are avail- Located about 40 troducing fine dining at the Coca Cola and able at Clearwater’s kilometers south-east resort’s restaurant. Seven Up to wine Lakeside Terrace. of Adelaide and 500 In an exciting - red and white FZB meters above sea-level, departure from the norm, - seems temperatures, topography the wine tasting was done a bit and soil there are most ala cocktail party fashion. suited to cool-climate Justine Nugent pours a prize winning wine for a guest Finger foods were served wines. It is precisely these along with the winning wine-types for which Australian wine industry at the Australian Cool labels. the region is becoming winning a number of Climate Wine Show. The wines were internationally famous. national accolades. As it happened, these dispensed personally One boutique winery The company‘s very wines were among by 39 year-old Justine in the Adelaide Hills is Bird in Hand Shiraz won the premium Bird in Nugent, younger brother Bird in Hand, named after Australia’s Winestate Hand labels offered to of the winery’s founder. the disused Bird in Hand Magazine’s “Shiraz of the some 60 fortunate guests Justine took pains to goldmine nearby. Year” and the “Wine of who recently gathered at introduce his family’s odd! Viticulturalist turned the Year” awards in 2005. Clearwater Sanctuary Golf special brands and explain B i r d winemaker, Andrew Its other label, Bird in Resort’s Lakeside Terrace. their innate qualities and in Hand Nugent, started this Hand Merlot, was judged Unlike in Australia where taste characteristics to the l a b e l s family-owned business “Merlot of the Year” in wine tasting is often part guests. can be Nugent with in 2000. It has gained 2005 and the following of a public gourmet festi- As for chilling red purchased a bottle of much prominence in the year won a Gold Medal val, this event at the golf wine, Justine had this to at all Pinot Rose 10 IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

YOUNG PERAK MY ‘EXCHANGE YEAR’ IS OVER Kristin Hartlich is about to do her own ‘balik kampung’ and Students from participating shares her sad-happy thoughts schools are invited to write about or photograph Nearly a year has passed. Flown is the word I’d things/events outside their rather use. Now I know respective institutions of learning. the meaning of the word E-mail articles to: fleeting. My stay as an exchange student in [email protected] Malaysia has come to attn: Peter Khiew an end and I find myself saying, it’s been too brief and the months have DEBATERS GET TO DO gone too fast. SOME COMMUNITY I had no idea how my SERVICE stay in Malaysia was going to be. Apart from tourist Human values are the core of this information I had found annual competition online and the preparation - camps on the exchange organisation’s side – I had very little knowledge of what awaited me. I decided to take things as they came, to travel with A true cultural exprerience for Kristin during one of her school’s festivities an open mind. It was going to be my year abroad – far away activities and stopped They are also counting the soon. Maybe something from my home, Germany. counting. I made new days. I was speechless. has changed!? I guess I A number of my friends friends, went to a girls’ To be polite and to avoid will notice, for the most were not quite supportive school for the very first time an argument on the phone part, what hasn’t changed. about my choice of in my life and experienced I said, “Thank you and I I told my parents that I Malaysia as destination. Malaysia’s festivities am also looking forward prefer them to pick me up Some of them had no idea and religions. Hari Raja, to it”. When I review the from the airport. where the country was: Deepavali, Thaipusam conversation, I realise my I don’t want big “Where is Malaysia?” and Chinese New Year reaction was so Asian. welcoming-parties or they asked. “What would – you name it. I am proud Why couldn’t I tell them a bunch of relatives you do there?” You should to have experienced these that I am not really up to and friends waiting at have seen their astonished occasions. Many exciting, a dinner? I know they are the airport – only my and puzzled faces. They adventurous, happy and very happy to see their immediate family. Then really thought I wasn’t sad moments were very oldest grandchild and I am slowly I have to adjust brave enough! much a part of my stay. All happy to see them too. But myself to my ‘old life’. To I thought, but why the people around me were do they really have to plan be honest, this scares me. should I follow what supportive and caring. and decide everything, I just had my Debaters would spend a day with some of these children the rest were doing – go I never felt homesick. without having asked what End-of-Stay camp and who live in the Home featured in the top photo. to England, the US or Malaysia became my I might feel all the returnees from Australia? I thought that home. about it? many different countries Another intellectual ex- Publicity Secretary was boring. I wanted Have you ever had the Wi t h predicted it would be hard ercise that highlights a S.Saminathan said the de- something different so I feeling that time for us to adjust and that noble objective is part of bate would be conducted chose Malaysia for my i s sometimes we’d get this month’s calendar in in English and would be “exchange year”. homesick for our a number of the premier using the Australia-Asian My arrival here feels host country. schools in Perak. format. He added that the just like yesterday. Well, I guess Yes, the 9th Annual topics to be debated would When I landed I have to face Sathya Sai Baba Annual carry a lot of relevance to at KLIA after reality. My plans Human Values Debate, or- the daily lives of today’s a 15 - hour are to continue ganised by the Sathya Sai youths. flight from my studies and Baba Centres of Perak is Participating teams F r a n k f u r t get my driving back. are to be briefed before the and passed licence. I will The participants did preliminary rounds on July through the turn eighteen not have to pay a sen with 21 and 23. immigration, this August. their entry submissions The semi-finals are I remember I will have which closed on July 14. scheduled for July 25. staring at the heaps of work to All educational institutions All these will be held at signboards do – which definitely in the state were invited to Olympia College. that spelt will keep me busy for participate. Saminathan said the out ‘Selamat quite sometime . The organisers im- grand finals would be held Datang’. I Kristin learning the art of preparing and making ‘Lemamg’ posed only two conditions. on August 2 at the C.M.E. will always Firstly, all participating Hall at the Hospital Raja have the flying away? Again, the heavy steps, I will be team members have to take Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh. memory of coming out count-down is running boarding that airplane. part in a one-day service Top debaters will of the air-conditioned – and it’s not stopping. It I will say ‘Jumpa lagi, project at the Handicapped walk home with the first airport and experiencing says that after nearly 365 Malaysia’. Writing about Children’s Home in Batu prize of RM600.00 and a an overwhelming wall of days living in Malaysia, my balik kampung gives Gajah on July 19. Through Challenge Shield. The 2nd humidity and heat on my I am leaving. Departure me a very strange feeling. I this activity, the organisers prize is RM300.00 and the body. My first thought time in a few weeks, then have to leave my Malaysian hope to foster the blossom- 3rd is RM150.00. was: “Wow, I am in a couple of weeks, then family and friends who ing of human values, in- The Best Speaker Malaysia now!” next week it is my turn to have just become a part of culcate nobility of purpose will receive RM100.00. My stay had begun. I do a balik kampung– to my my life. But It’s a situation early in life and nurture Certificates will be given noticed that every single kampung in Germany. I won’t be able to stop the habit of service among to all the participating day made me discover The worst thing is – unfortunately. youths. teams and their teacher-ad- something new. I started people keep reminding Fortunately, I will have Kristin . . . moving on Secondly, each debat- visers. gaining more and more me about my return. Trip. time to get my thoughts in I feel I need to move ing team must represent at For more enquiries, insights into my host It makes me feel sad. order during that very long on. least two of the major races call 019-5730618 (Datin country. My grandparents from flight. My little brother, 13, No doubt Malaysia, in the country. Dr. Ramani Subramaniam), In the beginning, I Germany called me a few rang me months ago to say my family and friends here The competition is 016-5998437 (Dr. Prem counted – I have been weeks ago to tell me that that he wanted me to return will always be in my heart open to all university, Adheesh Lekhi) or 012- here one month. . . then they had already booked a home. I guess he is much – forever. college and Sixth Form 3115858 (S. Saminathan). two… After a while I table for dinner to welcome more grown up now. I’ll I will be back ‘home’ Perakian students between got immersed in more me back upon my arrival. be happy to see my family some day. the ages of 17 and 25. PK Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 11

TRIBUTE FAREWELL TO A REMARKABLE MAN A moment to remember someone we admired

Through his writings, Yang Rashdi’s youthful and Mines Perak. peppered with colourful innocence. In 1994, the Sultan of anecdotes and tasteful Yang Rashdi passed Perak bestowed on Dato innuedoes, Dato’ Seri away on Thursday, July 2 Seri Yang Rashdi the title Yang Rashdi gave readers one day short of his 83rd “Toh Maharaja Indera” and an insight into life as it birthday. He had been made him “Orang Besar was back in the 30s and looking forward to seeing 16” of Perak. 40s. his latest work in print. He leaves behind six His vivid recollections Dato Seri Yang Rashdi grieving children and eight of time spent growing up was a product of Malay grand children. in idyllic Kuala Kangsar College, Kuala Kangsar. We at Ipoh Echo were most poignant. Yang He taught English at a have lost a resourceful Rashdi’s latest story (Ipoh secondary school in Kuala contributor whose singular Echo Issue 53) about his Trengganu in 1948 and was objective was to impart maternal grandmother and co-opted into the Malayan his rich experiences to all her jinrikisha puller friends Civil Service in 1956. and sundry. We share his - Panjang and Pendek - He served in various family’s sorrow. made for truly insightful capacities, starting out as May Allah bless his reading. assistant district officer. soul. Sadly, we will be When he retired in 1980, Al-Fatihah. Dato’ Seri Yang Rashdi bin Maasom(1925-2008) unable to read more of he was Director of Lands Editor

A view from Singapore By Andrew Symon TIN REVIVAL IN THE ? Tin built the city of Ipoh. Could it bring on its renaissance?

As humble as it may seem the business in 2006 when other metals markets be- today against all the won- a large new refinery was come safer places to park ders of computers and the opened by Singapore Tin funds. digital revolution, the tin Industries (STI); a joint But Kettle also stress- plated steel can was one venture between China’s es that fundamental supply of the great technological Yunnan Tin and the do- and demand factors should leaps forward. mestic KJP International. sustain price levels at least In 1809, Napoleon’s STI also runs a smelter on out to 2012. France gave the world a Indonesia’s Bangka Island. process to package and The big question re- INCREASING preserve food in steel cans. mains: how long are prices RESTRICTIONS Like many other break- likely to remain at these throughs, the technology levels? It’s worth recall- Up until the late was developed to meet de- ing the price crash in the 1990s, the tin market had fence needs – in this case, mid 1980s. At that time, been over supplied as a feeding the Emperor’s ar- the world’s tin produc- result of successive booms mies. But its application ers and buyers attempted in small scale and often il- quickly became universal to regulate the market legal mining. and remains so today. through the International But Kettle says that Food could be export- Tin Agreement. increasing restrictions on ed cheaply over long dis- But the ITA collapsed these operations and strong tances and kept safely for in 1985 when it could consumption growth have long periods. This opened Disused tin mining areas are part of Perak’s dramatic landscape no longer raise funds to transformed the picture. up large new markets for support the tin price on the “Two countries, China producers, and made often protects food and bever- Prices of refined tin as having stakes in mining LME. and Indonesia, now ac- hard to get foods cheaply age flavours. In fact, steel on the London Metals ventures in Indonesia and Today, there is also count for over 70pc of and safely available. cans account for more than Exchange (LME) have Australia. some market vulnerability global mine production. From Ipoh’s stand- 90 percent of the food cans risen six-fold since 2001, Now, not surprisingly, due to speculative invest- But China is on the verge point, the tin can has con- sold worldwide. reaching a high of $25,000 given world tin prices, peo- ment. of becoming a net importer tributed mightily to the There are many other uses a tonne in mid May. At the ple in Malaysia – including As the ITRI’s senior and small scale production city’s history with its de- for tin. Most important is end of June the price was in Indonesia has started to velopment being built on its application in solders, around $23,000 a tonne. decline.” the wealth from the rich al- about 45 percent of the The low prices of the late “Looking ahead there luvial Kinta Valley depos- market – and a very large 1980s and 1990s, which is now a pressing need for its. By the early twentieth part of this demand comes virtually put an end to tin increased investment in century the region had be- from the electronics indus- mining in Malaysia, seem sustainable mining projects come one of the world’s try. Other important uses far away. around the world. most important sources of include chemicals and Malaysia had been “Outside the two ma- the mineral. paints, in glass making, one of the world’s great tin jor producing countries, Even today, the and various alloys. producers. But plummeting production in the rest of tin plated steel can remains Geographically, de- world prices, exhaustion of the world needs to double a key application for tin, mand for tin is concen- high grade deposits and by 2012 in order to keep despite the inroads of alu- trated in Asia, and, as with rising operating costs saw up with forecast global re- minium and plastics. much else, driving demand mining dwindle. Last year, quirements.” is China’s seemingly insa- Malaysian mines produced “There is no short- STATISTICS tiable appetite for miner- less than one percent of the age of tin today and the als, coal and petroleum. world’s mine production world’s tin resource base is According to the UK Asia consumed 64 – about 3,000 tonnes. Life is just beginning to surface from abandoned ponds adequate to maintain long based International Tin percent or 228,600 tonnes But the Kuala Lumpur term supplies. But there Research Institute (ITRI), of the world total of refined listed Malaysia Smelting Perak - are talking of a lo- analyst, Peter Kettle, told could be supply problems tin plate demand makes up tin in 2007. Of this, China’s Corp (MSC) does continue cal tin mining renaissance. me, high prices are in part in between – from around about 20 percent of the tin share was 131,500 tonnes. to be one of the world’s This could also at- the result of the entrance 2010 to 2012,” Kettle market. Most steel cans are Today, the combination of largest producers (the tract investment from into the market of hedge says. made from tinplate, which Asian demand and slow fourth largest) of refined tin Singapore. Once a site and investment funds, es- So, considering this is flat-rolled steel with a expansion of new produc- through its local smelters. for tin smelting in the pecially from the US, in outlook, we may again thin layer of tin. The layer tion sees the tin market MSC is also the main tin early twentieth century, the wake of the sub prime hear the grating of dredges helps prevent rusting and booming. miner in Malaysia as well Singapore again entered mortgage crisis. Tin and in the Kinta Valley. 12 IPOH ECHO July 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper Sport THE ENTERTAINING and THE WORRISOME Steve Darby on EURO 2008 and the truths about the economic state of Perak FA

In the last few weeks about speed of play, light- many football fans in ning-fast ball circula- Ipoh have approached tion, the ability to adapt me about two very dis- between a fast and slow parate issues in the sport. build-up and counter-at- The first is my opinions tack, and predominantly of Euro 2008 and the sec- one and two-touch play to ond being the economic beat pressing defences, or state of Perak FA. to move a defence to create The first question is an opening against teams a lot easier to write about intent on placing large as it’s a lot more enjoy- numbers behind the ball. able! I commentated for The winning teams TV3 Malaysia on the also adapted to their ri- games and wrote columns vals’ strengths - Germany for Vietnamese media. In defended deep against these columns I was asked Portugal when leading and to make predictions. I The victor: striker Fernando Torres gave Spain its Euro chased the game against managed to get seven out 2008 championship goal. Turkey when behind, and of the eight quarter final- Spain have the techni- Ready for an away game. The team travels without frills. ists right. Only France let cal and tactical flexibility me down. I got the final 2 to press or absorb, and to right but the pragmatist in change their game as the me went for Germany and, game changes. happily for football’s sake, If the footballing gods I was wrong. The exercise are really to make a state- proves it’s impossible to ment about the beauty of predict football and hence the world game, then the its enduring appeal. Spanish deserved the title for their enduring expres- sion of how the simplest of games can be about both EURO 2008 art and outcome. The best team did win, Football evolution and that doesn’t always moves so quickly that what happen in football. works today is redundant Brainstorming before a meal. tomorrow, and the differ- ence between Euro 2008 ECONOMIC The budget was kept The successful attempt and its predecessor could to, and in fact reduced from at running the team as a hardly be greater. WOES previous years by over a business failed due to the Euro 2008 has been a million ringgit through unexpected cessation of the fantastic spectacle, the best The vanquished. Germany’s goalkeeper Jens Lehmann The Perak FA’s eco- cuts in salary component largest revenue steam and for many years because it nomic problems have and travel costs. Perak FA the sudden emergence of has been all about attack, few games, leaving their Russia’s Guus Hiddink, been presented in both the were operating on one of unknown bills. or more correctly counter- run too late in the case and the reliance of France’s print and electronic media. the smallest budgets in the The players and staff attack, an approach seized of France or reverting, in Raymond Domenech on However, there have been league, 50% smaller than have not been paid for a upon in response to the sti- Italy’s case, to caution and ageing veterans rather than vast disparities in the sto- some teams and smaller long period of time. fling, negative tactical ap- defence against Spain, the new “Wenger” Arsenal ries portrayed. Due to print that at least 4 teams in the The Perak FA has writ- proach of Greek national who deserved to progress generation of Flamini, deadlines it is impossible second division. ten formally to the State coach Otto Rehhagel four by virtue of trying to play Clichy and Sagna and to give an “up to date” Despite this, Perak still government and the FAM years ago. attacking football in the company, the big can very status report as things qualified for the AFC Cup for assistance. It is also ac- Those nations who quarter-final. quickly become small. are happening every day. Quarter Finals and were tively seeking sponsorship. haven’t adapted to modern With the homogeni- Fabregas of Spain showed However, the following continuously in the top few Additonally, the Perak FA football trends have been sation of tactics and his ability to jump the gap facts can be verified. places in the league. land assets are currently in left behind. Reputations transportation of coaches of youth to experience. The budget for the After the March 8 gen- the process of being liqui- have meant nothing with across borders, the small Could Malaysia produce present season was drawn eral election, the funding dated. France and Italy, the two can become big, and with a batch of quality young up with income based from the State Government These are the facts, finalists in the 2006 World the inexperience of Italy’s players of this ability? That on FAM grant, gate re- ceased. Reserves from gate hopefully by the time this Cup, both counting the Donadoni and Holland’s is a whole column on its ceipts approximation and receipts were drained and, hits print many of these cost of an overly cau- Marco van Basten against own! funding from the State huge bills from as far back facts will have been altered tious approach in the first Spain’s Luis Aragones and Today’s football is Government. as 1998 emerged. in a positive manner.