www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH echoechoYour Community Newspaper FREE for collection from our office and selected outlets, on 1st & 16th of the month. 30 sen for delivery to your ISSUE APRIL 16 - 30 , 2009 PP 14252/10/2009(022651) house by news vendors within Perak. RM 1 prepaid postage for mailing within Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. 72 NEWS PAK LAH HOW TO HANDS JUDGE A NIZAR TRIUMPHS OVER TO JUDGE NAJIB 3 4 15 IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? NO, IT’S FIREFLY TO THE RESCUE . Name: SURAYA ELLAND YUSOFF Occupation: INTERIOR DESIGNER/ FITNESS INSTRUCTOR/ HOMEMAKER Hobbies: READING, PAINTING, MUSIC, NATURE The quality I admire most: INTELLIGENCE, GENEROSITY & KINDNESS Sultan Azlan Shah Airport might come alive soon if the ‘relevant authorities’ Ambition: MAKE THE MOST OF give their approval for national turboprop aircraft operator Firefly, the green YOUR LIFE WITH A light to land. When that happens, Ipoh would finally have a direct link to an POSITIVE ATITUDE. LEARNING SHOULD international destination. Continued on page 2 NEVER END! 2 IPOH ECHO April 16 - 30, 2009 Your Community Newspaper IPOH-SINGAPORE DIRECT FLIGHT…..SOON TO BE A REALITY? arly in the year, EFirefly Sdn Bhd MD Eddy Leong indi- cated that it hoped to operate direct flights be- tween Ipoh-Singapore and Malacca-Singapore this year “for its sum- mer season which starts in April”. Firefly would be using its recently pur- chased ATR72-500 turbo- prop aircraft which Ipoh airport can comfortably accommodate. It had ap- plied to the Ministry of Transport and was await- ing its approval. Approval Given At the end of March Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat responded that the Cabinet had given ap- proval for a local airline to operate the Ipoh-Singapore sector and specified the Dato’ Samsudin Chief Executive Perak State Russian tour agents having a discussion with Dato’ Ngeh Koo Ham airport as the Sultan Azlan Development Corporation Shah Airport. group of Singapore manu- A review of the proposal is ceived from all the parties This last announce- Monica Liew, MATTA agents from Russia and facturers have indicated pending before a decision have been positive it seems ment had the entire Ipoh Chairman, Perak Chapter India on familiarisation their desire to be on the is announced”. that the possibility of Ipoh community, from the man- stated that the start of direct trips. “The direct flight will inaugural flight to Ipoh to Apparently Perakians finally being opened up to ufacturer and hotelier to flights is a “long awaited open Ipoh to the world”, explore what investment are not the only ones hold- the world will become a the Ipoh resident working issue” and predicts that enthused Yap. and business opportunities ing their breath for a posi- reality or as one interview- in Singapore on anticipa- when direct flights start, Perak has to offer”. tive announcement. Firefly ee responded “99% done tion alert. Everyone wanted the “influx of visitors could Facilitate Economic too has responded that already, sure to start”. the Ipoh-Singapore route increase by 50%. This will Growth Holding Their Breath they are ‘just waiting’ for Ipoh Echo wishes to materialize and some spur the inbound tourism the ‘written approvals’. Firefly a speedy com- contacted the Ipoh Echo to sector which is currently in As can be seen all A spokesman from Their “operations work” mencement of flights and enquire when would be the the doldrums”. parties view the direct the Perak Menteri Besar’s have begun and they have with it the resultant boost inaugural flight. Secretary General, flight as an impetus that office confirmed that “all targeted June for the inau- to Perak’s economy. Earlier interviews Perak Branch of Malaysian will stimulate growth in data relating to the Firefly gural flight to Ipoh. with the various Chambers Association of Hoteliers, their respective enterprises. programme is with them. Since all responses re- JAMES GOUGH personnel and FMM Perak Nicholas Chan has similar Indeed Dato’ Samsudin Branch Chairman Gan views. “The link will open Hashim, Chief Executive of Tack Kong confirmed that the international market Perak State Development direct flights to Ipoh is one direct to Ipoh. Even now Corporation, is fully aware aspect of the infrastruc- Singaporeans enjoy driv- of the expectations of the ture that Ipoh cannot live ing to Ipoh to stay a night, business community. “I without. It is a known fact visit friends and to savour have been working with that initiating direct flights the food. A direct flight all the relevant bodies like from Singapore to Ipoh will make Ipoh more eas- FMM and MICCI on this would encourage an inflow ily accessible”. issue for some time. It is of visitors for purposes of Both Liew and Chan a benefit for Ipoh to be trade, investment and tour- share the view that a faster linked to an International ism, both leisure and medi- start up of the direct flight gateway and is considered cal as well. would greatly benefit their as part of the state’s members. infrastructure to facilitate Tourism Boost One tour agent who economic growth”. believes that Ipoh and The immediate ben- Perak state is a potential State Investment eficiaries of direct flights inbound destination is Commitment would be the tourism relat- Parlo Tours. Since last year ed industry players such as its Managing Director Yap For Firefly to land, the the tour agents and hotels. Fu Fah has brought in tour state has agreed to invest RM2.7 million for the first year with an option for a second year. In that time the state has to “properly outline a program to support economic development in Perak in the areas of tourism, medical tourism and trade development beyond the financial support period. Everyone in the business community has to participate in the program”. When asked if the current political scenario could delay the start up, Samsudin responded that “the introduction of the direct flight will be a good service for the rakyat. But of more importance is that Perak’s languishing econ- omy needs the service”. Parlo Tours MD Yap Fu Fah He added that “already a Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO April 16 - 30, 2009 3 From the Editor’s Desk FATHOL ZAMAN BUKHARI www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH echoYour Community Newspaper NIZAR TRIUMPHS IN DURIAN COUNTRY Nizar’s victory has plenty to do with the ouster of the PR-led Government in February say many . Najib on his campaign trail time around was more pronounced. The greatest Political Demise number came from Chinese voters in Kuala Sepetang. Commenting on PR’s Almost 85 per cent root- victory, Anwar Ibrahim ed for Nizar. This goes to said that unlike Umno Nizar and wife acknowledging well-wishers Ismail Saffian casting his vote show that neither the ex- Pakatan did not play the hortations by MCA and race cards to win elections. It was an energy sapping conspicuously hidden for to or out of Taiping. Hotels Traffic was at a standstill. Gerakan leaders nor Zahid One analyst, however, dis- campaigning that lasted reasons best known to the in Ipoh and Taiping were Sensing the futility of my Hamidi’s scantily dressed missed Anwar’s claim say- for ten bruising days be- organisers. Surprisingly fully booked, including the trip, I turned around and dancing girls had an ef- ing that Malaysia could ginning from Nomination pictures, flags and posters less savoury lodgings in headed for Kuala Kangsar fect on the local Chinese not rise above racial poli- Day on March 29 to of Independent candidate, the back lanes. instead. My journey ended community. Chinese vot- tics. Racism, like religion, Election Day on April Kamarul Idris, were vis- Petty traders were at a kopitiam. I had to resort ers constitute 27 percent had been institutionalised. 10. Arch rivals Barisan ibly absent. having a field day. A mid- to my laptop for news on or about 15,000 of the total “The country needs vision- Nasional and Pakatan The preponderance of dle aged Malay lady who the dua bukit satu batang 55,471 Bukit Gantang vot- ary leaders but even they Rakyat left no stone un- these promotional hard- was selling pisang goreng by-elections. The eventual ers. There seemed to be a could not move too far turned to gain the upper ware points to one simple at a makeshift stand on the score – PK 2 BN 1. “It’s significant swing in Malay ahead of their followers. hand. The parliamentary factor – money. Obviously road to Kuala Trong was Status Quo” screamed the votes for BN. This was at- If they do they would be constituency of Bukit the BN and Pakatan Rakyat dismissive when asked of headlines of two main- tributed to the derhaka and sowing the seeds of their Gantang became a bat- political machineries had the candidates’ chances. stream English-language the stooge issues leveled at own political demise,” he tle ground of sorts where funds to spare. From day “Saya orang luar hanya newspapers. Is that so? Nizar by BN campaigners. said. scores were settled and one the poster war fa- cari makan,” she said coy- The Malays of Trong were names smeared for politi- voured Nizar, as the PAS ly. But one youthful Malay Referendum On Najib solidly behind Ismail. To Advertise cal expedience. symbol of a white moon on trader near Matang was One factor which I took a drive through a green background domi- less modest. “PAS mesti Umno Deputy President, many had failed to notice the constituency twice once nated the landscape. menang. Nizar hero kami,” Datuk Seri Muhyiddin is the presence of young Call: on Sunday, April 5, and the Tents were every- he said pointing to a huge dismissed BN’s defeat as voters.