www.ipohecho.com.my

issue 56 Your Community Newspaper echoechoServing the people of Ipoh, Chemor, Sg.Siput,Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Gopeng, Kampar, Batu Gajah, Air Tawar, Sitiawan, Lumut and Teluk Intan.

FREE for collection from our office and selected outlets, on 1st & 16th of the month. August 16 - 31, 2008 PP 14252/10/2008(007226) 30 sen for delivery to your house by news vendors within . RM 1 prepaid postage for mailing within Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. THE LAWYER ARGUED

Oops! Where were all the ‘legal eagles’ when the City Council THE MAN LISTENED needed them? p. 3

Steve Darby takes up after Ipoh Echo’s “non-payment of footballers” exposé p. 12

Popular lifestyle columnist See Foon urges: “Take the ‘t’ out of can’t” p. 8

Tribute to an 80 year-old THE RESULT: JUSTICE friendship p. 7 Read Fathol Zaman Bukhari’s insightful report - page 2 2 IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper WHEN FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE FINALLY PREVAILED

377 ACRES OF ANCESTRAL LAND RETURNED TO THE ORANG ASLI By Fathol Zaman Bukhari

The scrapping of Go- peng’s historic water pipeline proved contro- versial enough earlier this Impact Assessment study ging and jungle clearing year. What has emerged had been made although works would proceed as since – in the wake of the size of the land far planned. Revenue for the the scrapping procedure exceeded the required 50 state was of primary impor- – points to decidedly hectares. And neither had tance, he reasoned. questionable related un- expert advice been sought Sinavesan’s com- dertakings. – as required. plete volte-face surprised So questionable, The contractor had Augustine and the Orang indeed, that Perak’s literally bulldozed his way Asli. They had never ex- Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri into the area, first removing pected such an answer Mohammed Nizar, felt the pipeline, then clearing coming from someone who compelled personally to a track to the disputed site. professed justice and fair step into the fray on behalf The damage caused by his play for the rakyat. The of Orang Asli villagers. heavy machinery was un- contractor was jubilant and The result has been believable. The road lead- before an order to renew a major victory for the ing into the Orang Asli set- work could be issued he tlements was wrecked and villagers, residents of a had moved his heavy ma- Gopeng jungle region, and commuting between the settlements and Gopeng chinery back into the area. the certain return to them Heavy machinery wrecks jungle roads. Sensing the futility of of 377 acres of their ances- became difficult to the point of being hazardous. their effort at getting help, tral land. At the same time up capital was a paltry causing serious environ- All met with Augustine The matter was Tijah and her team turned considerable credit must RM25,000. Obviously, the mental damage. Anthony, head of Orang referred to Sinavesan, the to the Menteri Besar, as a go to the MB for his deft contractor was little more The Ipoh Echo fea- Asli Affairs Bar Council State Environment, Health last resort. Augustine, now and decisive handling of than a “runner” for a much tured a report on the pipe- Human Rights, and M. and Human Resources appointed chief negotiator, the matter. bigger operator. line’s removal in Issue 40 Gokoolaram Naidu of the Committee Chairman. together with Gokoolaram Inexplicably – and The 377 acres appro- under the headline: “Going Perak Legal Aid Centre. On Thursday, June and Chang, worked fever- most illegally, as it hap- priated by Gopeng Berhad . . . Going . . . Gone”. This A. Anthony and M. 19, Sinavesan visited the ishly to get the right mes- pened – the disputed tract highlighted the strong dis- Gokoolaram were instru- was located precisely sage across to Mohamad of land had been trans- satisfaction being voiced Nizar. Chang got an ap- ferred by the previous state over contractor and com- pointment with the MB and authorities to local com- pany. A court injunc- the trio, along with Tijah mercial interests for log- tion was even sought by and her JKOAP members, ging and oil palm cultiva- Gopeng orchid grower met Nizar on Monday, July tion. Benedikt Scharzacher. All 14 at his office. to no avail. The disman- DISPUTE ORIGINS tling went ahead uninter- FULL RIGHTS rupted. The dispute between When this ultimately The MB was all the villagers and Gopeng began encroaching on the ears. For almost an hour Berhad , the company orig- aboriginal settlements at he listened attentively inally benefiting from the the foothills of the Main to Augustine’s assertion land transfer, can be traced Range, the Orang Asli that the 377 acres allot- back to the four-month pe- were up in arms. The ted to Gopeng Berhad be- riod from October, 2007 to heavy machinery being longed to the Orang Asli. February, 2008. employed by the contrac- According to Section 4 During this timeframe, tor was damaging the road (Native Customary Tenure) work on dismantling the and bridges leading to their of the National Land Code 14 kilometer-long pipe- settlements. This, in turn, 1965 the Orang Asli exer- line was underway, much impinged on the settlers’ cised full rights over that to the concern of property movements and also their piece of real estate. owners and residents over livelihood. Ipoh lawyer Augustine Anthony explores legalities with Orang Asli leaders. To reinforce his argu- whose land the steel struc- The Orang Asli had ment, Augustine alluded ture ran. They were natu- difficulties bringing out mental in highlighting the within designated Orang affected area with a TV 3 to the statement made by rally disappointed with the jungle products for sale in Orang Asli’s plight. In ad- Asli ancestral land. It sits crew in tow. The plight of the Prime Minister about destruction of an historical Gopeng. School children dition, the duo managed atop a hill and, therefore, the Orang Asli was high- monocrop cultivation in relic. First laid in 1914, the had to slog barefooted to get the Adun for Teja, is a natural water catch- lighted on the channel’s water catchment areas and pipeline ran from Sungei through thick mud and Chang Lih Kang, involved. ment area. It drains un- prime-time news slot for its impact on the environ- Kampar and its tributaries slime that once functioned Orang Asli settlements in adulterated rainwater into three consecutive nights. ment. He also referred to at the foothills of the Main as firm footpaths. Overall the Gopeng jungles come the nearby Sungei Kampar Sinavesan immedi- Sultan Azlan Shah’s dictate Range to the tin mines out- conditions only intensified under Chang Lih Kang’s and Sungei Cheroh. Should ately imposed a temporary at Belum about the need for side Gopeng. It had proved in the rainy season. jurisdiction and, therefore, the area be cleared for crop stop-work order while in- an Integrated Management an enormous asset to the it was incumbent upon him cultivation its impact on vestigations were ongoing. Plan should land develop- tin mining industry which LEGAL ACTION to help his constituents. the environment would be The contractor, in the in- ment for Orang Asli be thrived in Kinta Valley be- The trio visited the catastrophic. terim, withdrew all heavy initiated by the state gov- tween 1880s to the 1980s. When Orang Asli settlements in the course Chemical fertilisers machinery from the area. ernment. Nizar was aghast. But there were other, complaints fell on deaf of their investigations and, and insecticides used on How could his predeces- more important concerns ears, they decided to to their horror, learned that the crop would also pollute WALKOUT sor be so inconsiderate as being voiced by the pub- take the issue to the Bar 377 acres of virgin jungle the land and the water sys- to condone such action, he lic during that four month Council with a view to close to the Orang Asli set- tem as well. Inevitably, not When investigations questioned. It was a trav- period. instituting legal action tlements had been appor- only the Orang Asli would on the issue were complet- esty of justice and he was Gopeng Berhad, own- against the perpetrators. tioned to Gopeng Berhad be affected. Residents ed, Sinavesan called for a determined to resolve the ers of the pipeline, had Their representatives for logging and oil palm of Gopeng and Kampar meeting with Orang Asli issue amicably. awarded the dismantling called by the Perak Legal cultivation. The same con- would also suffer. representatives. The meet- The MB immediately operation to a contractor Aid Centre, Ipoh, in early tractor engaged to disman- This ‘cause and ef- ing on Tuesday, July 1, at issued a stop-work order who, in turn, had intro- January 2008. tle the iconic pipeline had fect’ factor had been con- Rumah Penghulu Gopeng and froze all clearing ac- duced heavy machinery The team, consisted also been tasked to clear veniently overlooked ended abruptly. The 80- tivities in the disputed area. to carry out the work. of Bah Azmi, Chairman of the land and extract timber by the previous State odd Orang Asli present Upon receipt of the order Complaints were that both Jaringan Kampong Orang in the process. Government when grant- staged a walkout when another heavy machinery the machinery concerned Asli Perak (JKOAP), Bah It appeared to be a ing Gopeng Berhad rights Sinavesan announced that exodus occurred from the and the methods of remov- Ahha, Vice Chairman and double whammy for a to the same piece of real the land did not belong to al being employed were Tijah Yok Chopi, Secretary. company whose paid- estate. No Environmental them and, therefore, log- continued on page 11 Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 3

www.ipohecho.com By Fathol Zaman Bukhari IPOH echo From the Editor’s Desk By Fathol Zaman Bukhari Your Community Newspaper WHAT A WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS! All because they didn’t understand legalities.

The glitch went unreport- the media after the meeting. ed and then was swept These merit consideration: under the carpet to avoid ●● Council meetings embarrassment. should be held after office But the fact remains hours and such meetings that the elborate Secretariat should be open to the pub- Banquent Hall ceremony lic, especially sub-commit- at which 338 councillors tee meetings where matters were “sworn-in” by Mentri such as financing, budget- Besar, Dato Seri Mohamad ing tenders, traffic plans etc Nizar bin Jamaluddin, on are made. Friday, July 18, has been ●● These meetings, he not- declared . . . wait for it . . . ed, should all be accessible null and void! via the Internet. How come? ●● The public must have a Swearing- in of coun- say in the decision-making process to allow for trans- cillors, according to Local At last . . . legally and officially sworn in Government Act (LGA) parency and accountability. 1976, must be done in to blame and should take ringgit. Imagine, expenses Rashidi Hashim, at a hast- ●● Department heads must front of a designated may- some of the wrap. One incurred in the form of ily organised full-board declare their assets and the or, in the case of Ipoh, and might also ask what the claims for travel, messing, meeting on Thursday, July declaration be made public. before council presidents Mayor Roshidi officiates legal experts who plunged allowances and the must- 31, 2008. Among the new- Insofar as the Ipoh City as far as local councils are into state advisory rolls have tea break could easily ly appointed councillors Council is concerned it, concerned. In the haste to nomi- following the March elec- exceed RM 100,000. was M. Kulasegeran, the too, has incurred cost. And since the Ipoh nate one mayor, 14 presi- tions were doing. Then, The meeting allow- MP for Ipoh Barat. The swearing-in cer- mayor and council presi- dents and 338 councillors, of course, there’s all those ance is set at RM50 per Kula’s appointment to emony, although done in dents were all sworn-in so as to get the third tier of lawyers involved as mem- head. On top of this, travel the council has been mired conjunction with a full- AFTER taking their oath the government moving, bers of the state assembly and messing claims, for in controversy. Residents board meeting, has still of office, collectively, the Nizar and Nga unwittingly itself and the councils. those residing outside of have questioned his eligi- set state funds back a few whole procedure ran foul committed one cardinal How could they have pos- Ipoh, could easily add up bility and suitability since thousand or more ringgit. of LGA 1976. sin. They failed to brush sibly allowed such an easi- to RM250 per person. he is a serving Member of At very least, 22 council- The legal glitch hap- up on legal requirements ly avoidable gaff to occur? Parliament. lors must be paid an addi- pened probably due to beforehand. As it turned out, it all THE SECOND TIME However, Section 10 tional RM50 each in meet- the time factor. The PR amounted to one expensive AROUND of Local Government Act ing allowances. Government at the time WHERE WERE THE mistake the state govern- 1976 makes no mention of Government “legal ea- had been in office for over LAWYERS? ment could ill afford. The second swearing MPs being ineligible for gles” please note. You’re four months and had still The ceremony at the in of the 22 Ipoh City coun- local office. the experts in legal matters. to resolve the local govern- The State Legal Banquet Hall undoubt- cillors was made in front Kulasegaran raised Provide the right advice at ment issue. Adviser is probably partly edly ran into thousands of of the city’s new mayor, some pertinent points with the right time. Please.

Hurley Marketing…..Leaders in the Water Filtration Business In 1985 two enterpris- trenchment and recession humble beginnings devel- “Actimo Gold” introduced This new product uses as well as improving ones ing young friends, Johnny abounded. Undeterred, oped a multi million dollar several years earlier is a nanotechnology to generate skin complexion. Huan and Paul Wong, Johnny and Paul pushed on company with a network revolutionary machine that and dissolve oxygen to A d d i t i o n a l l y decided to go into busi- looking to secure the right ranging from Malaysia converts ordinary filtered produce oxygenated water. several diseases can be ness. It was the economic products and correct busi- through Singapore, Hong water to Hexagonal Water There are 2 products to prevented by the intake downturn. Pay cuts, re- ness approach. Kong, India and beyond. - or six sided water referred achieve this level of oxygen of “Oxygenated” water Johnny, the driving Distributing more than to in Chinese as loke kok in water. The “Oxygen such as anemia, migraine, force behind the partner- 150 types of water and air sui. Plus” unit which pumps in lung and respiratory organ ship, looks back with filter products, Hurley Hurley Marketing is 20-30ppm and the “Wellxy disorders, intoxication, justifiable pride ”We were is among the biggest and now introducing an even Unit” which provides 100- enzyme deficiency and caught between choosing most financially stable more innovative water 120ppm. circulation problems to economic survival and players in the Water and product “Oxygen Water” The multiple benefits name a few. helping others” Then they Air Filter business. capable of pumping from drinking oxygen Overall oxygenated got the idea. Why not do Hurley Marketing between 20 to 130 ppm water are its ability to water is able to improve both? Hurley Marketing continuously upgrades (parts per million) of cleanse our body, relieve ones general state of Johnny (seated) and Paul Sdn Bhd was born. From their range of products. oxygen into filtered water. fatigue and increase energy health. 4 IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

PUBLISHER EDITORIAL We are Ipoh’s most Ipoh Echo Sdn Bhd effective voice. (Regd No 687483 T) FIRING UP PUBLIC OPINION Ipoh Echo is an inde- No 1 Jalan Lasam Not unexpectedly, the suggested merger between UMNO and achieve Vision 2020, we must have political stability. pendent community 30450 Ipoh Perak Darul and PAS has been the hottest of all topics under discussion It cannot exist without cooperation between UMNO and newspaper published Ridzuan lately in Ipoh’s coffee shops and social clubs. PAS. Perak will be the testing ground.” Interpretations Tel: (605) 249 5936 by Perakians for Pera- Fax: (605) 255 2181 It became particularly fired-up when Tajol Rosli, abounded, particularly when it came to the curious refer- EMail: ipohecho.ndr@ during a press conference on Monday, July 28, informed ence of Perak becoming the “testing ground”. kians. It is distributed gmail.com the media that an UMNO-PAS merger would be forged Forgotten by many in their excitement was the fact free of charge. Our by Merdeka Day – August 31. This would, he assured, that 51 per cent of Malaysians had picked DAP, PKR and EDITORIAL immediately translate into an overturning of the current PAS over in the last general election. costs are defrayed by -led state government. Tajol, it seemed, had conveniently overlooked the reality advertisements placed Fathol Zaman Bukhari Tajol was certain that the unity talks held between of the rakyat’s choice preferring, as he did so, to fall back James Gough by businesses and top party officials in would be fruitful. He onto the safety net of political expedience and predict- GRAPHIC DESIGN/ private individuals PHOTOGRAPHY confidently proclaimed Perak would be the beneficiary able public confusion. It was the act of a true politicans’ of a new partnership aimed at fostering Malay unity. In politician. within the state. They Rosli Mansor Hj. Ahmad a carefully calculated demonstration of reconciliation, he Nizar responded by calling a press conference of see the big advantage Razali announced he was even prepared to let PAS take on the his own. He reassured DAP and PKR followers that PAS in dealing with us – our Yu Azman Bin Hamid Mentri Besar’s post. In other words, Nizar would get to would remain committed to its partners. Hadi Awang’s fortnightly publication keep his job. announcement on Wednesday, July 30, ruling out an MARKETING & gives their ads more DISTRIBUTION If nothing else, it was great fuel for the rumour mill. UMNO-PAS government, had laid bare Tajol’s delusion MANAGER That the present and former state leaders fail to see eye- of a Merdeka Day takeover. mileage at less cost. to-eye on virtually anything and are not even on talking Politics, as Bismarck so rightly proclaimed, “is the So, next time you want Ramesh Kumar terms were apparently regarded as irrelevant factors as art of the possible, the attainable and the art of the next the rumours flew thick and fast, fanned by the politically best.” to buy or sell a house, PERMISSION AND RE- controlled national press. So, anything might be possible. And that includes a car, a dog or a cat, PRINTS The Opposition in Perak had wrested 31 of the 59 Anwar’s claim that Pakatan Rakyat will form the new please call our Materials in Ipoh Echo may state seats of which DAP won 18, PKR 7 and PAS 6. government come September 16, 2008. Classifieds at: not be reproduced Should UMNO merge with PAS then their combined total We’ll see. in any form without the of 34 seats would outnumber the PKR-DAP coalition by Meanwhile, what IS certain is that the rumour mills (05) 549 5936 written permission of the eight. of our state, along with those of the nation, will undoubt- or 016 553 1092 publisher Those involved in the coffee shop exchanges zeroed edly continue their vigorous churnings, irrespective of Ramesh Kumar in on the widely published Tajol quotation: “To develop realities. PRINTER

Konway Industries Sdn Bhd OUR CONCERNS Plot 78, Lebuhraya Kam- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR pong Jawa 11900 Bayan Baru, Pulau AMAZING ROSE Pinang CASHLESS IN SOUTH AMERICA Tel: (604) 644 7507 Four children make her get Dear Sir: on, regardless Before leaving for South and had to beg literally for I checked with the When I’m tempted to had arrived. She had been Useful contacts America last year, I had someone to accept it so I Post Office who had proof think that the day is given a month to vacate given standing instructions could have some Venezuela that my letter was received Perak Main Police Staion giving me a raw deal, I the flat. to Citibank, requesting pesos. I had to go through and acknowledged. I faxed 05-245 1222 remind myself of Tang “All I can think of now them to settle my monthly a round of shops and res- this to the bank. Only then 999 (emergency) Foong Yoke - or Rose is my four kids. I have to as I call her - and end credit card expenses from taurants before I met a did it admit my letter was keep going for their sake,” Ipoh Main Police Station up thinking, what am I my savings account. These cashier willing to help me. received and ignored. This 05-253 2222 she declared quietly. Rose whingeing about? instructions were faxed Of course, he gave me a is a foreign bank with a was drawing on the same Ipoh General Hospital Tang Foong was on and then sent by reg- supposedly good strength which helped her 05-253 3333 TV3’s, “Bersama Mu” re- istered mail. reputation! Ipoh Ambulance I was in I complained 05-522 2506 Venezuela, a month and demanded 993 (emergency) into what I had c o m p e n s a t i o n Ipoh Fire Brigade thought was a well- – after all, their 05-547 4444 planned trip, when inefficiency caused 994 (emergency) my credit card me a lot of stress was blocked. I put and disappointment. Tenaga Nasional Berhad through a call to Their reply: they 15454 Kuala Lumpur to credited my account Lembaga Air Perak find out what went Isla Margarita, Venezuela 20,000 points – 1800-88-7788 wrong, telling them very low rate. not even sufficient Directory Service that I had forwarded spe- Due to lack of funds, for me to fly from KL to 103 cific instructions before the trip of a lifetime for Singapore! Rakan Cop my departure. My relation- which I had prepared for As a customer, we Foong Yoke, or Rose, with two of her four children 05-240 1999 ship manager and the staff 10 years had to be cut get charged all sorts of replied that they could not Perak Women for cently. That was when I cope with the trauma of short. expenses, including fines honour faxed instructions. Women Society first knew of her. she ap- widowhood, the surgeries On my return to for late payments irrespec- I said there was also the 012-521 2480 peared dishevelled, bald and the chemotherapy ses- Malaysia, I raised the tive of whether or not we 012-505 0547 and pale. But she sounded sions that left her bald and registered letter. blocked credit card issue get our statements. In the courageous. exhausted. You cannot imagine with Citibank. Again, they same, I believe we should Rose is a widow with She was treated at how terrifying it is to be said faxed instructions be compensated fairly and four children. Shortly after University Hospital in by yourself in a strange were not good enough. I justly if we are inconven-

www.ipohecho.com.myAdvertise in her husband’s untimely Petaling Jaya where she country. To make matters repeated that I also sent ienced because of a bank’s IPOH demise following a road took public buses to get to worse, it was a public holi- them by registered mail. negligence. Bank Negara echoYour Community Newspaper echo accident, she was diag- the hospital. The children day and the Casa Cambio They claimed they did not should look into this. nosed with breast cancer. tagged along. (money changer) was shut. receive this correspond- Very disappointed, Classifieds Having been a housewife “Someone has to take I had RM20 on my person ence. CELINE CHANG Appointments all her life, striking out care of them,” Rose ex- on her own was an uphill plains matter-of-factly. A MECHANIC BEHAVING BADLY fight. Asked how she man- Sir, Call: ages, she has a direct, no- Ramesh Kumar EVICTION NOTICE nonsense reply. “I have no In these trying times when pense. Don’t they have a an example of a greedy choice. The only thing I prices of essentials are be- conscience? Don’t they businessman, operating Marketing Manager I met Rose for the know is getting on with my yond reach of many hard- empathise with their fel- here in Ipoh. Tel : (605) 2495936 first time at her Greentown life, regardless,” declares pressed Malaysians, there low beings who are strug- This rather well Fax : (605) 2552181 low-cost flat. She was fac- feisty Rose who shares her are some from among us gling to make ends meet? known motor shop, deals ing another problem. An story at seminars organised who see nothing wrong Must they cheat in order to with motorcar tyres, mostly Mobile:016 5531092 eviction order from MBI by NGOs. in making a fast ring- gain? continued on page 5 for non-payment of rent CECILIA CHAN git at someone else’s ex- I wish to highlight Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 5

THINKING ALOUD By G. Sivapragasam THUMBS UP IS THE ELECTION PROMISE STEPS TOWARDS A TIDY, EXEMPLARY VILLAGE TO DELIVER CHANGE BEING FULFILLED? Gotong royong at kampong Tersusun Tasek Looking back in disappointment fulfils one of Hashim’s campaign pledges The widespread public qualifications, what they Newly elected village While the cleaning up euphoria that followed have achieved and what head, Hashim Mohd Ali was in progress, a member March’s election results plans they have to improve or Che Gu Hashim, as he of district health office staff appears to be inexorably the city. is fondly called, has kept reminded the villagers, contracting. This directly This could take the his promise to keep his over the PA system mount- relates to the rapid blur- form of an interview kampong clean. ed on a Land Rover, of the ring of the difference the broadcast through the Net. One of his campaign importance and benefits public had justifiably ex- People participation could pledges before being of keeping their premises pected in management be maintained through elected the ketau kampong clean and mosquito-free. styles between the incom- each councillor operat- of RPT Tasek last June Firemen from the Fire and ing and outgoing admin- ing an interactive website. was to rid the village of Rescue Department helped istrations. Here councillors could mosquitoes. clear clogged drains Then, Recent events suggest The people are watching . . . and waiting. Photo taken publicise their activities the new authority is mod- at the Municipal Building’s public gallery. and the community could elling itself on the form of deliver feedback. the former government. It the citizens of this city can Apparently, when a memo- The councillors’ task appears to be distancing expect and how these will randum was delivered to is twofold. itself from the people with be achieved still remain the new administration the One requires them to its members seemingly out guarded secrets. Hopefully reception was unenthusias- execute ‘functional du- to become the new elite. all will be revealed in the tic. ties’ that are macro issues The new government not too distant future. involving the city as a needs to remember that it Just after the gen- LITTLE PUBLIC whole. is not their brilliant ability eral elections, 37 PARTICIPATION The other concerns that put them in power. N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l ‘project management’ of Rather, it was prom- Organisations issued a While the State gov- micro issues that affect ises that they would be a memorandum proposing ernment is quite entitled their individual zones of government more open guidelines for appointing to disregard any or all sug- responsibility. A breakfast briefing preceded the Saturday clean-up and people friendly, that local authority councillors. gestions made by commu- Appointing council- they would adopt a system Appointees, they proposed, nity representatives, there lors is not unlike staffing a “I sought assistance the fogging team sprayed allowing wider participa- should be local residents. must be a realisation that it business organisation. from City Council, the Fire the entire area with insec- tion in decision-making. They should be com- is the community that em- It is a matter of iden- and Rescue Department ticide. The morning’s job This ‘people power’ petent with professional powered them and ignor- tifying the tasks that have and the District Health was done with clockwork formula is what got them qualifications, experienced ing them may be perceived to be undertaken and allo- Office,” he said. “The precision. The gotong roy- into power and it is their in state affairs and with the as betrayal. cating them to those best kampong folks were most ong went on for almost only hope for sustaining it. capability of representing It is only good sense skilled and knowledge- cooperative and were ea- three hours and by noon If they lose this edge they the interest of the commu- to get as much public par- able to execute them. It is ger to help out,” Hashim the tired men and women will lose the plot. nity. ticipation as possible in the matching zones and tasks confided. trooped into the Kemas The NGOs recom- appointment process for it to the councillors best A friend prepared kindergarten hall for their MAYOR, mended an open nomina- would be in the direction suited. a banner which Hashim well earned tea break. COUNCILLORS tion system. This would of their election promise to As to what needs to be strung at the entrance to A final fogging in the FINALLY APPOINTED include the listing of cri- introduce local elections. done, there is no need to RPT Tasek. By word of evening put the finishing teria for membership, in- Finally, getting public reinvent the wheel. mouth, text messages and touch to the day’s work. After what many vitations for residents to participation delivers the Factors that make an gentle persuasion, he man- “Fogging is an easy considered an ‘inordinate nominate suitable candi- community ownership urban environment live- aged to reach the villag- way to rid the kampong of delay’, the Perak State dates and the publishing of motivating them to support able are well known and ers who converged at the mosquitoes but that’s not government appointed nominee names along with efforts of the authority. it is a matter of conduct- local Kemas kindergarten the solution,” said Hashim. Ipoh’s Mayor and its 22 their curriculum vitae. It is still not too late ing an audit of our current hall one Saturday morning “Educating the villagers on councillors on July 18. In It was also suggested for public participation. position against these fac- last July. City Hall clean- sanitation, hygiene and the the hands of this new ad- that publicly conducted For a start, the Council tors, setting goals for each ers came prepared with virtue of tidiness is ulti- ministration lies the future interviews might be em- members can introduce of them and structuring a dumpster. There was mately the answer. I intend fate of Ipoh and its resi- ployed for short listed can- themselves to the com- and executing a strategy to a fogging team from the to achieve this.” dents. What improvement didates. munity by declaring their achieve them. vector department. Halida mechanic. . . continued from page from page 4

other things. question was noted for If I wanted my car in such practice. a working condition, these He claimed the items needed to be changed workers were briefed he said. I acceded. to do exactly what had When I went over to happened when dealing the shop to collect my car with customers. imported from Japan and after work, I was stunned. I have learned a bitter some local-made brands. I From a miniscule battery lesson and I hope others drove over to the Bercham which cost a paltry RM160, will not fall into the same outlet one day to have my the bill had ballooned to trap. battery changed. Upon RM1,640. There are plenty of opening the boot of my I protested but to no cheats out there waiting car, the mechanic said he avail. I had agreed to the to pounce on you at the spotted an oil leak at the changes, he declared. slightest opportunity. bottom of the timing belt When I took the car And if you own a car casing. He told me that the to my regular mechanic at always use your regular belt needed to be changed Jelapang, he himself was guy for repairs - minor or I risked a breakdown. aghast. He told me that the or major. At least you are Since I was in a rush, I left changes were unnecessary, dealing with someone you the car at the shop after as the items were still in know. providing the guy with my working order. Exercise prudence. mobile number. I looked silly and Times are bad. He called me later vowed never to step into with more bad news. The the shop again. “Cheated” absorbers were weak, When I told my the fan belt was bad, the regular mechanic of the Chan Chee Fong engine mountings were in experience, he explained 22, Lorong Tasek Timur 6 poor shape and a myriad that the motor shop in Taman Seri Dermawan 6 IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

FROM MY ALBUM By Quicksilver STAMPS FOR THE NEW CENTURY Depicting the first signs of nationalism to come

Upon the death of Queen Victoria, on January 22, 1901, her son, Ed- ward, ascended to the throne of Great Britain. Simultaneously, he be- came King of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India and King of all British Dominions. By this time, the population of the Malayan colonial territories had The 25 cent The 3 cents grown to 572,249 subjects. Official statistics revealed much of the population Straits Settle- stamp depict- expansion of that time resulted from Tamil and Chinese immigration. ments stamp ing the The Edwardian era would herald significant changes in technology, f e a t u r i n g palm King Edward science and society – all of which would impact directly on the Straits Vll. Settlements. King Edward VII’s formal coronation took place on June 26, 1902 and, quite obviously, the Straits Settlements required new stamps recognising the transfer of sovereign powers. These printings, naturally enough, would need to bear the head of the newly crowned King Edward. The period July, 1902, to May, 1903, saw a total of 13 new sets of stamps issued for this precise objective. Last in the series was a $100 stamp. To do the job, the Crown printers employed the De La Rue Universal Key Plate and duty plate production systems that I described in my last column. The same two-year timespan I am talking about saw a substantial upswing in the local economy. As a direct result, the most common stamps – 1 cent for postcards and printed papers, 3 cents for local letters, 4 cents The 30 cent for letters to Great Britain and 8 cents for foreign mail – proved to be in The 4 cents design in the great demand. nipa palm initial set of stamp for Ma- 13 stamps. NEW DESIGNS lacca

It was decided, therefore, that entirely new designs were befitting. These are believed to have been prepared by Mr. W. Egerton – later Sir Walter Egerton, Governor of British Guiana – and Mr. Noel Trotter then Post Master General for the Straits Settlements. (Remember him from the 1884 large 8 overprint? He was the Assistant Postmaster General then, based in Penang). The 1 cent value, with coconut palms, represented Singapore. The 3 cents Pinang Palms represented Penang. A 4 cents nipah palm design stood for . Finally, an 8 cents double Malay Kris representation stood for Malaya in general. The new designs were printed on a single plate, a break away from the earlier printing process. The first stamp, the 1 cent grey, was released in December, 1903, and the last, the 8 cent purple on blue, in July 1904. The last in the Philatilists and historians recognise that these simple yet symbolic The 8 cents series - the stamp presentations – employing the various palms and the Kris – could stamp featur- $100 stamp. well have stirred the very early seeds of nationalism. But it would take ing the double more than half a century before these first indications of an historical Malay kris. trend to come evolved into a fully independent country – the Federation of Malaya. * * * * I have substantially enlarged a selection of the “new century” Malaya stamps so that you can better appreciate their designs.

Ipoh Facts and Fancies By Ho Tak Ming Perak Pioneer, Established in 1894. ‘The oldest and most widely circulated AT THE IPOH POST OFFICE newspaper in the F.M.S’ Perak Pioneer THE WAY IT WAS . . We have come a long way from the paid letter-writers of old . . . 100 YEARS AGO When the Ipoh Post Of- site ends of a kandar stick. which ranges from twenty- still came in by pony ex- fice was completed in the Then there were also five to fifty cents according press. The observer wrote: Local & General first decade of the 1900s, the letter-writers, highly- to the length of the letter.” “Sometimes I hear a tin- it became the busiest educated men who used kling bell from the direc- How anxious the Chinese are to enter the forbidden soil and most cosmopolitan high-flown English with TYPICAL LETTER tion of the Post Office and, of Australia, is strikingly illustrated by a recent incident spot in town. Everybody, bombastic words and looking out, I find the pony at Newcastle, New South Wales, where the customs of- from the Tuan Besar queer roundabout sentenc- A sample work read mail has come in from ficials made a capture of four Chinamen on the steamer of the biggest and most es to impress their clients. something like this: Gopeng and the weary lit- Hallamshire from Hongkong. The Chinese were se- prestigious commercial A chronicler noted: There Honoured Sir, tle brown pony is making creted under the boilers. They stated that they had paid firm to the humble Bud- are three of them – a Kling, You being by the grace of for the grass plot beside 300 dollars to one of the crew to hide them on board at dhist priest from one of an Indian Mohamedan and God my Father and my the Post Office. Hongkong and he was to receive 300 dollars more when the cave temples, who a Bengali. They will write Mother, I, your humble and “He is quite an old they were landed safely in Australia. had a letter to send, had any letter you like from a industrious servant, Rama- friend. I have known him to visit it. letter praying for a rise in samy, a poor family man for four years and I often * * * * * Anyone standing in your gaji down to a love with five young souls de- meet him toiling into Ipoh the vicinity watching the letter breathing eternal de- pendent on me to fill their while I am on my way The cash on delivery or value payable system is to come mass of humanity throng- votion. What a knowledge abdomens, begging of you home. into force on the 1st of January next between Post Of- ing this busy centre, would of human affairs they must to increase my small wages “The brown pony fices in the Straits Settlements, the United Kingdom, discover what an interest- have! which is quite impossible draws a dusty, dirty old Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, St. ing and heterogeneous “What pathos, humour for us to live. shandrydan proudly la- Vincent (West Indies), Gold Coast, Trinidad, and Nyas- place Ipoh was. and tragedy do they not Hoping this my humble belled “The Perak Mail” saland Protectorate. The scene would learn of daily? Yet no com- request will meet with Your and, whenever I see him, The system is made applicable to all registered and be especially interesting ment do they make – down Honour’s appropriation, I cannot help wondering insured postal packets not exceeding £20 in value. at lunchtime. Food ven- it all goes on cheap fools- Your most humble servant, when the Post Office au- We have reason to believe that the F.M.S. will dors would gather under cap paper and while one Ramasamy. thorities will buy a tri-car also be included in the scheme before it comes into clumps of trees nearby hand holds out the finished Although Ipoh had for use between the Ipoh operation. serving food from box- letter the other hand is also a modern Post Office, and Gopeng Post Offices.” like baskets slung at oppo- extended for the payment the mail from Gopeng * * * * * Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 7

ORAL HISTORY REMEMBERING LEONG MING SEN (1920-2008) Capt Ho Weng Toh pays tribute to an 80 year-old friendship

Leong Ming Sen was his credit. He was a lead- “born in Ipoh on Sep- ing light in the SIA pilot tember 15, 1920, to an training programme. He affluent family of seven was F27, DC-3 and B737 children. We first became Training Captain. friends as eight year-old We were colleagues pupils at St. Michael’s and worked on the same Institution. programme. MS was a The Leongs lived on natural pilot and a natural Clayton Road and its prox- teacher. He always made imity to the padang was a things easy and somehow big plus. Their comfort- passed on this air of confi- able home was a halfway dence to his trainees. house to a number of St I was always in awe of Michael boys who shared this gift. If there was a par- Ming Sen’s love of games. ticularly difficult case and MS was always free to in- I was at the point of giving dulge his whims. He had up, I would pass him on to all the time to spin tops and MS. He would take over fly kites, play table tennis, without fuss and some- hockey, football and bad- how matters improved. minton. He excelled in any MS never pulled rank or field he entered. showed off; he was never insulting. He always re- BROTHER FINAN’S membered the time when IRE he himself was learning and till the end held that But his intense love of it was pointless to berate sports also landed him in anyone for something the trouble when we were 17 Young pilots Ho Weng Toh (left) and Leong Ming Sen are photographed in the 1940s. They were living the time of fellow did not know. years old. their lives: their career paths were being clearly defined. More importantly, When MS died in June In 1937, Brother Finan they survived a war where they had played active roles. this year, three months shy Ryan was Brother Director of his 88th birthday – he of St Michael’s. He ex- We were 21 when below. did not see himself having before he could finish the is survived by his second pected us boys to follow the Pacific War broke His superiors were much to contribute to the course there, he returned to wife Diana, three grown his rules one hundred per out. Together with some impressed with bourgeoning rubber and Malaya to take up a lucra- children and three grand- cent. For example, nobody of our peers, we staged his natural tin industries. tive offer with Federation children – countless pilots should play in the padang a daring escape to “Free aptitude for He joined the Air Service (FAS) – the gathered at his wake. There at particular hours – say, China”. Our goal was flying and f l e d g l i n g first local man to be they exchanged anecdotes right after the lunch hour. to reach Chungking. MS MS under- M a l a y a n named captain in the of MS’s legendary talents Probably he didn’t want reached Chengtu. There, took nine Airways, company that had a and generosity of spirit. us to be sweaty when we at the West China Union months of a com- fleet of five Beaver I had a long list to returned to the classroom, University, he decided to training in p a n y aircraft. contribute. We had been something like that. To vi- resume his studies. C a l c u t t a control- For FAS, MS friends for 80 years after olate this rule was to invite Around this time, he before led then by flew a route confined all. Through youth’s un- expulsion from the august became troubled by the expatriates. to the smaller towns certainties, adult involve- institution. MS and another heightened need for medi- in the peninsu- ments, marriages, father- friend, Teh Khoon Chuar cal personnel. He thought l a . It was the hood and grandfatherhood, – (another colourful char- he should be a doctor height of the bereavement and health acter; he migrated to the and for more than two concerns, MS and I always US and passed away a few years studied to be one. managed to reach each years ago) – just could not Once more, fate would other. stay away from the padang intervene. The more ur- Our friendship was and broke Brother Finan’s gent demand for pilots one long, lively, protracted law. They were expelled. during the last stages conversation. No compromises. We were of the war decreed that all shocked and saddened. MS should also be one. Excerpts ” from taped MS took it on the chin in He was to excel in this conversations with Capt Ho Weng Toh. A recipi- his usual quiet, unflappable field. I had by then fin- Eight decades of friendship. Ipoh boys Winkie Ho (left) and MS were always amazed at the ent of an Outstanding way. He moved on and fin- ished my pilot training speed at which the years flew, leaving them with “several lifetimes to remember”. ished at the Anglo-Chinese and become a bomber Michaelian award, Capt pilot. Toh is a widower with three School. taking up a new post at the MS was the first Asian to Malayan Emergency. MS MS attended what children and two grand- Perhaps my friend was China National Aviation be signed up as co-pilot. stayed with the group un- essentially was a “crash children. The active retiree consoled by the fact that Corporation (CNAC) main Limited promotional til it was taken over by programme of the “you ei- resides in Singapore. He he played for Perak in both base in Shanghai where opportunities at Malayan Malayan Airways in 1958 ther make it or you don’t” turns 89 next March. hockey and football. he remained even after Airways made him move when he was transferred to type. As a start, he went on the Japanese surrender. In to Singapore Standard Singapore. In 1962, he was ©©2008 Media Masters flying missions over the UNIVERSITY DAYS Shanghai, he married his newspaper company in appointed acting Captain Publishing Sdn Bhd “hump”, averaging 120 & THE WAR first wife, Ann. 1952. That was also the of a DC-3. It was the com- hours a month. The DC-3 In 1947, barely four year of his divorce. At the mand MS had long want- Advertisewww.ipohecho.com.my in flights would take off from In those days, if you years after his first flight, Standard, MS flew a DC-3 ed. He stayed on – as I did IPOH Kunming, loaded with tin Your Community Newspaper wanted to pursue a univer- MS was made captain. aircraft, making sure the with the airline – through echo ingots for an airstrip in the sity degree, you had to get This was a rare feat. papers landed in KL, Ipoh the various changes – Classifieds Assam Valley (for trans- out of Malaya. I went to and Penang before the rival Merger and Separation, re- Appointments shipment to America). Hong Kong and in one of CAREER MOVES dailies hit the stands. From naming exercise, all that. Call: They would return to my visits to Ipoh prodded the Standard he transferred China loaded with aviation Ramesh Kumar Ming Sen to join me. In He declined to move over to a Chinese daily, TRAINING CAPTAIN gasoline. Sometimes they Hong Kong, MS immedi- to Formosa (now Taiwan) doing the same job for a Marketing Manager would carry food supplies ately shone. Again, his nat- during the Nationalist re- brief spell before leaving At the time of his re- Tel : (605) 2495936 which they dropped to ural talent for sports made treat in 1949 and instead to study for his Airline tirement from Singapore Nationalist Forces fighting Fax : (605) 2552181 him as popular as ever. He returned to Malaya with Transport Pilot’s Licence Airlines in 1980, MS had in the plains and valleys Mobile : 016 5531092 enrolled in economics. his wife. It was 1950. He in Southampton. However, 23, 600 flying hours to 8 IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper Musings NO-FRILLS COOKING, part 3 by See Foon Chan-Koppen SO MUCH GOODNESS IN A SERVING TAKING THE ‘T’ OUT OF CAN’T Cheng Sun Mooi has concocted a dish You can forge ahead only if you are armed with the essential that can make children eat vegetables CAN-DO-IT attitude without being coaxed . . .

A young couple wanted saute till fragrant, adding something simple and in- in another tbsp oil if it is expensive to prepare for too dry. Slide in hor fun See Foon two primary school boys strands and stir fry slowly who visit and play with - to loosen the clumps and their son. The wife thinks separate the strands. This The rule was simple: for the boys are tired of sand- is a technique which has the entire span of our wiches and dumplings. At to be mastered through fourth grade year, we the same time, she wants experience. Use your ladle were not to use the phrase to serve them a nutritious to train the strand to lay flat “I can’t.” dish. This recipe should on the wok, ensuring that There are many es- do it. the hor fun is in contact breathe in and breathe out sentials to creating a pros- cisely because she had no nitely become the movie with the smoking surface. without being aware we perous life, but the one past memories to fall back of your life. And, oh yes, Fried Hor Fun with Fish It is to absorb the smoking are doing so. essential you simply must on. Her mind was like a you’ll also be given the Slices & Vegetables heat or wok breath (known One easy way to be- have is the feeling that no blank canvas upon which starring role. in Cantonese as wok hei). come detached is to simply matter what it takes, you she could paint the life she So how do we get rid Watch the strand - if tiny give what you desire away can be, do and have what wished. So she painted a of this negative and obses- bubbles appear on the with your blessing. If it is you want. This CanDoIt successful one. sive thinking that is show- surface of the hor fun, financial gain you desire, attitude is vital because the I’m not suggesting we ing up in our minds on a then it is properly fried. Of don’t just imagine yourself more confidence you have all need to develop total daily basis? With a bless- course not all the strands! becoming richer, but also in your own abilities, the amnesia, but I do believe ing, of course. (Come now, Just a few. spend time visualising oth- more eager you will be to we need to consciously you didn’t really think I Push aside, and shake ers prospering financially. forge ahead, while the less develop selective memory, was going to send you a in a tsp of sesame oil or If it is more happiness you confidence you have, the making certain that those message without mention- Ingredients: drizzle in 1 tbsp oil and put seek, visualise others be- less you’ll willingly ap- thoughts we choose to play ing blessings, did you?) 1 ½ sheet hor fun (frying in mushroom and broccoli. ing imbued with joy. When ply to this project. Things repeatedly are positive, For me, releasing re- texture), roughly cut into Stir quickly, then cover the we are willing to give to halfheartedly attempted empowering thoughts that petitive thoughts is really 2-inch strands vegetables with the hor fun. others what we want for rarely succeed. will help create and main- quite easy when I take a 1 bowl broccoli florets If you tried the chicken and ourselves, we not only tain a prosperous life. few minutes to apply the 1 plate pea shoots, about potato braise (Ipoh Echo, bless the world around us, ‘REMEMBER-ERS’ Blessing Way Process. 100gm July 16-31, Issue 54) you we open the flow of good SETTLE FOR THE 2 slices garoupa fish fillets would have set aside ½ for everyone, including Every single day each BETTER SCRIPT WISH ½ yellow capsicum, juli- bowl of left-over gravy. You ourselves. And what goes of us is thinking some- UNTO OTHERS . . . enned can now pour this in. Salt to around comes around. where between 12,000 and As long you are 2 fresh shitake mush- taste, sprinkling more water That’s the way the world 70,000 thoughts, and about repeating thoughts of lack As you are already rooms, sliced thinly to keep the contents moist. works. 90 percent of those are re- and pain and struggle, aware, the way we think, 2 pips garlic, minced Wait for a minute or two Whether you have an peats of the thoughts we prosperity is impossible. feel and act molds our per- 1 finger fresh ginger, sliced and toss with ladle to mix immediate need for mon- entertained the day before. If you are frequently ceptions of the world we thinly. up evenly. ey, a health concern, or The other ten percent are thinking about money, or see. The same thoughts, Put in capsicum and are confronting a relation- bits and pieces that run in how terrible the state of the mental images and emo- Marinade for fish: pea shoots. Stir fry a few ship gone awry – no mat- and out of our minds with economy is, even you are tions we entertain daily ½ tsp salt seconds, just to blend in. ter what the difficulty may neither rhyme nor reason just remembering an old and play repetitiously be- 1 wedge of lemon for Make a well in centre be – it will not be solved whatsoever. When you stop thought, you are placing come the habitual thoughts juice and push in the fish together by your worry. In fact, the and consider how much of yourself in a position where that colour and shape our A few drops of Maggi sea- with the juice, if any. more you worry, the far- your thinking is repeated, you will always have to world. soning (optional) Cover with hor fun and ther you will remove your- however, you realise we worry about money and Once a habit is im- vegetables. self from the solution you humans are not the think- the state of the economy. pressed upon conscious- Method: Season with a splash of seek. ers we believe ourselves to If you frequently feel ness, whether it be positive Marinate fish with wine, Maggi seasoning and So add a splash of be. We are remember-ers. the need to “vent” by re- or negative, it takes over, above and set aside for sesame oil and salt or soya colour to whatever bleak I recently watched peating to your friends, and both body and mind about 20 minutes or so. sauce to taste. Dish up. a show on the Science family and co-workers react accordingly. Anyone thoughts you’re entertain- In hot wok put in 1 ing, and change the shape Network about a woman what a lousy bum your ex- who has ever driven a fa- tbsp oil to smoke. Lay in Note: This is a very nutri- of your current mindset. who had suffered total husband is or how worried miliar route on a daily fish slices to sear just for tious meal as it has all our Look for a more joyful amnesia after an auto ac- you are that you will be in basis, for instance, knows a few seconds. Turn over daily requirement of the way to approach life and cident. One of the more the next wave of layoffs at how easily the route can be and do the other side. various vitamins, protein you’ll soon find life to be interesting “side effects” work, you may as well be followed unconsciously. Dish up on a plate and set and carbohydrates. It is a more enjoyable. Life, after of the amnesia was that on the Universal Studios Once a habit is formed, we aside. real health boon, according all, is a wonderful game of she became quite success- payroll – you’re writing a tend to follow it without Throw in minced to our nutritionist consul- infinite potentiality. ful in her “new” life, pre- script that will most defi- thinking, the same way we garlic and ginger slices to tant. Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 9

UPCOMING EVENT MERU VALLEY RESORT BAGS CNBC’S 5-STAR AWARD for BEST GOLF CALLING OLD MICHAELIANS DEVELOPMENT Shortlisted to represent Asia Pacific at the CNBC International Property Awards 2008

The Resort clinched the top prize, beating other golf developments around Malaysia. This new building, in memory of Brother Ultan Paul, became a reality when old boys got together to replace a derelict structure was posing imminent danger to students. Ipoh’s Meru Valley Re- tors for the ‘Best Golf proud to be recognised as (See Ipoh Echo, Issue 39, Dec 1-15, 2007) sort won Malaysia’s only Development Category a world-class golf devel- 5-star award for Best – Asia Pacific’ were judged opment and are delighted The Old Michaelians As- Prior to the dinner, Golf Development at on five criteria – location, to be able to put Ipoh on sociation will be holding the official opening of the the Asia Pacific CNBC appearance and architec- the international map.” its annual reunion dinner new St Michael’s primary Property Awards Gala tural designs, safety and Dr Tan Chin Yong, at the Red Crescent Hall school, built in memory of Dinner held in Singa- innovation elements, mar- Director of Kinta on September 27, 2008 at Brother Ultan Paul, will be pore recently. Properties which 7.30pm. held at 3pm on the same M e r u is the project de- Some 500 old boys, day. Valley was also veloper for Meru including those from The Guest-of- judged the overall Valley, received the Australia, UK and United Honour is Brother Vincent winner in Asia Pa- award on behalf the States are expected to join Corkery. cific, topping en- Resort. He said, in the celebration. For more details about tries from 10 Asia “This prestigious Members from the two events, call Adrian Pacific countries win gives us an Penang, Kuala Lumpur Tsen at 012-5089191 or for best golf de- edge in attracting and Singapore are also Guest of honour: Yip Chee Thong at 019- velopment. It will foreigners to set- expected to attend. Brother Vincent Corkery 5567913. represent the Asia tle down in Ipoh Pacific region in under the Malaysia the global CNBC My Second Home FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T MAKE IT TO SYDNEY I n t e r n a t i o n a l programme. Ipoh In conjunction with the World Youth Day Celebration in Sydney, the Penang Diocese Property Awards is the ideal retire- Youth Network in collaboration with theCentral Perak District Youth Council 2008 ceremony to ment destination and the Parish Youth Ministry of Our Lady of Lourdes, Silibin, is organising a be held in Florida as it has the mod- ONE DAY celebration for all the youth (between 13 and 35 years) in the diocese. in November. ern amenities of Venue: Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ipoh A panel of any Malaysian city, Date: Saturday, August 23, 2008 (8.30 am – 7.00 pm) over 50 profes- excellent standard Cost: RM10 only . Get your registration forms from respective parish office. sionals judged the of living, virtually entries. Chaired traffic and conges- by Eric Pickles, tion free, and, best British Shadow Dr Tan Chin Yong (right) receives the of all, property Secretary of prize on behalf of Meru Valley Resort. prices are fantastic State, this year’s value for money judges included Helen keting and public relation when compared to those Shield, editor-in-chief strategies and golfing and in KL or Penang and the of International Homes membership details. rest of the region.” magazine; Peter Bolton Meru Valley Resort, King, chief executive of IPOH ON THE MAP representing Asia the National Association Pacific in the ‘Best Golf of Estate Agents; Phil Dato’ Lim Keng Kay, Development’ category, Spencer, property expert Director of Meru Valley will be competing with and presenter of British Resort said, “The win other CNBC Property TV Channel 4’s Location came as a pleasant surprise Award winners from the and Relocation TV shows as we did not expect to European, American, and Imtiaz Farookhi, win Malaysia’s top award, African and Arabian chief executive of the let alone being chosen to regions for the Global British National House represent Asia Pacific in Award. The final Building Council. the International Property presentation will be held The competi- Awards. We are certainly in Florida this November.

Urgently needed flyer distributors HOUSE FOR SALE (Male/Female) Spacious Earn between single-storey RM 30 to RM 60 daily. bungalow Vacancies for interior designer, Location: draughtsman and clerk. Caning Garden Computer knowledge a must. Built up area: Call Sam at 5075 sq.ft 012-5866 112 or come in for a walk in Price: interview at RM 565,000(neg) 390A Jalan Pasir Puteh,31650 Ipoh,Perak. Interested please call: Tel:-05-2537 518 05-5471 409 10 IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper

YOUNG PERAK COULD PHILEAS FOGG HAVE GONE FOR THE HULA DANCE? Innovative format makes every teacher a drama coach and Students from participating schools are transforms every student into an incipient actor. By Peter Khiew invited to write about or photograph things/events outside their Sit tight! Fasten your More than 490 stu- seat belts and enjoy your dents performed on stage respective institutions of learning. E-mail trip around the world, in this year’s production. articles to: emcee Master Looi Kian Jonathan Loke played [email protected] Sing, Year 9, Ipoh Inter- the globe-trotting Phileas attn: Peter Khiew national School, told the Fogg. 1,600 spectators gathered “It was certainly worth at the Polyteknik Ungku much more than the RM20 CARRYING ON A GREAT Omar Ipoh. we paid to see it,” said Nur DRAMA TRADITION He added unabash- Ellianna Zainal, a former edly, “all for RM20!” student of IIS. She made SMI’s CAMELOT is packed with many Looi thundered his the trip with family mem- shining moments enthusiastic invitation bers from Kuala Lumpur The photos that appear below were taken during dress as the curtains parted for specifically to enjoy the rehearsals for Camelot, St Michael’s Institution’s lat- the school 2008 Musical show. est stage offering. Curtains up for three days, from Production, Around the This year’s IIS pro- Adaptation makes children perform while imbibing Aug 15 to Aug 17, 2008 at 7.45pm. Venue: the SMI World With IIS, a superb duction enhances Ipoh lessons in geography Hall. Tickets are priced at RM20 and RM50. spectacle of music, drama city’s standing as one of important as the product, are integrated within the and dance in a truly enjoy- Malaysia’s most celebrated says Mrs Agalya Devy school timetable, making able adaptation of Jules niches for school drama. Balaguru, Principal and every teacher a virtual dra- Verne’s novel, Around the St Michael’s Institution Drama Coordinator. The ma coach. World in 80 Days. and the Anglo-Chinese drama training sessions

Attractive addition to Phileas Fogg’s itinerary: the Hawaiian hula is a Korea gets represented definite crowd-pleaser While the story of School Ipoh have tradi- Twenty seven Michaelians, mainly Sixth formers, lead Phileas Fogg’s travels tionally led the field as two the cast with 12 musicians, also from SMI. was the basis of the IIS of Malaysia’s best drama The story is about a boy raised in the woods by a production, much poetic schools. St Michael’s has magician. He grows up to be king of all England. King licence was employed produced plays and musi- Arthur dreams of a “civilised” world. His ideal is Camelot to accommodate student cals almost every year since where law and compassion reign supreme. creativity and innova- 1955, a feat few schools in Camelot is SMI’s 47th drama production. Throughout tion. Exciting new sites the world can equal. The the years, beginning with the 1955 stage presentation of and places were featured Ipoh International School Poet of Ispaha, the institution has maintained a strong and the drama was spiced is set to muscle in on this drama tradition. Among its many successes are The King richly with dances, from creative field. It is offering of Sherwood (1966), OLIVER (1977), WIZARD OF OZ salsa and the tango to the a unique format of “total (1984) and Justice Pao (1999). Hawaiian hula. drama” wherein the annual Principal Mr Phoon Chong Chee said the proceeds The school devoted school production mobilis- from Camelot would help upgrade the school’s facilities. an “incubation period” of es and engages the whole Funds would also be allocated to defray expenses of three months from March school enrolment. The IIS professional guidance and experienced coaching for to June 2008 for classes format involves the full academically weak students. to identify and develop participation of every class For more details, call 05-2540418 (during office their ideas for the Grand in stage productions. IIS Chief Operating Officer Mrs Lai Kong Wa presents a hours). Finale. The process is just as bouquet to drama advisor Charles Pooley

You Invite Your Pranayama Guests Workshop We Will Do 14-09-2008 The Rest (9.00am-4.00pm) This workshop is being MARTIN FOOD conducted by breath CARERERS specialist and THE BEST IN IPOH CITY respiratory expert, SPECIALIZED IN Dr Dhillip Kumar Phd Chinese, Malay & Indian Cuisine from Kevala Centre Western Cuisine (Halal) Sdn. Bhd. (Vegetarian / Non Vegetarian) WE CATER FOR It will be held in Weddings, Brithdays YMCA, Ipoh. Opening Ceremonies Course fee : RM 80.00 Other Occasions WE ALSO PROVIDE inclusive of lunch and Banquet Facilities, tea breaks. PA System, Bar Service, Music Machine, Call Theva at Band 017-579 0575 to book Contact: in advance. 53 & 55, Jalan Silibin, 30100 Ipoh, Perak. Closing date to register for enquiries: H/P: 22-08-2008 019-558 2462 012-506 5133 TEL: 05-558 2462 fax: 05-5273992 Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 11

Continued from page 2

Sinavesan’s apology triggers instant acceptance. Gopeng jungles. As it hap- Like other aborigi- pened, this second with- nal tribes in the country drawal of heavy vehicles they live off the land. The caused even further dam- jungle is their workplace, age to road and tracks in their playground and their the area. The aborigines orchard. It is where they were incensed. gather fruits, vines, rattan, shoots and similar jungle JUNGLE produce. Denying them WORKPLACE access to their traditional “marketplace” is akin to The Orang Asli liv- denying them their right ing in the Kampar-Gopeng to live. Orang Asli settlers celebrate justice and their victory. Jungle Complex are from On Friday, July the media that the State their clearing work else- earlier statement had been tory for the Semai. They the Semai tribe of the eth- 31, the State Executive Government had formal- where. a mistake. fought tooth and nail for nic Senoi group. Some Councillor, at a gather- ly recognised the Orang Significantly and According to lawyer their rights. 2,000 of them live in the ing in front of the Party Asli’s rights to their ances- properly, Sinavesan apol- Anthony, the entire epi- Nizar‘s empathy was five kampongs within the Keadilan Rakyat office tral land and that Gopeng ogised for his oversight. sode should go down in the deciding factor - indeed, region. in Gopeng, announced to Berhad would have to do He openly admitted his history as one great vic- another feather in his cap.

Singapore online By Andrew Symon GREEN AND CLEAN POWER The plans of a neighbouring nation Once a policy decision is This remark harked any mandatory emissions veloped countries, accord- egy of Singapore’s. In a 200,000 barrels a day op- made by the Singapore back to comments made reduction targets under ing to research by the Asia that over-used descrip- eration in the neighbouring government, the machin- by Singapore’s founding Kyoto, as it is still clas- Pacific Energy Research tion, Singapore aims to Malaysian state of . ery revs up amazingly Prime Minister, and now sified internationally as a Centre in Tokyo. be a “hub” for clean en- The raw input is ja- quickly to implement it. Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan developing country, it is an ergy products and services tropha curcas, argued to One good example is the Yew, in an Asian Wall important action. NATIONAL TARGET (such as carbon trading). be better than palm oil as current push for alterna- Street Journal article at the While most other it is a hardy plant that can tive energies, energy effi- end of 1999 when he and Southeast Asian countries Longer term, it is very PLANS WORKING grow on semi arid land and ciency and conservation. other famous people were have ratified Kyoto (all possible that the island therefore does not compete Around the start of asked what they thought except Laos and Brunei), nation will face interna- Already there are with land for agricultural 2006, the government de- the great inventions of as have India and China, tional targets of some sort. signs that this is working. crops. cided that climate change the last hundred years had Singapore is liable to be Foreseeing this, the gov- Conergy of Germany, the This will be supplied was a serious problem and been and what the future much closer to having to ernment has set a self im- largest solar company in from Cambodia, Vietnam, that the island state had to might hold. accept international obli- posed national target to re- Europe, has set up its Asia Indonesia, the Philippines look at ways of reducing Pacific base in Singapore and Malaysia. general emissions, carbon AIR CONDITIONING in a bid to expand its busi- dioxide and other green- ness in the Asia-Pacific re- HYDROGEN CELLS house gases seen to be re- Lee said that the air gion. sponsible for global warm- conditioner had been a Vestas of Denmark, Hydrogen fuel cells ing. great break through as it the world’s largest sup- to power motor vehicles Before then, govern- enabled workers’ produc- plier of wind power sys- are also being tested by ment officials seemed to tivity to increase in tropi- tems, is making Singapore DaimlerChrysler and BP, be lukewarm towards the cal climates and that may- a regional base and R&D and also by Rolls-Royce issue. be the next breakthrough centre. with a Singaporean consor- could be the air condi- Two Norwegian so- tium, Enertek. HARNESSING tioned suit. lar energy component In power, Singapore FAILURE Certainly now, though, manufacturers, NorSun has shifted in the last eight there is a much greater se- and Renewable Energy years from almost total re- I remember at one con- riousness and enthusiasm Corporation, also recently liance on oil for generation ference when a German ex- about green and clean en- announced plans to build to natural gas supplied by pert argued that Singapore ergy technologies, and en- plants in Singapore. pipeline from Indonesia’s was failing in not harness- ergy conservation. As far as alternative Sumatra and offshore fields ing solar energy, despite And the policy shift transport fuels are con- in the South China Sea on having very good climatic is understood to owe a lot cerned, a 200,000 barrels top of pipeline supply from conditions for it, certainly to the still very influential per day bio diesel plant is Malaysia. Liquefied natural better than Germany where Lee Kuan Yew, who, it Singapore’s ever expanding skyline being developed in a ven- gas is also to be imported solar was well established. is said, takes the climate ture between Holland’s by the end of the decade. In reply, one former sen- change challenge very se- gations in any successor duce carbon intensity to 25 Van Der Hoors and Climate change con- ior official joked about the riously indeed. to Kyoto when the existing percent below 1990 levels Nanyang Technological cerns, reliance on fuel need perhaps for Singapore S p o t l i g h t i n g Accord expires in 2012 by 2012. University. imports, and increasing to develop personal air- Singapore’s new position To all intents and pur- Intertwined with The plant is to be op- fuel prices are all driving conditioned suits – maybe was the government’s rati- poses, Singapore is, in fact, Singapore’s noble goals erational by year’s end the government’s push for powered by individual so- fication, in April, 2006, of a developed economy and are commercial motives. on Jurong Island, off the greater power efficiency lar energy sets (or maybe the 1997 Kyoto Accord as such, an intensive ener- The government also southwest coast, where and fuel diversification. he envisaged little hats to the United Nations gy producer and consumer. aims to foster the country Singapore’s oil storage, And solar as a means with propellers to catch Framework Convention It has a per capita level of as a regional research and refining and petrochemical of diversifying power sup- the breeze – personal wind on Climate Change. While carbon dioxide emissions business centre. This is facilities are located. ply is also now firmly on power?) Singapore does not face at the levels of other de- a tried and proven strat- The venture also plans the government’s agenda! 12 IPOH ECHO August 16 - 31, 2008 Your Community Newspaper Sport FACILITIES AND FINANCING There may be strong social and moral arguments against paying footballers the earth, but Steve Darby insists they should always practise on decent pitches . . . Recently, I commentated massive strides, both on for Astro on the Malaysia and, more importantly, off v Chelsea game. Before the pitch. the match, I had stated The revenue streams on air that Shah Alam is that supply these amazing the best football stadium wage bills are: in Malaysia and has the ●●TV rights best playing surface. ●●Gate receipts I was delighted when ●●Sponsorships the Chelsea manager, Luiz ●●Marketing sales Felipe Scolari, roundly Where Malaysian criticised the pitch saying football has to improve it was impossible to play is in its drive to obtain good football on and was, corporate sponsorships in fact,, dangerous to his and, in turn, to service that players! sponsorship so that the sponsor gets value for their VINDICATED ringgit. Again this is So, perhaps, the obtainable and hard work sceptics who criticise and care and attention are me for saying that Ipoh the ingredients. stadium is an appalling Sounds a bit like pitch pitch will realise now that maintenance! the standard of surface is something that is vital to THANK YOU the game. It is something that is not economically On a separate note, out of reach. the response to the Ipoh Sun and water are One secret Frank Lampard cannot hide: he is Chelsea’s Echo’s front page exposé abundant in Ipoh, perhaps a RM 143,000 a day man. And we’re talking basic wage. of the lack of funding for little care and attention may the state team has had also be needed! This would within economic reach, will take the Perak player a tremendous response also apply to Ipoh Padang, but another factor from the two years to earn what with many people voic- which was destroyed as a game that emerged was the Lampard earns in a day. ing their concern. public facility by a private vast economic status of the On this issue we cannot On a practical note, function. It has been players. compete and maybe there a true fan, Hajj Mohtar AAD almost a year since the field Frank Lampard of are strong social and moral bin Ngah, funded our trip was playable. All right, Chelsea is about to sign a arguments that we should to Kuala Lumpur to play it is playable but only new contract with Chelsea not even try. in the Malaysian Cup. for recreational use. It’s which will give him a basic My first wage as “pro” We have now quali- basically dangerous, with wage of approximately at Tranmere Rovers was fied for the Malaysia the bumps and lumps in RM143,000 a day. Yes! A RM56 a week and if I Cup Quarter Finals, de- the surface, surface that is day! He was up against complained there were 100 spite not being paid for neither like concrete nor a a Perak player in that players in the queue behind four months. Perhaps swamp. Again, we have to match who was proudly me who would have taken we are the most profes- care and maintain facilities representing his country. my job. That was in the sional “amateur” side in if we want the best. The game was beamed 70s so the game at the elite Malaysia!!! Pitch maintenance is to 17 countries and yet, it level in Europe has made PHASES & FACES MOVING UP EASY FAVOURITE

They’ve been promoted. (L to R) Sgt Rohani , Sub-Inspector Zakaria, Sub-Inspector Hakimudin and Cheah Poh Ting, is pic- refreshing sight in the sea Sgt Kasmah, all from IPK Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah. tured above receiving her of male city councilors.” Of the 585 recent promotions in the Perak Contingent, 72 certificate from Mayor There are a total of 22 came from the Police Contingent Headquarters. Roshidi. She is the only city councillors. female city councilor in Cheah is a civil engi- However, effective this Au- Ipoh. neer. She was one of seven gust, he gave up his share An observer told Ipoh NGOs who took their oath of the business. Echo: “She certainly was a of office recently. The reason is fairly simple: Kevin’s day job. TIME CONSTRAINTS He is a horse trainer and is currently ranked Number Kevin Coetzee was co- a week. For over a year 1 in the circuit. Kevin was owner of Sid’s Tavern, Kevin would be behind ‘moonlighting’ at Sid’s. a popular pub located at the bar cheerily serving his Late, late nights and early Ipoh Garden South offer- customers their brew. He morning work just don’t ing live music six nights enjoyed himself. mix. Kevin