www.ipohecho.com.my FREE COPY DELIVERY The Ipoh Echo is being delivered right to your doorstep by your IPOH newsvendor. Your Voice In The Community Call your news vendor echoecho NOW! August 16-31, 2010 PP 14252/10/2010(025567) 30 SEN FOR DELIVERY TO YOUR DOORSTEP – ISSUE ASK YOUR NEWSVENDOR 103 3 4 9 12 Exposition Or Imposition ? Letters: Ipoh My Home Town A Timely MBI’s Shameful Boost for ICW ‘ZOPFAN’ A Big Letdown for Residents. KAMPAR – From Tin Mines to Tertiary Education By JERRY FRANCIS ampar, like most mining towns in the rich alluvial tin deposit region of the Kinta Valley, plunged into a depression when the international tin price collapsed in October, 1985. Several tin mines on which the Ktown’s economy largely depended, gradually ceased operation. Also affected were scores of supporting industries, such as foundries, hardware shops, machinery workshops and timber traders. As a result, thousands of workers lost their jobs. Without any alternative employment opportunity available, most of the young people left as immigrant workers to Japan, Taiwan, Europe and the United States and sent their hard earned money home to their dependants. Kampar founded in 1887, thus became like an old-folks and children’s home. However, in just over two decades, Kampar has emerged from the tailings of the tin mines into a fast growing hub for tertiary education in Perak. Continued on page 2 2 August 16-31, 2010 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community A Miner’s Vision he revival of Kampar mining land surrounded nomic boom of Kampar Tempurung and the old tin the delicacies. However the Twas possible largely by lush greenery and lakes is shown by the number dredge in Chendrong as construction of the North- because of the vision of a was allocated by the Perak of commercial banks (8) among the tourist attrac- South Highway soon made former veteran tin miner Government to UTAR. which have their branches tions. the detour to Kampar too Tan Sri Hew See Tong, The university was in the town. With its popu- As for his role towards tedious and foodie visits who gave a kiss of life to officially opened on June lation on the increase to tourism, Hew said he, to- dwindled. With the new an otherwise dying min- 1, 2007. UTAR has pro- well above 70,000, the gether with some former focus on tourism, Kampar ing town. gressed steadily to be a sub-district was upgraded miners, were working on should soon see the full Hew, a miner since comprehensive university to a full district – the 10th setting up a gravel pump buses returning, making 1949, was an advisor for providing “a diverse port- in Perak last year. mines museum to be lo- Kampar a full destination a number of years to the folio of undergraduate and cated in the township. rather than a detour. International Tin Council postgraduate programmes Tourism Potential “We want to show the (ITC) in London, which with a niche in research Having seen Kampar turn young generation and the was established in 1956 and consultancy”. around to become a hub generations to come, the APOLOGY to manage a buffer stock of tertiary education is not contribution of the tin min- to keep the tin price at a Tan Sri Hew See Tong Future Developments sufficient for Hew to rest ing industry to the econo- steady level until 1985 Under its second phase when its buffer manager Need for Progress of development, UTAR is could no longer maintain Despite some critics ac- constructing a grand-hall the price due to rising cost cusing him of having a with a capacity for 3,500 of production and an in- personal agenda, the soft- people and a number of crease in production by spoken Hew crusaded on lecture theatres. Currently, non-member countries. As with his vision to bring UTAR has an enrolment of a result ITC collapsed and progress and new hope to 12,500 students and TARC so did the tin mining in- the residents of his birth- has 2,100 students. dustry in the country. place. “I felt we needed to Bandar Baru Kampar he Ipoh Echo wish- “After the tin min- do something and so de- has about 4,000 houses, ing industry collapsed, I cided to make Kampar a Tes to apologise to 300 commercial buildings, Sathasivam @ Siva (pic) managed to carry on until hub of tertiary education”, two government schools, the drop of the tin price he said. Main square of Bandar Baru Kampar for causing him any em- a large supermarket and barrassment or inconven- became unbearable”, said Hew then went on my of the country as well a seven-storey hotel. on his laurels. “My dream ience when his picture the 79-year-old Hew at a to persuade Tunku Abdul as remind the residents of Housing developments are is to see Kampar become was published in issue casual interview in a cof- Rahman College (TARC) the town’s heritage”, he still underway. both a hub for tertiary edu- 102 page 11 of the Paper. fee-shop. to set up a branch. His of- said. The Federal Govern- cation and a tourist desti- The picture was intended fer of five shop lots at a The old town was ment is proposing to build nation. to show him as one of the New Township nominal rental of RM1 once famous for its chick- a satellite hospital in the “There is potential vendors working very dil- On ceasing mining opera- per year and a donation of en clay-pot rice, chicken township to cater to the for tourism development igently to deliver newspa- tions in 1989, he decided 20.2ha of his ex-mining biscuits and fish-ball noo- residents of Lower Perak in Kampar and its sur- pers daily. Siva has been to diversify and use his land for the college’s per- dles. Bus-loads of tourists and MARA is planning roundings”, he claimed. delivering newspapers to ex-mining land just north manent site was too good were known to make a bee- to set up its university at He pointed out the bird the Ipoh Echo office every of Kampar town for hous- to refuse. line to the town to savour nearby Gua Tempurung. sanctuary in the area, Gua day. ing and industrial devel- And with the support With plans for expan- opments. And so, a new of Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sek sion by the two education township – Bandar Baru (former MCA president), KOON YEW YIN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FINANCE/ institutions, the student ACCOUNTANCY DEGREES Kampar, sprang out in the he managed to get TARC population is expected midst of the vast sandy to come in and the branch to hit well above 20,000. Pre-degree or Foundation Course landscape. campus was constructed Kampar is therefore Pays for all the fees and cost of living until the PTPTN loan is secured. In 1990, he also de- and officially opened on primed to move further Criteria: cided to stand as a Barisan May 18, 2003. Today, the with the education sector • Scholarship based on eventual acceptance by UTAR Nasional’s candidate for branch campus, surround- as the main driving force • Total family income is less than RM2,000 per month. the Kampar Parliamentary ed by beautiful scenery of its economy. constituency, but was and lakes, offers outstand- • No payback, only the commitment to help other poor students Providing accommo- when financially solvent after graduation. narrowly defeated. Sub- ing facilities and resources dation and essential needs sequently, in 1995 he re- that further promote excel- of the students alone of- Send request with IC details, proof of family income to: contested the seat and won, lent teaching and learning. fers great prospects to the [email protected] and continued to be the MP economic and commercial for Kampar for another two UTAR activities of the township terms until 2008. Hew was also instrumental as well as the old town. This gave some clout in getting the University Already, restaurants, ho- to his efforts. Hew’s hope Tunku Abdul Rahman tels, internet cafes and re- was to develop the new (UTAR) to set up its main tail shops are among others township to be a catalyst campus in the new town- thriving in the town. in bringing much deve- ship. It was with the help of Confidence in the eco- lopment and growth to the two former Menteri Besars region. of Perak, Tan Sri Ramli He started off by Ngah and Datuk Seri Tajol luring three foreign Rosli, and an MCA leader electronic companies to set Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan up their operations in the that a 520-ha piece of ex- new township and provide employment for about 7,000 workers. Beautifully designed shophouses in Bandar Baru Kampar Your Voice In The Community IPOH ECHO August 16-31 2010 3 www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH echoYour Voice In The Community From the Editor’s Desk by Fathol Zaman Bukhari EXPOSITION OR IMPOSITION ? Traders impose their will on organisers rather than the other Exposition of farmers, fishermen and way around. This is not progress… It is most disheartening to stock-breeders. see how well-meaning in- tentions are being exploit- Opportunities ed for selfish reasons. The Although both promote much heralded Wenzhou different products, their Brand-name and Quality aims are almost identical – Products Exposition and to create economic activi- the Perak Agrofest 2010 ties in a confined space and bore witness to this fla- provide a window of op- grant display of self-serv- portunity for both budding ing profiteering.