FREE COPY March 16 - 31, 2019 PP 14252/10/2012(031136) 30 SEN FOR DELIVERY TO YOUR DOORSTEP – ASK YOUR NEWSVENDOR 100,000 print readers Bimonthly 1,178,421 online hits (Feb) – verifiable ISSUE 300 INSIDE page 3 An Arms Race In The Offing? page 14 AN ECHO Shot 4 Times and Still WORTH HEARING Shooting By the Ipoh Echo Team ow time flies. Ipoh’s only community newspaper, and perhaps the only one in the whole page 15 country, is almost 14 years old today. The publication of its 300th issue would have gone Hunnoticed and unheralded had it not been for the concerned few who felt that one should stand Stop Using up and be noticed, regardless. Its rather hazy beginning should be highlighted so nothing is lost in Caves as transition. FULL STORY ON PAGES 2 & 6 Temples! The team with two interns Restoring Kledang Hill oncerned Ipohites along with representatives from Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc), Menteri Besar’s Office, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Persatuan CActivis Sahabat Alam Malaysia (KUASA), Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (PEKA) paid a visit to Kledang Hill on Thursday, March 7. The much-publicised land clearing activity on Kledang Hill has been a hot topic among Perakeans after Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) raised the issue. Almost 10 out of 400 hectares of the land have been cleared off. According to SAM field researcher, Meor Abdul Razak, Ipohites should work closely with the state government to rehabilitate the affected land. “We’re ready to lend a helping hand to restore Kledang Hill to its former glory. About 10,000 trees need to be replanted and this will take some time. Works on the hill slope have begun. I suggest the state government organise a community project so we can work together to restore what has been removed,” he added. Moharani, a representative from PSM said the public deserved to know the culprits behind the land clearing. She added that whatever had been done by the previous government should not be continued by the present government. “The beautiful forest is what makes Ipoh special. We wouldn’t want our future A local resident, Goh Ah Poon, 61, said he was ready to go up the hill to plant trees generations to live in a city filled with oil palms,” he lamented. and to restore the site to its original state. Joelyn YOUR VOICE IN THE COMMUNITY 2 IE300 MARCH 16-31, 2019 www.ipohecho.com.my Ipoh Echo Foodie Guide Ipoh Echo How has the Ipoh Echo made a difference to Ipoh and Perak? he passage of time has exacted a heavy toll on the pioneering trio. Of the three ato’ Dr Ramanathan Ramiah, CEO of Yayasan that started the paper, only one remains to carry on the fight. It is a heavy burden, DSultan Idris Shah (YSIS) and Ipoh Echo reader of over nonetheless, but persevere he must. 10 years stated, “Ipoh Echo has always been ready to help T us with publishing Yayasan’s activities and plight to request In a rapidly changing world where the print media is fast becoming obsolete, continuity and relevance become not only problematic but a major issue. The closure for help from the public. Ipoh Echo has helped NGOs who of several mainstream newspapers is proof enough of this depressing trend. The advent are working on their own without financial support from and the popularity of social media is the underpinning reason why newspapers and the government by promoting and supporting the NGOs’ broadsheets are on the way out. activities. This, in turn, has helped the local community Regardless of prevailing circumstances, our objective of being the voice of the in the2 field of rehabilitation and contributed towards the community remains. As such, Ipoh Echo has to continue to serve the community in upliftment of society. Ipoh Echo’s vast circulation helps a whatever ways possible. large number of people in Ipoh and Perak to know about The coming years may not be as rosy as we have anticipated but, like a brave matador useful events and we are grateful to Ipoh Echo for its great in a half-empty bull ring, we are bracing for the bull’s final charge. effort.” On a brighter side, let us hear what our legion of dedicated readers have to say about Ipoh Echo. Here are their comments: ourism Perak Chief Executive Officer, Zuraida Organisations TMd Taib stated, “Ipoh Echo has brought many positive changes to the community from all walks ssociate Professor Dr Richard Ng, President of Ipoh of life, especially the underprivileged and needy. Its ACity Watch and Chairman of KOHIJAU (Koperasi honest reporting without prejudice towards any political Hijau) enthused, “I started reading Ipoh Echo since its first ideology makes it the best newspaper in Perak. Ipoh issue. First of all, allow me to congratulate Ipoh Echo for Echo is the voice of the people and its objective should its success in keeping Ipohites updated since 2006 with be continued.” She loves the food articles. its 300th issues of community-oriented balance reporting.” According to him, Ipoh Echo has done a good job as the voice of the people and friends of NGOs by holding true to its objective of being a community paper. Not only ak Peter (Bucher) of Sharpened Word (SW) said, “I has it continued to raise contemporary issues affecting the Pvividly remember the first Ipoh Echo office at the then citizens but also offers solutions to problems faced. Syuen Hotel. Since its humble beginning, Ipoh Echo fulfils “NGOs such as Ipoh City Watch and KOHIJAU have the needs and expectations of Ipohites. Bravo! benefited greatly from the transformation that is happening “From day one, I always look forward to the bi-monthly in Ipoh Echo. We are really thankful to Ipoh Echo for their publication for the latest updates on local events and support in helping us highlight many issues affecting the people. Being a self-funded happenings. My favourite is the editor’s column and cover NGO, we depend a lot on the print media to provide the publicity required in helping stories. In future, I wish to see more previews of events/ the people. Ipoh Echo has stood with us from the very beginning,” Dr Richard added. happenings, in addition to the post-event reporting. “SW events are boutique events for people with keen interests in creative arts and literature, and always looking ato’ Gan Tack Kong, the Federation of Malaysian for young volunteers. And Ipoh Echo has added so much DManufacturers (FMM) Perak chairman, has been value to it by being our Media Partner. reading the Ipoh Echo since its inception by obtaining a “Happy 300th Anniversary and may you have many copy from his own office at Ngan Yin or FMM Perak. He more years of success and prosperity.” cited ‘The Editor’s Desk’ as his favourite column because it touches on current issues both at the state and national levels without fear or favour. an Anderson, Ipoh World: “Despite having read every “Ipoh Echo, as the established and the only regional Iissue since the first, I still find this a difficult question newspaper in Perak, serves as an eye opener for the Perak to answer. But yes, there have been isolated incidents ‘rakyat’ (people) to be hands-on, on current social, political, where Government have paid attention to the Echo and environmental and health issues. See Foon’s articles on taken action to put things right. Charities, NGO’s and Ipoh’s best eats provide a wide variety of Malaysian foods those in need have also been helped by the publicity. But available not only for Perakeans but also tourists from overall not enough attention is paid to the Echo by the other states to explore and indulge in. It also provides an Government or the citizens. The city still has many ills avenue for our local companies to advertise their products that have been highlighted in the Echo more than once: and services at down-to-earth rates. Our FMM Institute regularly promotes its training rubbish in the streets, blocked drains, buildings without programmes in Ipoh Echo,” Dato’ Gan explained. maintenance, illegal hawkers, traffic problems, a lack of heritage understanding and more. Doesn’t anybody care?” ubasini Uthra, Senior Manager of the Malaysian SInternational Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Perak Branch commented, "Ipoh Echo truly reflects the people's voice because it is an effective sounding Perakeans board for the prevalent local issues. For MICCI Perak, Ipoh atin Ushiama, a resident of Meru Valley Resort, Echo has assisted in raising the awareness of the existence Dalso follows Ipoh Echo since its first issue especially of the Chamber and its role in the State. Our members the Ipoh food page as her guide to find out the best food always look forward to the Ipoh Echo issues to read about for her visitors. Equally, a must-read is the Editor’s Desk the "goings-on" in the state. The best part of the paper is section which she described as “fearless and frank opinion the promotion of some tourism places which seem to be the representing the people’s voice.” Via the Ipoh Echo, she hidden treasures in the state." gets to know the history, geography and happenings in "The announcement of upcoming events, talks, Perak especially Ipoh. workshops and so forth in Ipoh Echo are really useful and informative. Personally, I would give a rating of 5-star for this one-of-a-kind paper aesar Nair finds news pertinent to the local community, which broadcasts all kinds of news items and happenings in Perak.