www.ipohecho.com.my FREE COPY IPOH echoechoYour Community Newspaper ISSUE 82 September 16-30, 2009 PP 14252/10/2009(022651) NEWS SEEFOON FINDS A LANDMARK LET’S BUILD UP 5 THE FRESHEST CASE THIS STATE SEAFOOD ON TOGETHER THE 4 OUTSKIRTS.. 10 IPOH – RETIREE’S RESORT More pics at ipohecho. com.my Meru Golf Resort Name: For years, our city fathers have had discussions on how to stem the Diaspora of Jane Lam Wai Chuin youth from Ipoh, pulled away by the bright lights and economic prospects of the Occupation: Student big cities, leaving Ipoh to languish in the doldrums and catering to a primarily Hobbies: Reading, Photo Editing, older population. Amidst the moaning and groaning and debates on how to attract Singing more investment to Perak, a huge opportunity exists to bring back the lustre to The quality I admire most: the city that tin built, that has been overlooked by those with the financial clout Humility, Joyful attitude to make things happen. Ambition: continued on page 2 Lawyer 2 IPOH ECHO SEPTEMBER 16-30, 2009 Your Community Newspaper Malaysia – Climate, Costs and Currency – Ideal for Retirees he United Nations resort would cater for inde- population estimates Better Health Sales, Sunway City said that T pendent retirees as well as and projections reveal Dr Koh Wai Keat, Ipoh’s a few years ago they had provide for assisted living. that the world population only Geriatrician and a discussions with Koreans to This is still in the planning continues its path towards consultant at Fatimah build retirement homes for stage. population ageing and is Hospital, said that as a per- them and a Memorandum When asked what on track to surpass 9 bil- centage of the total popula- of Understanding had been happens to residents who lion persons by 2050. In tion, Perak has the highest signed. Due to the finan- during their stay encounter developed countries, 20 number of senior citizens cial downturn, the Koreans medical problems and per cent of today’s popu- in the country. Ipoh has have requested Sunway to are unable to care for lation is aged 60 years or all the facilities to provide hold on till the economy themselves, Cecelia said, over, and by 2050 that pro- necessary medical services turns around. A piece of “We send them to the Kinta portion is projected to be for senior citizens at costs land has been identified for Health Care Home run 32 per cent. lower than KL. The medi- this project and meanwhile by Kinta Medical Centre. With rising costs of cal facilities are all easily Sunway Development Sunway is studying the They admit ambulatory as living and inflation, a large accessible, with less travel Koreans’ expectations and well as bedridden patients, percentage of these older time and no traffic jams. something of a misnomer services may be available their specific requirements. including those with cancer people will begin to find He added that the environ- because one doesn’t neces- on request on a user pays A conversation with and after strokes. They can their retirement incomes ment in Ipoh is ideal for sarily have to be retired at basis under an arrange- Jenny Yap, Executive accommodate 25 patients insufficient to maintain the senior citizens with less all. Entry is generally re- ment known as ‘flexicare’. Director of Bukit Kinding and the charges are from lifestyles to which they’ve pollution and the slower stricted to people who have Units that are described Resorts revealed that plans RM35 to RM 55 daily for been accustomed in their pace of life is conducive to attained 55 years of age or as ‘assisted living units’ have actually been finalised long-term patients.” respective countries. In better health. have retired from full-time provide the highest level for a retirement village comes the ‘Malaysia My employment, and their of care, usually including right down to layouts for Development Issues Second Home’ (MM2H) Best Kept Secret spouses. The average age the regular provision of a kitchens. A 5-acre plot has Dato’ Francis Lee Yew programme. This govern- Now with the Firefly con- is somewhere in the low to range of personal services. been identified for this Hean, Perak Branch ment initiative is aimed nection of daily flights from mid 70’s and the average horseshoe-shaped building Chairman of Real Estate at attracting comfortably Singapore, a new Medan- entry age is somewhere in Existing Facilities in this resort in Chemor. & Housing Developers’ well-off retirees from de- Ipoh air service starting the mid to high 60’s. In Ipoh, a well managed They are currently looking Association (REHDA) veloped countries to this month and KL being ‘self-care’ facility is the for an operator who will get said that there are no typi- spend their golden years only two hours away, Ipoh Different Types Teratai Home operated by the project started and on cal retirement homes for in Malaysia. The program can undoubtedly live up to There are basically two the Lotus Foundation, a completion, to manage the senior citizens in Malaysia. has great potential to at- it being Malaysia’s ‘most kinds of retirement village: charity registered with the ongoing operation. He said that the concept of tract a sizeable income in liveable city’ and ‘best resident funded and donor ROS. The Teratai has 29 Chong Wearn Ee, retirement homes and vil- foreign exchange as well kept secret’ as touted by funded. The latter are in- residents; some in private Director of Total Investment lages is well established in as fuel property develop- Kinta Properties Group’s variably owned and operat- rooms with others twin said that he had visited Australia and the USA but ment in the country. advertising to the expatri- ed by NGOs. They include or quadruple sharing. The Australia to see the retire- in Malaysia there is no leg- This is where Ipoh is ate market. an element of charitable home is clean and bright ment homes there and how islation for requirements ideally positioned to tap So why aren’t property subsidy and entry is gener- with a dining hall and rec- to modify the concept to on setting up of retirement this growing economic developers and other ally restricted to the needy. reational hall. All their res- suit local needs. It is still in homes. Because of this de- segment if concerted business groups mining Currently in Ipoh, there are idents are ambulatory. The a preliminary stage. efforts are made to focus on the retirement market? 67 private care facilities monthly charges including velopers were concerned that when legislation does attracting and catering to Apart from build- registered with the welfare meals varies from RM800 Most Advanced come into being, they the retirement community. ing properties and selling department; and the health to RM2,800 based on type The group with the most may face problems of non In doing so, the medical, them to retirees, or run- department has to certify of accommodation. Maids advanced plans for a retire- compliance. He feels that leisure, transport, dining ning serviced apartments nursing homes. are available to take care ment village appears to be building typical retirement and lifestyle sectors of the and attracting tenants, The size and style of the residents and a nurse the Kinta Properties Group homes/villages based on local economy could get a there has been no real ef- of retirement village is available. who have a concept paper the Australian or American much needed boost. fort made to develop the accommodation varies Cecelia Chan, Mana- and a site plan with draw- model may not be in the retirement market in Ipoh. enormously, from bed-sitter ger at Lotus Foundation ings already drawn up. interest of developers in Lower Costs Of Living The reasons are manifold apartments to spacious said that they are plan- Initially slated for Meru Ipoh or in fact Malaysia Ipoh’s costs of living are but essentially, there is a brick and tile homes. Most ning to build a Retirement Golf Resort, targeted at the itself. The best they can do on the average almost two lack of clear understanding retirement villages have Resort in Gunong Lang for MM2H market, this will ca- is build apartments with thirds and occasionally on the various definitions common areas and a range more than 100 residents on ter to more affluent retirees safety features for senior half that of its busier sister of ‘retirement village’, of facilities available for a 13-acre plot of land. The looking for an active life- citizens in their projects cities of Kuala Lumpur and retirement homes’, ‘nurs- the use and enjoyment of style which the resort has rather than separate retire- Penang. This applies to ing homes’, ‘care homes’ all residents. on offer. Kinta Properties ment villages. REHDA purchasing homes, rentals, and other nuances. Plus Group also hopes to estab- does not have any plans for dining out, private clinic there is a plethora of legal Levels of Care lish a second tier develop- retirement villages. visits, home delivery of structures around which to A number of terms are ment at their Klebang lo- cooked food, wet market build the concept and stay used to describe the level cation for a wider market Development Roundup prices, and even cost of profitable for the private of care that is provided in base. car repairs. Instead of developers. A brief sum- a particular village or in A quick round up of the various developments in feeling inferior being the mary is in order. relation to particular units. Government’s Role and around Ipoh revealed poorer cousin, Ipoh needs Units that are described as In the meantime, as devel- varying levels of interest to capitalise on these lower Definitions ‘independent living units’ opers gear up for tapping amongst developers.