www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH echoechoYour Community Newspaper FREE for collection from our office and selected outlets, on 1st & 16th of the month. 30 sen for delivery to your ISSUE JULY 1 - 16, 2009 PP 14252/10/2009(022651) house by news vendors within Perak. RM 1 prepaid postage for mailing within Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. 77 NEWS NEW! Meander With Mindy and discover what’s new in different sections of Ipoh A SOCIETY IS IPOH READY FOR HIDDEN GEMS TO EMPOWER THE INTERNATIONAL OF IPOH MALAYS TOURIST? 3 GARDEN SOUTH 11 12 REMEMBERING THE DEARLY DEPARTED by FATHOL ZAMAN BUKHARI The Kamunting Christian Cemetery holds a record of sorts. It has the largest number of Australian servicemen and family members buried in Malaysia. All in all 65 members of the Australian Defence Forces were buried in graves all over the country. Out of this, 40 were interred at the Kamunting burial site, which is located next to the Taiping Tesco Hypermarket. They were casualties of the Malayan Emergency (1948 to 1960) and Con- frontation with Indonesia (1963 to 1966). continued on page 2 2 IPOH ECHO JULY 1 - 16, 2009 Your Community Newspaper A fitting service for the Aussie soldiers who gave their lives for our country or over two decades headstones. Members, Ffamilies and friends their families and guests of the fallen heroes have then adjourned to the been coming regularly Taiping New Club for to Ipoh and Taiping to refreshments. honour their loved ones. Some come on their own Busy Week for Veterans while others make their The veterans made journey in June to coincide full use of their one-week with the annual memorial stay in Ipoh by attending service at the God’s Little other memorial services Acre in Batu Gajah. The on the card. They were desire to have a dedicated present at the cenotaph service for the Australians remembrance in Ipoh buried at the Kamunting on Friday, June 12, the Christian Cemetery has God’s Little Acre, Batu been actively pursued by Gajah and the Gurkha members of the National Graves at Tambun Camp, Malaya and Borneo Ipoh, on Saturday, June Veterans Association 13. Some attended the Australia Inc (NMBVAA). Sikh soldiers’ pictorial Earlier attempts at making exhibition held at the Tun headway came to naught Razak Library although it as those entrusted with the was not programmed. The responsibilities gave up launching of Ipoh World after encountering several website at the Royal Ipoh obstacles. Moreover, they Club on Saturday, June 13, were not resolute enough. was done in their presence It requires more than just too. lip service. Association A walkabout in the cemetery members visited the things moving. This in- the battalion’s second-in- his men were there in full Colonel Mick Birtles Tourism Potential cemetery last year but no volved direct communica- command, offered to make force during the ceremony. attended on behalf of The remembrance formal service was held tions with the Australian the service comfortable Attending on behalf of the Australian Defence ceremonies in Taiping, other than some silent Prime Minister, Kevin and meaningful. Marquees, Ms Penny Williams was Advisor. Unfortunately, Batu Gajah and Ipoh can prayers for the dearly Rudd, Defence Minister, chairs, public address sys- Senior Counsellor, Arthur neither local dignitaries nor be a major tourist draw departed. Joel Fitzgibbon and High tem, a soft drink stand and Spyrou, Lt-Colonel Yusof senior government officials if they are being properly Commissioner to Malaysia, a ready crowd were pro- from Taiping Staff Station from Taiping were present packaged and promoted. Dedicated Ms Penny Williams. A lo- vided pro bono. represented the brigade although invitations were Efforts at making these Memorial Service cal NMBVAA chapter Colonel Campbell and commander while Lt- sent to them individually. events a permanent fixture This year it was differ- was set up in Ipoh and is on the tourism calendar ent. A dedicated memorial manned by friends of the Raising of the Flags should be considered. service, steeped in mili- Association. When many The memorial service Tourism Perak and the tary tradition, was held on were sceptical of Steve’s started with the raising of state authorities should the morning of Thursday, efforts, members rallied both the Malaysian and take the lead and make June 11, at the Kamunting behind him to provide the Australian flags followed the necessary provisions Christian Cemetery. Some moral support he badly by speeches by Steve for their inclusion. 100 personnel, local and needed. and Arthur Spyrou. The Presently, these events foreign, attended the serv- religious service that are being organised by ice. Valuable Assistance followed was conducted some passionate Ipohites Stephen Stoon (Steve), The assistance of the Aus- by Wing Comd (Rtd) Ben who have volunteered the Association’s newly tralian rifle company in Usher, a retired RAAF their service for altruistic elected National Liaison Butterworth proved valu- Chaplin who had served reasons. Officer for Malaysia, was able and through its Com- in Malaya as a sapper with Ipoh City Council has the prime mover. Steve was manding Officer, Lt-Col the Royal Engineers. John committed itself to Perak’s a sergeant with the Royal Campbell Paine, works Plenty, the President of the fallen heroes by providing Hampshire Regiment. He to clean the graves were South Australia Branch, the required assistance served in Hong Kong in done post-haste. Brig-Gen NMBVAA, delivered the to the organisers of the the early 70s when a bat- Dato’ Zulkifli Mansor, Australian Ode which was cenotaph remembrance. talion from the regiment Commander 2nd Infantry followed by the rouse by The Mayor’s gesture is was stationed there. Brigade, was instrumental bugler, Warrant Officer commendable indeed. Upon assuming the in getting the army to help. 2 David Clarke of the However, more needs to post of liaison officer The 9th Battalion Royal Butterworth rifle company. be done for those who had late last year, Steve took Ranger Regiment, under Wreaths were then laid made the ultimate sacrifice it upon himself to get Major Suleiman Ghazali, Arthur Spyrou in silent prayers and poppies placed on the for this country. Steve Stoon (right) getting acquainted with guests John Plenty placing a wreath on behalf of NMBVAA Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO JULY 1 - 16, 2009 3 www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH From the Editor’s Desk echoYour Community Newspaper IS IPOH READY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TOURIST? fter two years of ne- Theoretically, Ipoh can General Manager of the and clean food outlets and tourists to hop on and off”. proval. Agotiations, Firefly is expect 280 foreign visi- State Tourism Action toilets. Generally, MBI is The current issue for buses State Executive finally touching down at tors each week. Can our Council to get his views. responsible for this aspect now is their routing where- Councillor for Tourism Sultan Azlan Shah Airport present logistical services, He fully concurs with the of the city but the whole by one has to change buses Dato’ Hamidah Osman Ipoh with its inaugural specifically taxi and bus concerns regarding taxis town must do their part to going from Sam Poh Tong held a meeting with the flight on July 12. Earlier services handle this sudden and buses. However, the maintain the product”. to Perak Tong, which could relevant departments and Ipoh Echo reports have influx of visitors who will issue of coping with a for- be confusing to the visitor. associations last week highlighted that the en- inevitably demand trans- eign influx of visitors go Taxis Other issues involve the to discuss issues around tire community have been port? The taxi is the first beyond just ground trans- Ipoh Echo contacted Ms condition and punctuality taxi and bus services and waiting on tenterhooks for service that greets a visitor portation. Rahmad went Monica Liew, MATTA of these buses and on the general cleanliness of the flights to begin. And with but their fares have not yet on to elaborate, “Ipoh is a Perak Chairman. “The other extreme, the erratic town. She also stated that it, we’re opening the doors been fixed while our buses product by itself. It has its concern here is the con- no-show factor, leaving an information counter and of Ipoh to international are erratically timed. These food, heritage buildings dition of the taxi and the tourists stranded. a car rental service will be visitors. Now that it is go- two issues can leave a and cave temples. When fares they charge as our available at the airport. ing to be a reality, the big negative perception about tourists visit, they natu- taxi drivers do not run their Local Authorities So should Ipohites question facing us is: Is Ipoh in general. rally expect to have com- meters” Liew says, “Group Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon, get overly excited about Ipoh ready for them? fortable taxis and buses to tours are fine as they are the state executive coun- the arrival of more inter- The flight to Ipoh Team Effort enable them to access their catered for by the agents’ cillor in charge of public national visitors? A chat seats 72 passengers and Ipoh Echo turned to destinations. But they also vans. It is the independent transport responded that with Firefly’s Marketing operates 4 times per week. Tuan Haji Rahmad, the expect to see tidy streets visitors who could face the he would be calling for Head, Angelina Fernandez hassle”. a meeting with the Taxi revealed that they plan to Owners Association on the market Ipoh initially to the Buses above issues. He confirmed Singapore public, the ex- Regarding the local bus that the bus consortium patriate community work- service, Nicholas Chan, that was formed late last ing there and subsequently National Secretary of the year was still proceeding getting long haul travellers Malaysia Association with their plans.