Tuesday, March 26, 2024

PM Anwar Ibrahim@Bazaar Ramadhan, Taman Perpaduan, Tambun

"to shy to shake PM's hand??"..looks like he breezed thru yesterday evening 

a most dutiful gesture ....


 KC




Tuesday, March 19, 2024

"Only Collecting Peoples Feedback" .. The Town Hall Meeting@Monday 18th March ...

Mayor Rumaizi and the MBI team

The Town Hall meeting called yesterday morning was to "get the peoples feedback. No decision has been made on the implementation yet" said Mayor Rumaizi at the opening address this morning. Rumaizi was referring to the councils proposal to implement artificial turf  at football fields around Ipoh town. 

This project if implemented will be at the Polo Grounds and Taman DR Seenivasagam only. The Ipoh Padang was not included in MBI’s plan.

The proposed 2 sites, Padang Polo and Taman DR Seenivasagam, proposed for the artificial turf

Yesterdays small turnout. I counted 140 chairs had been laid out. 
Senior residents that had voiced their opinions to the proposal 

Appproximately 140 participants attended this session which included Canning Assemblyman Jenney Choi, Councillor Wong Kar Keat, football associations, government representatives and a small number of residents consisting of mainly senior citizens. The meeting was held at the Ipoh Convention Centre at 9am.  

The majority of the residents who expressed their views were against the idea of an artificial turf to be implemented at the 2 mentioned sites. A resident suggested that the council find an alternative site to implement their plan and leave Padang Polo and Taman DR Seenivasagam undisturbed. However the MBI panel maintained that the 2 sites were suitable siting parking space as an example. 

There was one participant, who currently is coaching youth, was for the proposal of a ‘artificial turf’ and put forward good points which would benefit the youth.  


Councillor Wong said that he was not in favour of the proposal 

Councillor Wong Kar Keat and Canning Assemblyman Jenny Choi later declared that they were not in favour of implementing the artificial turf. 

Will MBI listen to the residents or will the council get its way. I guess we'll have to wait until Mayor Rumaizi has 'collected all his feedback'. 

The meeting ended by 11.30am.

KC




 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

MBI's Town Hall Meeting on 18 March - Registration of Attendance


For those that intending to attend the Town Hall meeting on 18 March at 8.45am at the Ipoh Convention Centre they are required to register themselves.

 Scan on the QR code and answer the questions then submit.Places are limited to 200 from the general public. The last day for registration is 14 March.    



 KC

Monday, March 11, 2024

Why Does Mbi Want To Construct SYNTHETIC FOOTBALL FIELDS Around Ipoh..

The well maintained turf at Ipoh Padang and patronized by Ipoh residents throughout the year 

I received this alert calling for a Town Hall Meeting by MBI to discuss the construction of “SYNTHETIC FOOTBALL FIELDS AROUND IPOH’….”pembangunan padang bola sepak rumput sintetik di sekitar seluruh bandar raya Ipoh” .  I assume the alert was to seek residents approval to go ahead.

So why is this bizarre request for a Town Hall meet since all the fields are well looked after. Go to any field managed by the council be it Ipoh Padang, Taman DR Seenivasagam and even the Polo ground or Taman Rekreasi Sultan Abdul Aziz and you will see it is well patronized by Ipoh residents every day of the week nay even the whole year. 

Sunday morning@Polo ground. Senior citizens and families have raised concerns for synthetic grass 

So do we absolutely need to spend ratepayers money for SYNTHETIC GRASS? 

KC

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Extra reading / Copied from IPDC / Jason Chai Wai Fong...

Why is replacing real grass with artificial grass becoming more popular?...

1).It does not need to be mowed with electric or fossil fuel mowers. ...2) It does not require watering,..3) It does not require the use of  harmful fertilisers or herbicides....4) It is drought resistant and eliminates puddling.....5) It stands up to heavy use.

However, the environmental issues caused from choosing to put down an artificial lawn far outweighs any of these potential benefits. 

Why is artificial grass harmful to the environment?

1) Artificial grass does not provide any food for living creatures. It restricts access to the soil beneath for burrowing insects and to the ground above for soil dwellers such as worms...2) It restricts access to natural materials like leaf litter and grass clippings – essential for feeding soil organisms like worms and microscopic animals and keeping the soil healthy...3) Artificial grass reaches significantly greater temperatures than those reached by natural grass under the same weather conditions. Plastic lawns can overheat in hot weather making them unusable...4) Artificial grass can contribute to global warming by absorbing significantly more radiation than living grass and, to a lesser extent, by displacing living plants that could remove carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

A Street Party On the 2nd Day Of Chinese New Year 2024

The Street Party on the 2nd Day of CNY of the Wood Dragon at Jalan Bijeh Timah 

Someone took the time to organise a Street Party in Ipoh Old Town this Chinese New Year of the Wood Dragon. It was held on Jalan Bijeh Timah between Market Steet and Jalan Sultan Iskandar / Hugh Low street. 

I attended on the 2nd of the three day event. The scene had chairs and tables on the road and the five foot way and others standing or sitting on the culvert.

,,the view closer to Market Street  

..on Jalan Bijeh Timah 

..the view closer to Jalan Sultan Iskandar 

It was organised by Sunny Lim the proprioter of KikiLalat, a wacky joint which had classroom furniture and serves craft beers.  The 3 day event featured a classic cars show, lion and dragon dance, karaoke performances, free vendor booths and music performances. 

The crowd was mostly a young and working crowd chilling the night away. It had an attendance of 300 (because Sunny laid out that amount of chairs) though there was several more sitting of the five-foot-way. 

Sunny Lim, the organiser with his guests and with Bryan Duorado 

Guests Karaoke 'singers'




music performances

Crowd listens to the music performance while at back is the Classic Cars on display 


..the crowd was everywhere .. standing  ...

..seated on the culvert, five foot way ....sidewalk 

...a long queue waiting to enter KikiLalat to buy a drink ....

then inside KikiLalat ..2 personel serving drinks .. classroom furniture?

Sunny who returned home several years ago thought Ipoh was kinda boring at the time. “I felt like I should organise a street event to let everyone experience, what he calls, an Ipoh vibe something that Penang and Kl don’t have. That’s when I started my old town “revival” project with a cocktail bar, craft beers place (think KikiLalat and Tiga Bar) something Ipoh didn’t have. Besides it’s cool to let the next upcoming generation have a different kind of memory point when young.  

A chat with a few in the crowd revealed that this event was great to be out on the spacious street listening to music and hanging out with friends. Several of those interviewed said when they usually came home for the festival they would hang out at the pubs or coffee house. This was different and nice for a change.

...hanging out with a difference ...back for the festival .. sitting out in the night ....

..... chilling and relaxing .... 

What’s next on Simon's agenda… “I am planning to organise an Ipoh music fest event to connect musicians from other places to perform in Ipoh”

But more of that later. Stay tuned.

JAG



Sunday, February 11, 2024

Fair Park Bridge – Progress Update

 

Februari 11. Steel girders on both sides of the drain . Part of the third lane on Jln Kamaruddin Isa removed/ collapsed?


I KayPoh-Ed the Fair Park bridge this morning, chor2. They have now placed steel girders at the both sides of the drain. 

A smoother flow of water towards the watergate.....?

The flow towards the watergate under the bridge appears smooth flowing. That’s a good sign compared to Jan 24 when there was so much debri blocking the flow towards the watergate.  

Jan 25 the day after. The blocked watergate. Only 1 side had steel girders.

Fair Park bridge on January 24 when the Sungai Senam overflowed and flooded Fair Park 

The completion date is scheduled for 12 Mar 24. I think the contractor should be able to make the date. What do you think.

Contractor Arus Inspirasi Enterpris completion date is schedulde for 12 March 2023. 

KC

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Malaysia-Singapore Caucus of Friendship - 60 Years of Separation Or Bilateral Partnership

L/r Ann Lee, Evelyn Lee, Georgie Lee, Richard Ng, Koh Chye Hock, Dato Gan Tack Kong, Victor Ng, Dato Wan Mohd Isa, Clement Mesenas, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Gerry De Silva, Chan Kok Keong, Yeap Thean Eng 

A group of Singaporeans was in Ipoh recently researching on the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore over the last 60 years whether it has been a separation or has it been a bilateral partnership. 9 August 2025 will be the 60th anniversary when Malaysia and Singapore separated. 

Spokesman Victor Ng said the group was called the Malaysia-Singapore Caucus For Friendship and it was a joint initiative among like-minded Singaporeans and Malaysians.

The Malaysian Caucus included Chan Kok Keong from the Perak Academy while Ipoh stalwarts were Tan Sri Chang Ko Youn, Dato Gan Tack Kong and Koh Chye Hock and more. The Singapore Caucus consisted of Gerry De Silva, Clement Mesenas, Georgie Lee and Colin Goh.

We were pleasantly surprised to catch up with cartoonist Dato Mohammad Nor or LAT. He showed exuberance and enthusiasm for this project.

Ng revealed that there will be a series of events being planned between Singapore and Malaysia. We have caucus members in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, and Sabah and Sarawak.  We want to acknowledge the past, focus on the present and celebrate the future going forward. In other words we want to deepen existing commonalities and continue to seek new common ground and similarities to strengthen bilateral ties and kinship.

The past 60 years has not been easy and had its challenges. We want to plant the seeds for a more enriching 60 years especially among the post 1965 generations of Singaporeans and Malaysians. We are separate yet together!

Meantime they are looking for individuals who can contribute their stories and write as well as capture as many aspects of the symbiotic relations between the two countries.

The approach to the outline of their findings are still being worked out.  More importantly will be the dreams and inspirations for the next 60 years across all age groups and demographics.

Ann Lee of Etre Patisserie presents Dato Wan a Chinese New Year 'auspicious fruit desert' of Pomelo, Kalamansi and Clementine

Dato Wan Mohd Isa, the OBJ (Territorial Chief) of Larut, Matang and Selama attended the lunch the following day. Dato Wan is a keen historian and heritage enthusiasts said he would contribute stories if asked.

‘Taiping and Singapore have a lot of connections. The first President of Singapore Yusof Ishak was a Taiping boy. Hopefully the Taiping Heritage Society will be involved’.

Victor Ng briefs members at 1 Jalan Lasam .....

..the Singapore team at YLCO Museum and relaxing with YLCO guides

Malaysia-Singapore Caucus of Friendship 

Looks like the Malaysia-Singapore Caucus of Friendship will have a busy 2024.


JAG