Ipoh Padang – The Heart Of Heritage Ipoh

New Year 2021... will it be a pleasant surprise ??

 Ipoh Padang, the more than a century old recreation ground measuring seven and a half acres and in the heart of Ipoh  ... was built in 1898 in commemoration Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. 

The Chinese community subscribed over 43,000 pounds towards the ‘padang’. In the colonial days British gentlemen wearing white attire were seen hitting a wicket or two in the game of cricket after which they headed back to the exclusive Ipoh Club adjacent to the field. 

Subsequently the field was used for official events besides sport. On May 31, 1962, the Sultan of Perak declared the formation of the Municipality of Ipoh at this Padang. (from Wikipaedia)

In 1991 Ipoh Padang was one of twenty five buildings listed in MBI’s Ipoh Structure Plan, approved and gazetted, to be preserved and maintained as heritage sites. 

Listed in all MBI plans since 1991

Some of the other heritage buildings on the list and which surrounded the Ipoh Padang included the Royal Ipoh Club, St Michael’s Institution, India Muslim mosque, Hong Kong &Shanghai Bank and the FMS Bar and Restaurant.

Ipoh Padang is truly the centre of Heritage Ipoh.

Royal Ipoh Club

Ipoh Padang

St Michael's Institution

India Muslim Mosque

                                          

FMS Bar & Restaurant .....  Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank 

Its no wonder why there was such a hue and cry when MBI's renovation at the Padang irked some senior Ipoh residents so much.

However an official at MBI’s Department of Town Planning indicated that the renovation presently is an upgrade and would not encroach on the sports field. At night it will brighten up the  place due to the Light and Sound Fountain. 

The official stated that the planning started well before the Covid19 pandemic. The department had worked closely with officials of NCER and Jabatan Warisan and met all of the requirements. The works will be completed by the end of the year. 

So let us hope we receive a pleasant surprise when the new year comes around. 

JAG

Ipoh Padang - Heritage And Change Don’t Mix

Ipoh Padang .. September 2020 ..Ouch!

What an uproar this change has caused ie the renovations at Ipoh Padang.Its caused the community of Ipoh to react and vociferously at that. 

That’s understandable seeing that the local council did not have a detailed signboard up before they began work must have got the residents hot under the collar. 

Above..artists impressions

It took our Tourism Exco and our Mayor to give a press statement to somewhat ‘placate’ concerned parties though I doubt it helped much.

A bit of history about Ipoh Padang 

I received this clipping (above) about the Ipoh Padang. It was ..”built in 1898 in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee..over $43,000 was raised by the Chinese community ..described as the new recreation ground ….”. That’s really good heritage data.

A magnificent view ...

..and a disappointment

 Yours truly also showed concern so I went for a ‘tour’ of the field this evening and came away feeling no better which is disappointed.

 

Another concerned and disappointed resident Anthony Law

Verdict : Major change is not an option when it involves heritage. Lets face it Old Town is Heritage Ipoh and Ipoh Padang is at the center.

 

So its hands off to change.

 

JAG

Ipoh Was Once A Kampong - Heritage Lost Is Gone Forever

The house of Dato Mohd Euosoff the 14th Dato Panglima Kinta

  Another old house was lost last week. It was old, naturally but who was its owner and its location was what made it a huge loss.

The house in Taman Istana. On right is Kinta Riverfront Hotel

 The house was located in Jalan Istana, Taman Istana immediately behind the State Secretariat. It was a wooden house painted in black and white with the garden being overgrown. It was surrounded by modern brick homes, the gargantuan State Secretariat and the Kinta Riverfront Hotel nearby. Despite its age it blended in nicely.

 Each time as I passed this road I would look out to see if it was still around. Imagine my horror when I saw an excavator on its bare garden.

The house of Dato Mohd Euosoff' taken with the caretaker. It blended in with the  modern houses

The house belonged to the 14th Dato Panglima Kinta, Dato Mohd Euosoff bin Mohd Yusof (1897-1957). He was married to Toh Puan Ann binti Jeragan Abdul Shukor his second marriage after the death of his 1st wife. In all probability that was the reason the area was named Taman Istana. 

Taman Istana was originally known as Kampung Pisang. In fact it was one of 16 or more kampongs in Ipoh.  Its borders would have been between Wisma Taiko and St Michael’s Institution on Jalan S.P. Seenivasagam (formerly Clayton Road), Jalan Panglima Garang till Medan Istana and the Kinta River.

 

St Michaels Institution started in 1912 housed  in a Malay bungalow at Kampong Pisang

St.Michaels Institution started in 1912 when Fr. Copin persuaded the LaSalle Brothers to purchase ‘a piece of land along Clayton Road, Kampong Pisang.

 “The first day of school at St. Michaels began on a rainy morning of 4^th December 1912 with groups of boys in twos and threes coming through a coconut plantation, the ground still soggy from last night’s downpour, to run up the steps of a Malay bungalow"

Ipoh at the beginning of the 20^th century was very much a kampong. Picture the Kinta River with clear flowing water and lots of coconut trees on either side of its banks and wooden kampong houses nestled within. 

A bungalow across the river at Kg Jawa..year 1980's

 On the opposite bank of Kg Pisang was Kg Java with equally impressive kampong homes. 

The kampongs around Ipoh in the 1930's. From the notes of Fazil Shuhaimi Talib

But alas nothing remains of the kampongs that used make up Ipoh such as Kg Pisang, Kg Jawa, Kg Dato Laxamana,  Kg Masjid Lama and even Kg Paloh except for the idyllic remains of Kg Kuchai and maybe Kg Kepayang further north of the Kinta River.

 As for Kg Kuchai once the ownership issues are resolved it will go the way of progress and development then Kg Ipoh will be totally lost for good.

 

Heritage Lost is Gone Forever

Well at least some of us will have a memory but it will be a matter of time when all will be forgotten.

 JAG

A High Tea Like In The Old Days

Not just Tea but High Tea ...and it was gastronomic

Apple Crumble

 

Mille Feuille ..........and ........Creme Burlee

Sweet cherries with flaky pastry .. a delicious mix 

Blueberry Cheesecake ...the piece de resistance

cheesecake below and topped with Blueberries

..and all washed down with hot Tea...what a blast from the past.

JAG

Come Malaysia Day.. Bahjan Still Moving Forward

Former Ranger Sergeant Bahjan Singh (retired) 

 

Always moving forward..that’s the  life of former Ranger Sergeant Bahjan Singh(retired) who is 63 this year. Yes he shares the same age with the country having been born just a few months before Merdeka. 

He enlisted at Taiping after completion of his schooling and was with the 3^rd Royal Rangers Regiment. His last station was at Segenting Camp, Port Dickson. 

For now he is the proprietor of Rocky Beer & Bites Garden, a chill 

place in a cozy corner of Ipoh Garden East, Ipoh which allows customers to unwind after a long day.

Bahjan's ..'Rocky Beer & Bites Garden '

He has this to say about life …”it is full of ups and downs but it just moves forward". His customers fully agrees with his philosophy.

JAG