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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Royal Ipoh Club |
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| Ipoh Padang |
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| St Michael's Institution |
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| India Muslim Mosque |
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| 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
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