KINTA CHRONICLES: July 2026

The 'Friends of Marie' group at YLCO Museum, 1 Jalan Lasam, Greentown Ipoh

The group “Friends of Marie” paid a visit to YLCO Museum in June. Marie Lee is the organiser and the friends group are ‘active senior citizens who regularly organize social and recreational outings ie hiking, nature exploration, heritage visits and foodie adventures thus promoting friendship, healthy living and active ageing'.

Marie's friends (l/r): Bob, Mrs Bob, Leonie, Joanne, Chan Siew Fong, Teresa Ong, Thong Mee Kuan, Ricky Kong Khop Song, Steven Nyau, Valerie Black, Marie Lee, Michael Lee, Sundralingam, Joanna Woo, Josephine Cheong, Monica Phong, Joseph Cheong and Dr. Tai Nyok Ling

Marie met Ignatius during a recent event of Professor Gary Lit' talk of Leong Boon Swee and enquired if the group could visit YLCO. She followed up with an official email describing the group and decided the date and time of the visit. She described Ignatius as gacious host who explained that YLCO was housed in a Green Building located at 1 Jalan Lasam and YLCO museum was situated on the 4^th floor.

Marie said that 50% of her senior group were professionals during their working lives. They enjoyed the tour of the museum and got to know some history of Ipoh through the lives of the few families who eventually became prominent members of Ipoh town. The highlight of the tour was taking photos with the displays of Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh which everyone thoroughly enjoyed .

Ignatius Chew introduces the group to 1 Lasam and Ipoh's contribution ...

..and the sights at 1 Lasam .....

outside YLCO museum

Michael Lee (year of the Dragon holder) and the group in YLCO Museum

Marie Lee with hubby and friend with Michelle Yeoh display ....

and the group ......

.which was the "highlight of the tour" ......

One in their group was Sundralingam who is a Heritage tour guide. He described Ignatius as very knowledgeable and through his YLCO museum was willing to impart family’s history in detail. “From that one visit I learnt that his grandfather was Chew Boon Juan who started Ban Hoe Seng a century ago and subsequently became the sole distributer of Honda vehicles for Perak

Sundralingam listens attentively to Igantius' explanation .......

....others are interested in the family tree ......

Marie presented a fruit basket to Ignatius Chew for a wonderful tour .......

The group presented to Ignatius a fruit basket for an informative and enjoyable tour.

OMPH Church' feast day was a beautiful evening gathering ......

The weather was great, the decorations was beautiful and the parishioners were seated well ahead of time for the mass. In short it was perfectly beautiful evening for the Annual Feast Day of Our Mother of Perpetual Church.

the church at 5.45pm ...mass starts at 7pm ......wonderful weather though hot ...

6 rows for the congregations fellowship after mass. annually we average a 2000 congregation..

the Flying Rosary .........

6.15pm, the congregation full house in church and enjoying the air-con listening to the chinese choir

This year Parish Priest Fr Joseph Stephens decided to hold the event in Church instead of outdoors. In the past few years the rain threatened and the congregation had to shift indoors halfway through the mass ensuing much confusion.