Too soon to decide on Gunung Lanno’s preservation, says exco

Can Gunong LANNO be SAVED ......Reproduced from theStar .. quoting YB Tan Kar Hing ....

"GUNUNG Lanno in Simpang Pulai has ... potential …. Scientific (have found strange-looking crystal formations and rare plants, drawings) , ecological and heritage values connected to the hill ….. though intrinsic values ….but preservation efforts could prove difficult….coz “it has already been gazetted for quarry-based industry and there are about 30 quarry sites there ….. and “could have financial and legal implications to the state” ... well whats next .

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METRO NEWS / Thursday, 05 Sep 2019 / By IVAN LOH

GUNUNG Lanno in Simpang Pulai has intrinsic value but it is still too early to say whether it will be preserved and protected, says Tan Kar Hing.

The Perak tourism committee chairman said there were scientific, ecological and heritage values connected to the hill but preservation efforts could prove difficult.

“It does have the potential to be preserved but whether it is workable, is a different matter.

“The area has already been gazetted for quarry-based industry and there are about 30 quarry sites there, ” he told StarMetro. 

“There could be financial and legal implications to the state. This is a challenge for us, which is not easy, ” he added.

There have been calls from caving enthusiasts and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the hill to be protected.

According to them, the caves at the hill have potential for tourism, scientific research and also heritage.

Caving enthusiasts and NGOs have reported to have found strange-looking crystal formations and rare plants, drawings on the cave walls and also amazing scenery.

Tan said the state set up a task force, chaired by the State Secretary, earlier this month to look into this.

“We will continue to engage with NGOs and the mining industry players there and hopefully come up with recommendations for a win-win solution, ” he said.

“The State Park Corporation and the state Minerals and Geoscience Department have also visited the area and are compiling their reports, ” he added.

Tan said as the hill had been gazetted for quarries and mining, there were no tourism activities taking place there.

He also said the state had initially considered it as a potential site to be included in the Kinta Valley National Geopark but did not do so because of its status as a quarry zone.

“We have to add on two to three smaller sites to the geopark, annually.

“Gunung Lanno was formerly a potential site but we did not explore further because of its status, ” he said.

“We are exploring other areas though in Tambun and Gunung Lang, hoping to find something new, ” he added.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/09/05/too-soon-to-decide-on-gunung-lannos-preservation-says-exco#OYbbcitOg3gerKYi.99

Perak ..Truly A Natural Wonder

Beetle at Royal Belum?

If there is something about my state Perak I don’t need to be told its that Perak is indeed a natural wonder.

Heritage fashion from Lenggong

 

Natural Cave Formation at Kampong Kepayang .... long exposure taken without a flash? 

From Royal Belum in the north to Teluk Intan in the south and of course the Perak River which connects the two locations and then Jalan Pahang on the road to Cameron Highlands in the east to Pangkor in the west Perak is truly a Natural Wonder.

But every now and then I need someone to remind me and the Perak Academy brought out this photographer called Omar Ariff who imprinted upon me his images, which I could never capture, and why he declares Perak a Natural Wonder.

1st love ......Preying Mantis  

Spider .....Omar uses long lenses 400mm - 600mm

Perak Academy's notification ..... 

Omar Ariff ... photographer

Thank you Omar Ariff.

JAG

A Joyous Affair - Martin And Sarojah’s Golden Wedding Anniversary

Fifty years of bliss. Martin and Sarojah's Golden Anniversary

It was indeed a joyous affair when Martin and Sarojah renewed their marriage vows.

It had been fifty years since they exchanged their vows at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Kuala Lumpur. 

Grandchildren escorted them to the altar

Fr Joseph Stephen was the celebrant

The couple join hands and renew the commitment " i promise to be true to you ....."  

These rings are blessed to be given to each other "as a sign of love and fidelity"

Lighting the Candle symbolizing their love and unity through the years

Besides the renewal of vows the couple gave each other new wedding rings then lit a candle which symbolized their love and unity through the years and for the continuing years with reassurance and joy.

Children and grandchildren participated in the celebration

Joining in the celebration were their children Michael and Kevin, their wives and children Samantha, Matthew, Charmaine, Katherine and Stephanie.

Each of the family members participated in the mass either doing the readings or bringing up the offertory.

Martin, Sarojah with the children and grandchildren

It may have been a golden anniversary mass but it was also a very close and beautiful family event.

JAG

MBI (Mayor) pledges focus on rubbish, roads, drains and grass

METRO NEWS / Tuesday, 03 Sep 2019 /By IVAN LOH

RUBBISH, drains, roads and grass.

These four basic issues are what Ipoh City Council (MBI) has assured ratepayers that it would focus on addressing in the remaining part of this year.

New Ipoh mayor Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdil Rahim said the four issues were the main complaints from city folk when he met the people following his appointment as Datuk Bandar in July.

“Wherever I go and speak to the people, they always bring these issues up.

 “I am also open to opinions on how to handle these problems, ” he said, adding that he would also seek advice from former mayors on these issues.

Among other plans that Ahmad Suaidi would work on included implementing

a smart city project, sustainable development and turning Ipoh into a low-carbon city.

“I hope the smart city project can be implemented within 15 to 20 years.

“We are now in the midst of preparing the blueprint and policies for it.

“My team has also discussed about making Ipoh a low-carbon city, ” he added.

The smart city project is a collaboration between Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), PLANMalaysia Perak and Ipoh City Council.

Using the Malaysia Smart Urban Development 2018-2025 framework, the project is a solution to address issues and curb problems such as transportation and housing facilities.

On the MBI gathering at Gunung Lang park, Ahmad Suaidi applauded MBI Retirees Association for bringing together some 500 former staff at the event.

“We are the first local council in Malaysia that manages to gather all its staff and retirees together for an event, ” he said.

Those present included former Ipoh mayors Datuk Rafiai Mokhtar, Datuk Seri Talaat Husain, Datuk Hasan Nawawi, Datuk Harun Rawi and Datuk Roshidi Hashim besides other ex-officers and employees.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/09/03/mbi-pledges-focus-on-rubbish-roads-drains-and-grass#er4M8KQ7pXgJdKCC.99

Batu 14 Jalan Pahang Flies The Jalur Gemilang

Jalur Gemilang flying high on the way to our destination

This is Batu 14, an Orang Asli village on Jalan Pahang on the way to CameronHighlands .... observed they had more Jalur Gemilang displayed than at Concubine Lanes in Ipoh.

It's a short road leading into the village with houses on both sides of the road but almost all the houses had the Flag out. What an interesting comparison ... remote Batu 14 versus being popularly patronized Concubine Lane.

JAG

The Nostalgic Merdeka Mural Of 2008

This is the Merdeka Mural 2008. It shows Tunku Abdul Rahman, our 1st Prime Minister at the centre of the mural with the flag of Malaysia behind him proudly proclaiming Merdeka. 

The mural measures 244 x 122 x 5cm so its pretty big and it is from the collection of Dato’ Yap Lin Sen of IGB Group who commissioned artists Shen Jiawei, Wang Lan and Wang Xu to create.

I have segregated it into 4 parts though i am told it was done over 12 panels.

This first part portrays Malaya before Merdeka and the image and characters of the time eg Malacca, Francis Light, Pangkor Treaty, FMS, WWII, Japanese invasion and Sybil Kathigasu - a heroine from Papan, Perak.

This is second part ... can't recognise all the personalities, probably the first Cabinet except for Brother Ultan Paul of St Michaels Institution ( another personality from Perak) and .....

....still on the 2nd part  .... our 1st Prime Minister Tungku Abdul Rahman doing the Joget  .... this was how old Malaysia used to be...ahhh memories.

This third part has Lee Kuan Yew and David Marshall (on the left) with Tun Razak and Tun Dr Ismail below him depicting the split from Singapore and then rise of the arts, Sudirman and professional personalities Ungku Abdul Aziz and Sultan Azlan Shah in sports attire and Raja Nazrin Shah (again Perak personalities) ....

This 4th part shows the progress of Malaysia through its sports men and women, Mokhtar Dahari, Nicole David, its business entrepreneurs Vincent Tan and Francis Yeoh and its artists like Yasmin Yussof , Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh and Ramli Ibrahim .... isn't that Sai Baba .... they are all included.

It is a very well thought out and interesting mural because it includes a lot of individuals and personalities who helped shape the country long before Merdeka and after until 2008. 

But looking at it now in 2019 goes well beyond and tells of the challenges ahead.

Selamat Hari Merdeka Malaysia.

JAG

Long-Tailed Macaque's At Gunung Lang

Saw this family of long tailed Macaque at  Gunung Lang yesterday.

Seems like the only place that animals feel at home are these limestone hills surrounding the Kinta Valley.

When you think back there is nothing left other than the hills that feels like home to these Macaque.

JAG