Ipoh’s landscape

Shopping complexes are sprouting like mushrooms in the Kinta valley. Do we need another shopping mall? Or is it more viable to have better and more convenient medical facilities around the area?

A new 10-storey building with an additional 528 beds is being planned for the main hospital which is in the heart of town. With the city of Ipoh being so spread out, would it not be more beneficial and convenient to the public if this medical facility were to be built away from the congested city centre? It could be more patient-friendly by being a five-storey building on sprawling lawns, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

With an aging population and more sicknesses being diagnosed each day, the time has come for the government to focus on health issues. More areas should also be set aside for recreation. This could be the tasks of the various city councilors for the areas they are responsible for. They could gazette parks and recreational areas where healthy living and regular exercise could be promoted.

Life is not about materialism, depicted by big tall buildings and shopping complexes. The people of Ipoh need more user- friendly environments for a healthier lifestyle.

Retain original identity and character

I was filled with great pride when I read in the Ipoh Echo, Ipoh’s Community Newspaper, (Issue 76, June 16-30, 2009) about how the French priests opened the first Catholic mission in Perak in 1875. They worked hand in hand with the local Chinese in places like Taiping and Batu Gajah, helping the community there to eke a living.

The early Catholic missionaries in the form of not only priests but also religious brothers and sisters have left an indelible mark in the lives of many a practicing Catholic today. They were the pioneers of the Catholic faith, setting up schools, hospitals and churches all over Malaya.

Unfortunately, the younger generation has never known these missionaries and many will not be able to comprehend their impact on Malaysian society. In fact, many of today’s boys and girls do not know what it means to be a religious as they have not come across any. Catholic priests, brothers and sisters are indeed a dying breed!

The only concrete evidence of the existence of these early pioneers of the faith is the buildings that have been left behind in the form of schools, hospitals and churches.

However, because of harsh weather conditions and the passing of time, these physical structures will definitely require restoration and structural repairs. It is hoped that those responsible for undertaking maintenance of these buildings will preserve history by retaining their original identity and character.

We owe that much to the pioneers of the Catholic faith in this region!

Printed in the Herald - The Catholic Weekly (August 9, 2009)