Hawkers get a home in Ipoh - Star

By CHRISTINA KOH

SOME 25 years ago, mobile hawkers and petty traders in the Kinta Valley were a disorganised bunch, plying their trade at street corners or any empty space they could find.

It earned them accusations that their businesses were causing traffic jams, and complaints from shoplot owners of hawkers parking themselves in front of their premises.

Acting on these complaints, the local authorities introduced policies around 1986 meant to cut down on the number of street hawkers as they were considered ‘a nuisance’.

Auspicious event: Ka Chuan (third left) cutting the ribbon to open the new rented premises of the Kinta Mobile Petty Traders Association.

It was only when Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, then a Perak state executive councillor, stepped in that the authorities softened their stance on the traders.

Ong had urged the traders to band together and register themselves as a society, then negotiated for the council to approve business licences for trading at specially designated areas.

Kinta Mobile Petty Traders Association chairman Tan He Chuang said had it not been for Ong, their association would never have existed.

“That’s why our members will always remember him for helping us during those difficult times.

“Back then, it was so hard for us to earn a living and he showed us how to organise ourselves. Because of him, we could get licences to trade,” said Tan.

Today the association is 1,400 member strong and Ong remains its honorary adviser. To commemorate his efforts, the association invited him to open its new rented premises at First Garden in Ipoh on Sunday.

Eight Firearms Found In Bercham, Ipoh - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Eight firearms, about 100 M16 bullets and scores of spent catridges and several silencers were found in two bags in Bercham, Ipoh, on Saturday night.

The firearms, comprising sub-machine guns and pistols, were found near a cement factory in Bercham.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said police were investigating the case.

"It is under investigation... I cannot comment further," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Ipoh airport set for revival with new regional flights - Star

By SYLVIA LOOI and CLARA CHOOI

IPOH: The under-utilised Sultan Az­­lan Shah Airport here will be revived again with the introduction of several regional flights.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the Ipoh-Singapore route had been approved for two air­lines; while one airline had been gi­­ven the green light for the Ipoh-Me­­dan sector.

“The air rights had been sorted out with the respective countries. The onus is on the airlines concerned on when they will start flying,” said Ong, who is also the MCA president.

Besides the two sectors, the Transport Ministry had also received applications to operate flights from Ipoh to Guangzhou, China.

“It is expected to be approved too. It is up to the respective airlines on the frequency of flights they wish to operate,” he told reporters after opening the MCA 60th anniversary dinner organised by Perak MCA here on Sunday.

Noting that transportation was con­­sidered a catalyst for growth, Ong said the Perak MCA was always involved with efforts to boost the economy in the state.

On extending the airport’s runway to accommodate larger planes, Ong said it might involve tedious land acquisitions.

The ministry, he added, was studying the alternative, which was to construct a new airport.

On another matter, Ong said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) had been instructed to follow up on land swapping with the Perak Government over the case of squatters staying on railway land at Kuala Sepetang and Simpang Halt.

Meanwhile, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the state government was waiting for a response from the Federal Go­­vern­­ment to its RM50mil request to extend the airport runway by 200m.

“I have written to the Prime Minister. As this is considered a high-impact project, I expect that he will respond to our request very soon,” he told a press conference af­­ter attending the launch of SMK Sultan Azlan Shah religious school’s 25th jubilee celebration yesterday.

Dr Zambry said that the runway extension would finally facilitate the landing of Airbuses at the airport.

On the intention to build a new airport, Dr Zambry said the state had identified two possible sites in Perak Tengah and Lembah Beriah.