Perak - Darul Ridzuan Thread

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Taiping zoo to get facelift
By AUDREY DERMAWAN | 12 September 2012 | last updated at 08:49AM
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general...elift-1.142396

TAIPING: TAIPING Zoo and Night Safari will embark on upgrading work worth RM4 million in the coming months.

The upgrade will include the main entrance, tram station, a new enclosure for the seven elephants and the creation of an African savanna.

Zoo director Dr Kevin Lazarus said the upgrade, funded by the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, will start at year-end and completed next year.

"We will try to recreate and mimic the actual scene of elephants and other African animal species living in the wild.

"The enclosure for the elephants will be based on the 'Elephants of Perak River' theme, complete with a waterfall and river bank."

There will be separate rooms and an exercise yard for both the lone bull elephant (male) and the six cow elephants (female) in the zoo, with added security features.

Dr Lazarus said it was necessary to have separate sections as the bull elephant could turn sexually aggressive during "musth" -- a periodic condition.

Testosterone levels in an elephant during this period can be as much as 60 times greater than at other times.

"Besides, this is also to keep our elephant handlers and the general public out of harm's way.

Dr Lazarus also said it was high time the zoo shared the elephant's rich history with the public.

"The elephant used to be a much-revered animal in the late 1800s, especially in Perak, where we used to have skilled elephant catchers.

"Those days, the rulers and the rich used to own elephants," he said, adding that six of the elephants in the zoo were from Perak while one was from Pahang.

Of the seven elephants, three, including the bull elephant, were brought from outside. The other four were born in the zoo.

The zoo is the only one in Peninsular Malaysia to successfully breed elephants.

On the African savanna, Dr Lazarus said the zebra, giraffe, rhinoceros, antelope, crane, ostrich and flamingo would be placed together in one huge enclosure for the public to view.

The Taiping Zoo and Night Safari, which is the oldest public zoo in the country, celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

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Hospital to have cardiology lab
By KALAVAANI KARUPIAH | 19 September 2012 | last updated at 10:10PM
http://www.nst.com.my/streets/northe...y-lab-1.145367



Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon flanked by Dr Raja Lope Ahmad Raja Ariffin (left)
and cardiologist Dr Asri Ranga Abdullah Ramaiah at the press conference. Pic by Farhan Najib

HEALTH BOOST: Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun gets RM8.95mil allocation to set up Intensive Cardiology Laboratory

IPOH: HOSPITAL Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) is one step closer in having its own Intensive Cardiology Laboratory (ICL).

An allocation of RM8.95 million has been approved by the Health Ministry for this project, recently. Work is scheduled to start in a week's time.

According to the Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, the ICL project is expected to be completed in six month's time.

"It will be located at the hospital's day care centre and for a start, it will be offering angiogram diagnostics and stabilisation services, followed by low-risk angioplasty cases in June, 2013.

"The unit will operate during normal office hours but all complicated cases will be referred to the National Heart Institute (IJN) or Hospital Serdang," said Dr Mah during a press conference in HRPB recently.

Also present were HRPB director Dr Raja Lope Ahmad Raja Ariffin and cardiologist Dr Asri Ranga Abdullah Ramaiah

Based on the studies conducted by the hospital, the opening of the ICL unit will cut the number of referral cases by half, as most of the cases involved only angiogram diagnostics.

"It will be led by Dr Asri Ranga and eight other staff who are currently undergoing intensive training at the Serdang Hospital.

"At present, heart patients who are unable to seek treatment from private hospitals here have to travel to the government hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

"The HRPB will have a complete ICL unit, with the necessary medical equipment and services of in-house surgeons by 2018.

"In the mean time, it will seek the assistance of the nearest private hospitals to conduct surgeries on a case-by-case basis," he said.

Dr Mah said that HRPB would also need about RM6 million to upgrade the medical equipment at the hospital's Coronary Care Unit (CCU) ward and a request had been submitted to the Health Ministry.

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Newly-crowned Unesco heritage site to be developed further
Story and photo by FONG KEE SOON Saturday September 22, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...sec=metroperak

A COORDINATING committee will be set up to develop the tourism potential of Lenggong Valley in Hulu Perak, the newly-crowned World Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman said the committee will involve various government agencies at state and federal level, including the state Economic Planning Unit (Upen), Tourism Perak and National Heritage Department.

The committee will spearhead the development of tourism infrastructure such as information centre, observation towers, public transportation, restaurants and lodging facilities, she told reporters during a working visit to the Lenggong Archaeological Museum recently.

Hamidah, who also mooted the idea of setting aside a date for the annual celebration of Lenggong Valley’s success, would bring up the matter during the state executive council meeting.



Histori cal relic: Hamidah inspecting ancient volcanic dust, believed to be
from Indonesia’s Mount Toba, at Bukit Sapi in Lenggong.

The National Heritage Department, she added, had also been told to propose a budget to the federal government and make the development a reality.

During the visit, Hamidah inspected archaeological sites in Bukit Jawa and Bukit Sapi.

Lenggong Valley, where the Perak Man was discovered in 1991, was recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site for Archaeology on June 30.

The declaration was made following the discovery of artifacts, which were over 1.8 million years old, through excavation works by the country’s archaeologists.

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim is expected be in Lenggong on Oct 13 to join a celebration to mark Lenggong Valley’s arrival on the world tourism map.

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SEDA, PHTP inks hydro-power training pact
Published: 2012/09/24
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) has entered into a partnership with the Perak State Development Corporation, via Perak Hi Tech Park (PHTP) Sdn Bhd, to provide training on how to maintain small hydro-power plants.

The introduction of this course will benefit many prospective hydro-power plants developers.

"One of the gaps identified by SEDA is the need to address the lack of competent human capital in terms of technical knowledge in designing, constructing and maintaining small hydro-power systems in the country.

"Hence, the collaboration with PHTP is most timely to address this gap," said SEDA in a statement today.


Under the partnership, PHTP will source technology experts from Brodarski Institute in Croatia to conduct the inaugural training, the first technical cooperation between Malaysia and Croatia. -- Bernama

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Majuperak unit in groundwater project with S.Korean firm
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2012/09/27
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak state-owned Majuperak Holdings Bhd has teamed up with a unit of South Korea's Da Joo Construction Co Ltd to help develop a River Bank Filteration project in the state.

The venture, if successful, could help supply 500 million litres per day (mld) groundwater resources for commercial production in Kota Lama Kiri in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

Business Times understands that the cost of building a single ground well will be in the range of RM8 million and RM10 million, and that as many as 10 wells might be required, to generate the 500 mld.

Groundwater is water located beneath the earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water.

The development of groundwater wells has been touted as being a cost competitive alternative to building a dam.

In a statement to the stock exchange, Majuperak which is 56.22 per cent owned by Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak said that its fully owned unit Majuperak Utilities Management Sdn Bhd is teaming up with Da Joo (M) Sdn Bhd for the proposed development.

KUB Malaysia Bhd, meanwhile, holds 11.87 per cent in Majuperak, which said that both parties are finalising the terms and conditions to set up a joint-venture company to help undertake the project.

Producing groundwater from Perak has been previously touted as a possible solution to the water shortage in Selangor, the country's most industrialised state.

In 2009, Sime Darby Bhd's energy and utilities division Sime Darby Energy Sdn Bhd said it expects to supply 500 mld of groundwater for public consumption by January 2013.

Ironically, the Korean firm was tipped to be roped in by Sime Darby for its RM1.2 billion groundwater project, which is located at Batang Padang, Perak, and covers a 2,700-kilometre area.

As at press time, Business Times was unavailable to ascertain if Sime Darby, the country's top conglomorate, was still involved in the groundwater project.

The Korean firm, meanwhile, reportedly operates 200 wells of the 300 groundwater wells in South Korea, with each well supplying between 25,000 mld and 40,000 mld per of water of groundwater per day.

South Korea developed the groundwater technology 38 years ago and has delivered quality drinkable water to the public and industries.

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Perak set to see vast transformation through approved projects
BY MANJIT KAUR Tuesday November 6, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...sec=metroperak

SEVERAL major development projects in the state are expected to be announced in due time.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry said Perak is set to see a vast transformation with the projects in store.

He said in a week or two the announcements would be made.

“I will only announce the projects that have been given the nod, and not those at the planning stages.

“So be ready to see changes in the state,” he told reporters after attending the state Public Works Department (JKR) carnival at Dewan Jubli Perak in Ipoh recently.

Dr Zambry also said the road from Siputeh to Jelapang would be upgraded.

He said there was a need to upgrade the current two lanes to a four-lane dual carriage road.

There can be bottleneck traffic crawl in certain areas, and I feel to cater to the traffic needs in the future there is a need for a dual carriage road, he added.

State JKR director Datuk Dr Safry Kamal Ahmad said the department had requested an allocation of RM30mil from the ministry to upgrade the road.

He said if all went well, then work was expected to start in the first quarter of next year.

The upgrading works would be carried out on a 15km stretch of the road, he added.

Dr Zambry also hoped the ministry would take note of the proposal to expand the Batu Tiga Segari- Pantai Remis road.

He said the current road was too narrow, and had caused many accidents.

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'Perak will have own flying doctor services beginning next year'
By Jaspal Sing 23 November 2012 | last updated at 07:34PM
http://www.nst.com.my/latest/perak-w...-year-1.175779

IPOH: Perak will have its own flying doctor services beginning next year to serve over 6,000 Orang Asli people living in the interiors of Perak, Pahang and Kelantan.

Comprising doctors, nurses and para-medics, the 12-member team will be tasked with providing medical services to Orang Asli groups in areas inaccessible by land routes.

Speaking to reporters, Perak Health Department director Datuk Dr Nordiyanah Hassan said the flying doctor's team, which is expected to start its services in the first quarter of next year, would be based here.

She said the team would be flown into the interiors using a helicopter dedicated for the purpose.

"The team will fly into the interiors five times a week. Although it is based in Ipoh, the team will cover three states including Pahang and Kelantan.

"There are about 6,000 to 8000 Orang Asli people living in the interiors of these three states who need medical attention," she said at a press conference after the opening of the 2nd Concepts in Retrieval Medicine Course here today.

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Plans to turn Sungai Kinta into tourist attraction
Saturday December 22, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...sec=metroperak



Emulating the Nether lands: Hamidah said a programme to beautify Sungai
Kinta and turn it into a top-notch tourism attraction was under way.

UPGRADING works to widen a bridge over Sungai Kinta between Pasir Putih and Lahat is expected to commence next Wednesday and take about 18 months to complete.

State Infrastructure Committee chairman Datuk Ramly Zahari (BN-Manong) said the Public Works Department would ensure the project was completed on time by June 25, 2014, as scheduled.

“Construction will begin as soon as the state government’s tender board gives the green light.

“The project proposal was submitted to the board on Nov 27,” he said in reply to a written question by Su Keong Siong (DAP-Pasir Pinji) on why the project had yet to commence.

On Su’s concern that widening the bridge would only cause a bottleneck and not ease traffic in Jalan Pasir Putih, Ramly said the widening of the bridge was only the first phase in the state’s efforts to reduce congestion.

“We must start off with the first phase before we can proceed further to alleviate the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman (BN-Sungai Rapat) said a programme to beautify Sungai Kinta and turn it into a top-notch tourism attraction was under way.

“Upgrading works is being carried out along the Sungai Kinta riverbank in Ipoh while a boat ride service from the Kuala Kangsar town jetty to the Kuala Kangsar rest and recreational area is being planned,” she said.

Hamidah said this in reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Kubu Gajah), who had asked on the state’s plan to emulate the Netherlands, which had turned its rivers into tourist attractions.

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Work for bridge resumes
Saturday December 22, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...sec=metroperak



State Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (left) and Menglembu assemblyman Lim Pek Har (third from right) inspecting work at the much-delayed RM4.89mil flood mitigation project along Jalan Lahat in Ipoh on Tuesday.

Lim had earlier raised concerns over the project at the assembly, which she claimed had been delayed for the past 18 months. In his reply, Dr Mah had said the contractor responsible for the delay, had since been blacklisted.

He also gave his assurance that the project, which was already 65% completed presently, would be ready by next April. During the visit, Dr Mah and Lim were briefed by the new contractor and representative from the Ipoh City Council’s engineering department on the status of the project.

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Perak, PROTON bangun semula Tanjung Malim
2013/01/08 - 06:16:08 AM Cetak
http://www.bharian.com.my/articles/P...Malim/Article/

Ipoh: Kerajaan negeri Perak dan PROTON Holdings Bhd akan membangunkan semula kawasan Tanjung Malim sebagai hab industri automotif nasional.

Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, berkata langkah itu adalah di bawah perancangan gagasan Perak Amanjaya yang akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada pembangunan negeri dalam tempoh lima tahun.
Katanya, kerajaan negeri kini menggerakkan semula inisiatif itu, yang sebelum ini hampir tidak berjaya, menerusi beberapa siri mesyuarat dan pertemuan bersama-sama pengurusan Proton Holdings Bhd.

"Saya sudah mengadakan pertemuan dan mesyuarat khas dengan pihak pengurusan PROTON Holdings. Hasil beberapa siri perbincangan, PROTON Holdings memutuskan untuk menggerakkan semula Tanjung Malim," katanya kepada media selepas majlis perhimpunan dan Ceramah Eksekutif kepada kira-kira 3,000 penjawat awam negeri Perak di sini semalam.

Susulan itu, katanya, kawasan Shah Alam yang kini menjadi pusat operasi pengeluar kereta nasional itu, akan beralih ke Proton City, Tanjung Malim secara berperingkat.

Proton City yang dibuka pada Ogos 2004 dan kini mengeluar tiga model Proton iaitu Persona, Gen2 dan Preve.

Kilang itu terletak di atas kawasan seluas 517.12 hektar dan lima kali lebih luar berbanding kilang Proton Shah Alam yang berkeupayaan mengeluarkan 150,000 unit kereta setahun.
Zambry berkata, ia adalah berita baik kepada Perak yang merancang menjadikan kawasan selatan negeri itu sebagai pusat pembangunan terkini dan ia akan mengalami pembangunan pesat dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang.

Bagaimanapun, katanya beliau tidak dapat memperincikan pelan pembangunan itu namun berdasarkan perancangan kerajaan negeri, Tanjung Malim akan memenuhi pembangunan Lembah Klang seperti yang berlaku di kawasan Seremban, Negeri Sembilan kini.

Mengenai cadangan untuk menempatkan syarikat pemasang automotif yang lain di Tanjung Malim, beliau berkata tanah berkenaan adalah milik

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'Greater Ipoh' taking shape
By JASPAL SINGH | 27 March 2013| last updated at 12:28AM
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general...shape-1.242652

GROWTH: RM5.4b Bandar Meru Raya township to spur development around city centre

IPOH: WITH a gross development value (GDV) of RM5.4 billion, Bandar Meru Raya, about 15km north of here, will be the main catalyst to catapult the development of the "Greater Ipoh" concept.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir believed the new township, covering an area of about 800ha, would provide the much-needed impetus to attract investors to the city and further strengthen Perak's economic development agenda.

To be completed by 2020, Bandar Meru Raya, which was initially poised to become the state's administrative centre, had developed with a GDV of RM2.4 billion to date.

In the next seven years until its completion, the largest township project in Kinta Valley will see the injection of RM3 billion worth of investment from various quarters.

According to Zambry, the aim of the state government was to expand development in areas surrounding the city centre with the intention of creating a "Greater Ipoh".

"Bandar Meru Raya will soon be connected to the Ipoh city centre. We hope with more development projects, Ipoh will be connected with Sungai Siput (about 33km north of Ipoh city centre).

"And when this happens, a 'Greater Ipoh' will be created. We want to move towards the aim of creating connectivity between towns and communities," he said after visiting the ongoing construction of the RM80 million four-star Casuarina@Meru Hotel in Bandar Meru Raya, here, yesterday.

The hotel, a project by Casuarina Hotel Management Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of state-owned Perak Corporation Berhad, was expected to be completed by the middle of this year and will consist of one block of hotel rooms, two blocks of office space and a large convention centre.

When asked if Bandar Meru Raya would be turned into an administrative capital, Zambry said that was the plan when the town was started about a decade ago, adding however that the idea had been put on hold.

He declined to comment if the proposal would be resurrected once Bandar Meru Raya was fully developed by 2020.

"What is more important is to realise the full potential of the new township in escalating growth within the larger Ipoh area.

"I believe we will see a lot of development in the next three to five years," he said.

Besides having the largest Mydin hypermarket in the country, Bandar Meru Raya will also be home to about 24 government departments and 11,200 housing units that will cater for a population of about 115,000 people.



Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (third from right) being briefed by Perak
Corporation Berhad chief executive officer Aminuddin Md Desa (right) on
the Hotel Casuarina@Meru project. Pic by Ikhwan Munir