Wow….. this is the 2nd time I’m writing this article. Why you ask ? The keyboard got screwed up big time and erased the whole article and it got saved – automatically before I can undo it. Hai…. alright… let get back to the matter at hand. Today is the summer solstice and it’s supposed to be the longest day in the year. Exciting times we are living in, Malaysia’s politic is ever changing, now with the “Calm before the storm” comes monday when the parliment meet. Well, closer to home…. Ipoh-lah. Things are also happening…., there’s talk about bringing back the shine and glitter to the town that tin built – IPOH. Discovered this news and would like to share with you all. Taken from NST online

2008/06/20

Tambun a ghost town tomorrow
By : Brenda Lim

IPOH: Some 4,000 people living in Tambun will have to evacuate their homes tomorrow while a bomb disposal unit destroys a live 1,000-pound bomb found in Sungai Pinji last week.

Areas within a 500m radius of the bomb site will have to be cleared as a precaution, as the explosive device cannot be moved and must be detonated on the spot, said Ipoh district police chief ACP Azisman Alias.

Those living and working in Taman Tambun, Taman Tambun Jaya, Kampung Baru Tambun and Kampung Malay Reserve are advised to lock their premises and clear the area by 8.30am, he said.

“They can return when the area is declared safe, which is at about 1pm or 2pm,” he said here yesterday.

For those who do not have transport, the police will arrange for buses to fetch them at designated spots and ferry them to two waiting areas, namely the Tambun mosque and the Royal Malay Regiment base, he added.
“Make plans to leave the area, so that you will not be caught in the Saturday morning rush,” he said.

Roadblocks will be set up along Jalan Tambun, Jalan Ampang Baru 6 and the road leading to Taman Tambun Permai, with police barring entry into the area from as early as 7am, he said.

Leaftets will be distributed to inform the residents, while police on patrol will also inform affected residents that they must comply with the evacuation order.

“If we have to, we will use force to ensure that the residents leave the area.

“We don’t want to take any risks,” he said.

With the latest technique in bomb disposal, it is very likely that the process will not cause any loss of life or property, he said.

The bomb was believed to have been dropped from the air during the Japanese occupation in World War 2.

This is the first large-scale operation to destroy a 1,000-pound bomb in Ipoh, with more than 200 policemen involved in the operation, he said.

There you have it. World War 2 bomb was found by a fisherman and they are gonna destroy it today. Happening or not man ? Speaking of WW2, would like to mention about another history in the making event that will be taking place in Ipoh this coming 25th to 27th June. The play titled “SYBIL”. Don’t know who she is ? Well, than you have better go and see the play. She is a true heroine of our time. Read the article below taken from Star online.

Paying tribute to Sybil Kathigasu

By CLARA CHOOI

NOT many people know the tale of Sybil Kathigasu, the gallant nurse who suffered during the Japanese Occupation to save her fellow Malayans from torture.As many Perak folk know, Sybil’s story is one of sadness and pride. She bravely fronted the resistance movement in her own daring way and thus subjected herself to arrest, torture and war scars that ultimately led to her demise in 1948.Her spine-chilling tale will, for the first time, be re-enacted in a 100-minute play directed by Datuk Faridah Merican.

Tale of gallantry: Law and organising chairman Audrey Poh showing a poster on the play.

Perak Heritage Society president Law Siak Hong said that the society mentioned Sybil’s story to Faridah some time ago, hoping that the heroine’s story could be told in a drama.

“Sybil far surpassed the women of her time. She was probably the only Malayan woman to have been accorded the Hero’s Medal from the British Government in 1947,” he said.

Sybil, who was born in Medan in 1899, arrived in Papan, Perak, where her famed clinic still lies, with her husband Dr A.C. Kathigasu in late December 1941.

“Barely five days after that, a bomb ripped through Ipoh. Sybil endured 20 months of fear and defiance.

“She quietly aided the resistance movement and tended to wounded guerrillas,” Law said.

He added that Sybil was later arrested along with her husband on suspicion of aiding the resistance.

“She was tortured terribly by the Kempetai (Japanese secret police) officers and interrogated. Later, she was thrown into the Batu Gajah Prison and was only released after the war was over,” he said.

Law said that Sybil’s noble acts needed to be remembered by all and that the play would be one way for the public to learn about her life.

He added the play would be based on an adaptation by U-En Ng of Sybil’s own book No Dram of Mercy.

Law said that the play would be a fundraiser and proceeds would help to kickstart the society’s project to document Perak heritage.

“We are using this fundraiser to raise at least RM50,000 through ticket sales as well as individual donations or sponsorships,” he said.

Sybil, the play, will be staged at the Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Centre, at 8.30pm from June 12 to June 14, June 17 to June 21, and at 3pm on June 15 and June 22.

In Ipoh, the show will be staged at Taman Budaya Negeri on June 25 and June 26 at 8.30pm.

Tickets are available at RM40 and RM20 (students). For enquiries, call 03-20940400/1400.

The final fundraising show will be held at Taman Budaya Negeri on June 27 at 8.30pm.

Admission is by invitation and reserved seats are available at RM60. Limited free seating is available at RM40 for adults and RM20 for students.

For invitations, call the society at

016-5341018

the Perak Academy at 05-5478949 and the Perak Society of Performing Arts at 05-5487814

Ipoh is no more a dead town although Tambun will be a ghost town for afew hours today to make way for the bomb disposal unit to destroy the 1,000 pounds WW2 bomb. With so many events taking place in  and around Ipoh, slowly….. hopefully….. Ipoh will become a happening town again. SYBIL the play based on the book “No dram of Mercy” tell the tale of a woman who is a true heroine of our time. Do you care ? You can be a part of this Ipoh happening by making yourself available on the 27th June night for the fundraising show in assisting the Perak Heritage Society to help educate and develope a more caring heritage Perakians. After all, caring about our heritage is a responsibility of all Perakian, whether borned, raised or migrated here. Please care about our past because ” I think that we honor ourselves by honoring our past.” With that said, here is the poster of Sybil, the play. To know more about the event, please call the number listed in the above article.

Every new day brings a new dawn and new happening or events. Hopefully, there will be more to bring some excitement to Ipoh. HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND AND BE GREEN(not with envy but environmentally conscious).

green angel