How has Ipoh Echo made a difference?
Datuk Roshidi Hashim
“I strongly believe that Ipoh Echo can assist to enhance development and make Ipoh more vibrant. Ipoh Echo’s role so far has been in providing a balanced reporting link between the residents and MBI. I love working with the Ipoh Echo. My observations are its facts are accurate. We need Ipoh Echo to be in Ipoh and contribute positively to the Ipoh Community and the whole of Perak.”
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Roshidi Hashim
Zameema Banu
“We all need to be reminded of our past, understand our present and hope for a better future. To me this is what Ipoh Echo does – pictures and stories of the past to evoke emotions, taking stock of what we have today and striving for a better tomorrow. Bringing together a community that may be at a coffee shop in Ipoh, or sipping latte in Singapore or drinking tea in KL. Like a thread that weaves a piece of cloth into something majestic, Ipoh Echo in its own way strings the words to communicate and speak the language of the people to the people.”
Zameema Banu Mohd Ariff, CEO Perak Tourism Council
Dato' Chin Lean Choong
“Ipoh Echo is playing a big role in putting our city on the world map. Not only is it the voice of the community, it has also been highlighting the city’s mining heritage and its various iconic products such as Pomelo, White Coffee, and shoe and ceramic industries to promote Ipoh within the country and abroad. We are proud of the role of the newspaper and hope it will continue with the support of everyone.”
Dato’ Chin Lean Choong, president of the All-Malaya Chinese Mining Association and chairman of Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (commerce committee)
Jek Yap
“Ipoh has been left behind for many years due to the false perception of its bottomless wealth from yesteryear. Fortunately we still have our natural attractions such as our limestone hills unlike other Malaysian states and a Colonial history in the form of quality buildings and even quite a number from the Art deco era. By creating the awareness of these two combined attractions, with the resources offered by the Ipoh Echo, we can share with the rest of the country the beauty and quality of life that Ipoh has to offer from then till now.”
Jek Yap, Kinta Heritage
Mohd Taib Mohamed
“We talk about transformation. What is transformation without engagement with the government, NGO and rakyat. Their contribution should be respected and the voice of Ipoh Echo, the community newspaper should be appreciated.”
Mohd Taib Mohamed, president of Perak Heritage Society
S. Rajendran
“The Ipoh Echo has interesting and informative articles which keep me abreast of what’s happening in the community. I have collected all the issues since issue number one and I have two sets. I keep one set at home and another is kept at the Ipoh Club.”
S. Rajendran, regular walk-in customer on the 1st day of every issue since IE 01
Peter Chan
“Congratulations to the editor(s) and staff of the Ipoh Echo. The paper has played a major role in disseminating information responsibly to the Ipoh community. It pursues truth and assists to unite rather than divide. A good example of 1Malaysia. Thank you.”
Peter Chan, CEO Haven
Ian Anderson
“I always look forward to the next issue of the Echo which provides local news unavailable elsewhere, but most of all I enjoy the forthright articles which address the important issues -policing, illegal dumping, destruction of heritage etc.”
Ian Andersen, Director Ipoh World
“It is a newspaper that brings the news and happenings in Ipoh not only to the community of Ipoh but also to the world through its website.”
Peter Lee, Rockwills Associate Estate Planning Practitioner
Iris Cheong
“We have been advertising in the Ipoh Echo for about 2 years now and find the response from the ads very encouraging as it is the right medium for our target audience! Our residents, especially the expats, have commented that the information found in Ipoh Echo allows them to discover, love and appreciate Ipoh more.”
Iris Cheong, Sales & Marketing Manager, Kinta Properties Holdings
Dato’ Gan Tak Kong
“The Ipoh Echo newspaper has done a fantastic job of creating awareness about the community in Ipoh. It is an English medium newspaper unlike the mainstream papers which has galvanized the interest of the community through its independent reporting of diverse topics such as politics, heritage and even food. Every edition is enjoyable and shares more information about Perak.I am proud to say that Ipoh has such a newspaper.”
Dato’ Gan Tak Kong, Chairman of FMM Perak Branch
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Hj Odzman Abdul Kadir
The Perak Tourist Association appreciates the efforts of the Ipoh Echo in playing its role to promote tourism. Its reports about tourist destinations in the state have created awareness of these destinations. Additionally the comments received from the public are useful to help improve the attractions. PTA strongly believes that by working together with Ipoh Echo to feature local destinations regularly will greatly help promote domestic tourism.”
Hj Odzman Abdul Kadir, president of Perak Tourist Association
Mdm Lee Yam Sei
“Ipoh Echo is very aptly named for it echoes the feelings and concerns of Ipoh folks and gives a true picture of what is going on at home through its articles on crime, education, history, food and personalities. It gives us a sense of regional identity and the views and opinions expressed definitely shape how we develop as a society.”
Mdm Lee Yam Sei, Director Tenby Schools Ipoh
Chelvi Murugiah
“The Ipoh Echo running its 100th Issue is no plain fete. Congratulations! Discharging the role of a local community paper by reporting without bias has duly paid off! As a reader, The Ipoh Echo’s continued effort in highlighting newsworthy articles of public interest is what makes it unique.”
Chelvi Murugiah, Lecturer
Dato’ Chang Ko Youn
“Ipoh Echo has been a valuable source of information on diverse matters such as heritage, environment and politics. It has been objective and informative though on certain occasions, I disagree with the views expressed. But, this is a manifestation of democratic practice and the wide space of freedom of expression available in the state. It is different from the traditional printed media as Ipoh Echo highlights the people’s problems and propose non-partisan solutions to issues raised. I hope more articles on the common people will be published and remind politicians their role and responsibilities are to the people. Lastly, but not the least, your articles on many historical events and personalities remind us the heyday of Perak which the present State Government is endeavouring to revive. I can aptly describe Ipoh Echo as the people’s paper beside your well known “Voice in The Community.”
Dato’ Chang Ko Youn, Adviser to Menteri Besar of Perak and Perak Gerakan chief
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Category: Community, News in Brief
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Two very interesting comments so far, but I would have felt happier if our Menteri Besar had been featured in the item as that would have confirmed that he was a regular reader and was personally receiving the voice of the people.
Mariam, your writings reminds me of Albert Einstein’s quotation,” The world is too dangerous to live in,not because of people who do evil,but
because of people who sit and let it happen. So IE
reach the Ipohites on the streets who voices without
fear or faviour. I trust there are quite a silent majority minding their own business, reach out for their views.
Congratulations! You deserve it. You have done Ipoh and Perak proud.
However, it would have been better if you had interviewed ordinary Ipohites first. (Maybe, this will be covered in the next issue.)
The IE belongs to the ordinary man in the street; the makcik in her little village shop; the retired couple who enjoy the IE as they have breakfast in the kedai kopi; the tuition teachers who try and instill a sense of community awareness in their students; the market trader; the binman whom we wrongly treat with contempt but who struggles with his workload because he is constrained by budget cuts; and loyal Ipohites who study or work elsewhere in Malaysia or overseas, who want to keep in touch with ‘home’.
The IE is their paper and in it, you carry their hopes and wishes. You provide an opportunity for the community to heal any troubling issues that have damaged relations between the authorities and ordinary citizens.
Before the IE, many ordinary Ipohites had first-hand experience of being snubbed or being treated with indifference, or were ignored when they had a complaint to lodge with the authorities or institutions.
With the IE, things have improved, tremendously. But the politics of the playground still persists.
There are times when an article or issue, is not seen in a favourable light. The downside is that the IE receives undue pressure.
Rather than coming down hard on the IE which is trying to present a fair unbiased view, why can’t those who feel offended, write a rebuttal in response? Present the alternative view so that the reader will be the judge of things.
Sometimes, institutions take things too personal and do not see the contributions of the IE as a means for improvement in services and quality goods. They overlook how comments can be used as constructive criticism.
As the IE survives on advertising revenue, please do not use these ‘less-than-favourable’ articles as leverage. That would be unacceptable and wrong.
The Ipoh Echo is the only medium for Ipohites to voice their pleasure and also their disappointment, of things and happenings, in and around their community.
It provides an invaluable service. Please don’t shoot the messenger.