By Tan Mei Kuan
Over 10,000 joined the 46th Ipoh Car Free Day which was graced by Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim as it kicked off at 8am on Sunday, November 24.
Held monthly since October 2015 along Jalan Raja DiHilir, the major theme for this month revolved around “Green & Community, Together is Better” in conjunction with World Town Planning Day.
(L-R) Yip Siew Keen, Co-founder of PWW, Sumathi Sivamany, President of PWW, Datin Seri Dr Nomee Ashikin, Tuanku Zara Salim and Datin Rosalina Ooi, President of PSPA at the PWW booth
The highlights included the Holiday Extravaganza 2019 by Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA) which aimed to mark the holiday with the community in the spirit of joy through performing arts of song, music and dance from multiple ethnicities. The lively carnival also featured a superstar costume contest and holiday booth display contest with prizes and goodies galore.
Equally exciting was the celebration of the achievement of the One Million Stars to End Violence Project spearheaded by Perak Women for Women Society (PWW) in collaboration with Soroptimist International (SI Ipoh), PSPA and other NGOs. It was followed by a march led by the dignitaries in conjunction with the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign and then a flash mob based on the global One Billion Rising – Break the Chain Campaign.
From human table football, giant inflatable playground, soap bubbles to tandem bicycles, there was something for everyone.
Present were Datin Seri Dr Nomee Ashikin Mohammed Radzi, wife of Menteri Besar; Dato’ Haji Zainal Azman Abu Seman, State Secretary; Mayor Dato’ Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim and Mohd Zakuan Hj Zakaria, Council Secretary.
Participating agencies and NGOs were Perak State Public Library Corporation, Royal Malaysia Police, Wives of Civil Servants and Women Civil Servants Association (Puspanita), KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital, Raja Ashman Shah Hockey Academy, Ipoh City Watch, KOHIJAU (Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Berhad), Persatuan DAYBREAK (Disabled Adults and Youths Being Rewarded, Encouraged and Accepted in Kinta), Noah’s Ark Ipoh and Kiwanis Club Bandaraya Ipoh among others.
Meanwhile, the participating academic institutions were Quest International University Perak, UiTM, St Michael’s Institution, Poi Lam High School, Yuk Choy High School and SK Seri Mutiara.
The Ipoh Car Free Day was honoured with the Platinum Award in the Street Category (Utilization During Event) in the Malaysian Institute of Planners MyPlace Award 2019 in November.
