Ipoh City Hall

If you come to Ipoh, one of the heritage buildings that you will definitely not miss is the City Hall (formerly Town hall). Looking at the building alone will give you an impression that you are in a European country. In fact this building is also an important land mark of Ipoh which lies within the colonial district of Ipoh.

Located at Club Road (Jalan Dato Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab), this stately colonial building with strong classical element known as the Classical Revival Architecture was designed by government architect, A.B Hubback, who also designed the Railway Station.

However, it is without any of the Ipoh Railway Station’s Mogul features.

 

Many are unaware that the back portion housed the former Post Office. Two different building but unified by a heavy plaster grooves on the lower floor, these two are most prominent civic buildings in Ipoh.

 

The post office occupied the eastern part of the building, with its entrance from Post Office Road. The Post and Telegraphs Department moved from Taiping to Ipoh in 1928.

 

From 1948, the Town Hall served as the District Police Headquarters for several years. Construction of the Town Hall and Post Office began in 1914 but the shortage of materials and high costs of labour caused by World War I delayed its completion until 1916. The contractor was Lim Weng Ching.

 

Did you know?

 

A tunnel was found at the bottom of City Hall? In December 2008, The Star Ipoh city council worker stumbled upon the tunnel when he was working at the town hall in the 1960s, adding that the tunnel was linked to the reported that a retired Ipoh High Court.
 

A former High Court judge once informed that tunnel was used to transfer prisoners to the High Court instead of being brought in from the front gates.
 

School Rally: St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh

For those who noticed, most La Sallian schools in Malaysia share the same school rally. There may be some differences in words but overall the song and tune is the same.

According to the La Salle College Old Boys Association, a research was conducted by Mark Huang in 2003, stated that, based on Brother Herman Fenton, the oldest surviving Christian Brother, the lyrics of the School Song was written by Brother Marcian James (1869 - 1938).

Bro. Cassian Brigant OBE

To believe, the origin of the melody was supplied by Brother Cassian Brigant OBE, Principal of La Salle College (1946 - 1947) and that it is a French martial air.

Bro Marcian wrote numbers of school rallies for various Christian Brothers schools, St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh; St. Francis Institution, Malacca; St. Joseph's College, HK; La Salle College's School Song, and even most of the La Salle Schools' in Asia.

In St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh, Bro Marcian was known as the one who composed the lyrics and tune of our school song, 'All through Our College'. It said the song was drawn from an ancient Irish Song.

Below are some of the Bro. Marcian's works on School Rally...

St. Michael Institution, Ipoh, Malaysia

All through our College a voice is resounding
Promptly respond to your duty's sweet call!
Harken you all for the trumpet is sounding
Your Mater's proclaiming her watchword to all

Forward my children dear!
Ever with heart sincere
Render with joy to your Mater her due
All that is vile reject; Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St. Michael's valiant and true.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Xavier's Institution, Penang, Malaysia

All through our college a voice is resounding,
Promptly respond to your duty's sweet call,
Hearken you all for the trumpet is sounding,
Your mater's proclaiming her watchwords to all

(Chorus)
Forward her children dear,
Ever with hearts sincere,
Render with joy to your mater her due,
All that is vile reject; Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St Xavier's valiant and true,

Labour will conquer your motto still bearing,
Forward with courage in ways that are just,
True to your standard, be doing and daring,
As faithful Xaverians in Heaven your trust (Chorus)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Joseph's College, Hong Kong & Singapore

All through our College a voice is resounding,
Promptly respond to your duty's clear call.
Harken you all for the trumpet is sounding,
Your Mater's proclaiming her watchword to all. (Chorus)

(Chorus)
Forward, not flinch nor fear,
Ever with heart sincere,
Render with joy to your Mater her due;
All that is vile reject; Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St. Joseph's valiant and true.

Labour and Virtue your motto still bearing,
Forward with courage in ways that are just
True to your standard be doing and daring,
As faithful Josephians in Heaven you trust. (Chorus)

Onward and upward in life's earnest battle,
Joyously bearing the brunt of the fight,
Nobly forgiving for aught that may pain you,
And bravely defending the cause of the right. (Chorus)

Lift up your hearts for a Kingdom awaits you,
Honour and Virtue with courage defend;
Serve Him in life, who in death can reward you,
And vow to be faithful and true to the end. (Chorus)

Source: La Salle College Old Boys Association & The Franciscans Online Web Community

Tree of Democracy

Many of us are familiar with the tree which Ipoh was named after, Ipoh / Upas Tree. However, recently, Ipoh discovered a new tree which very closely related to Ipoh nowadays, if not Perak.

Let me introduce to you, our latest celebrity in town, the Tree of Democracy aka Rain Tree. Due to some political uproar in Perak, The Rain tree has now become the not-to be-missed tourist destination.

This new-kids-on-the-block Rain Tree is located somewhere 200 meters from the State Secretariat Building, Bangunan Darul Ridzuan. Within Medan Istana, Rain Tree is planted in front of a house, off Lorong Istana.

The majestic tree which is like a multi-storey tall umbrella providing shade and comfort to all and sundry who gather underneath it. It is a common road side tree in Malaysia. According to botanical accounts, the rain tree is a native of South America but this is hotly disputed.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyt
Family: Fabales
Genus: Albizia
Species: A.saman

Its common names include rain tree, coco tamarind, saman, and monkey pod. The Malay name for it is hujan hujan (rain)

Did you know?

The rain tree is also called pokok pukul lima (five o'clock)?

First Car in Malaysia

1896 Quadricycle

The first car to appear in this region was in Singapore in 1896. They were the rich men's toy back then and it was no long before the tin barons in Perak got hand on automobilism, the act of motoring. Those day, automobilism was seen as something luxury, an act of the rich.

1902 Mercedes Simplex

Cars came to rule road in the 20th century and Kinta with its affluence and good roads quickly became advance motoring society. Eu Tong Sen is reputed to have been the first man to bring a car to Ipoh in 1902. Eu Tong Sen is the owner of the famous Eu Yan Sang Chinese medical hall which has plenty of franchise all over the world.

1901 Mercedes

According to a history record (written record from a perak local paper, Perak Pioneer 28 June 1902), the 'Towkay Eu Tong Sen's motorcar accomplished a journey of 12 miles in 35 minutes" which means the average speed of 20 miles/hour.

1902 Mercedes Simplex

Did you know...?

Earlier car was registered 'PK' (Perak) but it was replaced with 'A' registration in 1945 when registration letters were reallocated after the WWII. It was registered as 'A' because Perak is the first state to have a car, and later Selangor with 'B' and so on.

Malaysia registration plate:

A- Perak
B- Selangor
C- Pahang
D- Kelantan
J- Johor
K- Kedah, KV- Langkawi
L- Labuan
M- Melaka
N- Negeri Sembilan
P- Penang
R- Perlis
S- Sabah
T- Terengganu
Q- Sarawak
W- Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur)

H- Taxi (HA- Perak, HB- Selangor & etc...)
Z- Military

p/s: The pictures are for illustration only as it may be Towkay Eu Tong Sen's first car based on the year and the favourite vehicle brand of Perakians.

Main Convent and St. Michael's: The Missing Link

Main Convent, Ipoh (Before repaint)

Main Convent, Ipoh has always had a traditional strong link with St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh. Convent girls study form 6 in SMI. Perhaps, the main reason is because both MC and SMI are missionary schools under the same faith, the Roman Catholics. There are also many couples from this both schools got married and are now living happily ever after in their far away land.

Other than that, MC and SMI are indeed linked in many aspects.

Badminton Court

Spiral Stair

During the 2nd World War (WWII), SMI was made the Administrative Centre and renamed Perak Shu Seicho. Class rooms were used as office for the Japanese officers. The La Salle Brothers managed to salvage some of the furniture in SMI before the occupation and they were temporarily stored in MC.

Walkway to Main Hall

The tiles used in one of the walkways in MC were imported from Marseilles, France. If you take a look on the underside of the walkway, the manufacturers name and place is still visible. SMI used to cover the roof with the same tiles from Marseilles. However, the recent roof replacement has changed them with new tiles made locally. Pictures below, spot the differences.

SMI (Before)

SMI (After)

Leads from Lower Hall to Classroom

Besides, rumour has it that there is an underground tunnel that links SMI to MC. The Brothers used this tunnel to carry the furniture to MC during WWII. Some said the entrance of the tunnel in SMI is below the stage in the school hall. However, no one has ever proved its existence. Whether or not the tunnel is true will have to be discovered by archeologist cum thrill seeker like Harrison Ford.



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Related post:

1. Main Convent, Ipoh (Part I).

Main Convent, Ipoh (Part I)

Main Convent, Ipoh

The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, or fondly known as Main Convent (MC) was founded by Mother St. Victoire, and set up with the support of Mother St. Anatoli, Assistant General to the Priests' Assembly in Paris in a modest wooden building.



It was opened in 1907 with eight pupils. With 7500 strait Dollars (roughly RM500,000 today) from the British government at that time, the first buildings on Jalan Sultan Idris (Brewster Road) were constructed in timber, the school office, a chapel and the Sisters' quarter.

Lord Jesus Christ's Statue

Just like St. Michael's Institution, Main Convent adopts the neo-Gothic design. The main building's facade shows a series of pointed arch. On top of the building lies the statue of Lord Jesus the Saviour.

Spiral Stairs

Volleyball Court

Back Field near the Orphanage Hall

The building of Convent is unique in the sense that several buildings are linked by a maze of covered walkways, corridors and verandas with open spaces in between the buildings used for outdoor assembly, sports and games.

Bird's Eye View

If you have the chance to catch a bird's eye view from Ipoh Parade, you will find that Convent reveals an irregular quadrangle, with oldest building dating back in 1927.

Pond near the canteen

Did you know...?

The famous bond girl Datuk Michelle Yeoh is an ex-convent girl? MC must be really proud of producing this famous Hollywood star that made our Malaysian proud of. Not only she is the first Asian Bond girl, she is also the first Malaysian who made her fame in Hollywood.


p/s: Pictures are credited to Mabel. Thank you.

Foh San Dim Sum

Many people flock to Restaurant Foh San during weekends to get a taste of what has been well-known for, Hong Kong dim sum. It is kind of ironic as the name 'Hong Kong dim sum' tells you it should not be Ipoh's authetic. Well, ask anyone who have tried and they are sure to be more than wailing to vouch for its tastiness.

Chee Cheong Fun (Rice Noodle Roll)

Siu Mai (Chinese dumpling)

Cha Siu Baau (Cantonese Barbecue Pork Buns)

Yuu Dan (Fish Ball)

Loh Mei Kai (Glutinous Rice with Chicken)

Tan tart (Egg Tart)

The restaurant offers excellent ambience to those who wish to get an authentic, classical taste of real 'yum cha' experience. Getting a table would be a daunting task on weekend so be sure to wake up early.

What's unique, the cashier of Foh San has been using abacus to calculate the bill for generations.

Name: Restaurant Foh San
Location: Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar (Osborne Street)
Operation Hour: Morning until Afternoon.
Telephone: 05-2540308


Why is Ipoh famous with HK dim sum?

The credit must go to our forefathers, those miner towkays who often meeting their Chinese business partners or the British colonial master in these dim sum restaurants. Because of their constant crave for good 'yum cha' business deal, it gave these restaurants opportunity to improve on their dim sum and now you have nice, delicious, delicate, and tempting HK dim sum that gets a little touch of Ipoh-ness.