PRESERVING GUA MATSOORAT

 

IPOH:  Gua Matsoorat will be the first-ever controlled tourism in Malaysia for the purpose of preserving heritage of the cave structure.

Datuk Bandar Datuk Rumaizi @ Md Daud said during the full board meeting, that the council would allow a limited number of tourists into the cave, most likely four cavers at a time by April 1.

 

 

“Tourists need to apply for a permit and engage a guide for the cave expedition at Gua Matsoorat which is located at the Kinta Valley Geopark, here.

“The reasons for the tight regulation is to ensure whatever graffiti left behind by the pre-historic man and natural fossil found inside the cave will be preserved for history and heritage values.

“Besides Gua Matsoorat, another prehistoric Tambun Cave believes to exist some 3,000 years back, which features cave paintings of humans and animals, will also be preserved and identified as controlled tourism,” he said.

 

 

Earlier on, it was reported that Gua Matsoorat has been suspected of facing vandalism when fossil teeth were found damaged in the cave itself.

A video production crew had entered the cave for shooting. The damage to the teeth and partial jawbone were found damaged on March 18 at 12.30pm, which was reported by Perak Natural Heritage Geopark Tour Guides Association chairman Mohd Fadly Md Noor.

 

 

Rumaizi commented on the vandalism issue stating that currently the council is investigating on the matter whereby studies have to be made to see what methods is suitable to restore the damaged fossil.

“The matter is investigated by the Mineral & Geoscience Department of Ipoh which may take one month before the results are announced to us,” he said.

 

 

 

 

FIRST 3R FOR FOOD RIDERS

 

IPOH: A first-of-its-kind Rest & Relaxation for Riders (3R) in the country will be constructed in Ipoh City by the Ipoh City Council (MBI), here.

MBI had received a letter from State Finance Office (PKN) in relation with the State Stimulus Economy Package Phase 5: Construction of Rest & Relaxation for Riders (3R) for workers involved in the service industry who deliver food around Ipoh City on December 31, last year.

 

ONE FOR THE ALBUM

 

PKN had requested the council to suggest locations, numbers and the 3R concept with an allocated funds of RM500,000.

As such, the council has decided on seven locations around Ipoh City which is suitable for building the Rest & Relaxation for Rider (3R) namely –

·        City Centre (in front of Ipoh Parade)

·        Meru Raya (in front of McDonalds Meru Raya)

·        Jelapang (in front of Old Town White Coffee Jelapang Commercial Centre)

·        Tasek (in front of Pizza Hut & KFC Tasek Business Centre)

·        Ipoh Garden (empty lot in front of Tesco Ipoh Garden)

·        Medan Gopeng (in front of McDonalds & StarBucks Coffee)

·        Station 18 (empty parking space in front of Tesco)

 

KICKING OFF THE EVENT

 

Guest-of-honour was Menteri Besar of Perak Datuk Saarani Mohamad performed a ground breaking at the city centre site (opposite Ipoh Parade).

Also presence were Datuk Bandar Datuk Rumaizi Baharin @ Md Daud, State Food Industry Committee chairman Razman Zakaria, State Secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim and councillor Datuk Mazlan Abdul Rahman. 

 

VVIP VIEWING A SCREEN

 

Saarani said the objective of the project which covers an area of 50 sq m was to provide parking facility, resting area, toilet and Prayer (Solat) space for servicing workers who delivered food around the city.

“The completed project will accommodate some 1,600 delivery workers in assisting them in their work.

 

GRAB RIDERS

 

“The cost of project for seven units is RM499,478 is funded from State Government, whereby the cost for per unit is RM71,354.

“It will kick off on March 5, and will be completed in eight weeks’ time. 

 

FOOD PANDA RIDERS

 

He added that the food delivery staff are recognized as ‘front liner’ especially during the Movement Control Order 1, where they are the people who delivered food to the community.

“They are at high risk of contacting with COVID-19 due to close contacts with customers,” he said.