Perak Heritage Society

Concerned with the rate at which heritage sites are being destroyed, and the ‘improvement’ of the Ipoh Padang in 2002, a group of people got together to form the Perak Heritage Society (PHS). It was registered in August 2003.

The main objective of the PHS is to ‘promote public awareness, conservation and preservation of our social, environment and cultural heritage for the benefit of the people of Perak’. In truth, we deal with Perak's natural, cultural and industrial heritage. Tin-mining is the most significant industrial Malaysia world heritage concentrated in Perak, which is also the first state to record the cultural heritage of our aboriginal people, the Orang Asli. Today, while retaining their identity, the community is present alongside other ethnicities especially in small towns.

Site visits affirm perceptions of heritage. To this end, the PHS organizes regular outings for members and friends to places of heritage interest like the old tin-mining town of Chemor, Gopeng, Kampar and Taiping. Other fun and relaxing trips (heri.trails) include the Perak River trails, taking in Kuala Kangsar the royal town, the Lenggong Valley, Parit, Bota, Pair Salak and Teluk Intan.

Talks about history, heritage and conservation in practice have also been organized. Our speakers ranged from Malcolm Wade who spoke about Perak Postal History, Raimy Che Ross who spoke on ‘Kota Gelanggi – The Lost City’ to Lim Take Bane’s talk on ‘Adaptive Re-use of Old Buildings’.

In 2006, the PHS was also given the opportunity to premiere Amir Muhamad’s film ‘The Last Communist’ as a fund-raiser for the Society. It was all systems go but the art film was banned two weeks prior to the screening.

Nonetheless, it inspired the PHS to screen films which were shot on location in Perak. Of interest to old film buffs, these films provide us the chance to view places and vistas which may have been changed or destroyed. These films serve as semi-documents on many of our photogenic heritage sites.

Information on heritage issues is disseminated through our bi-monthly newsletter ‘Heritage News’ and through articles in the Press on the activities of the Society. E-copies of the Heritage News are also available to friends and supporters. Positive and delightful reports on our heritage trails have attracted new members and garnered support from the men on the street. We also deal with numerous requests for information on heritage issues and renovation of old buildings. We maintain an expanding network with individuals and community groups in different parts of the state, and work with organizations based in Ipoh, the capital city of Perak.

The PHS is a resource for researchers and writers. We assist and arrange interviews with and provide guide and information to individuals and communities. In our network, we participate in community activities, and assist behind the scene by creating public awareness through media blitz. We also lend our support to other's causes, such as the Save the Royal Belum and Save the Koay Jetty campaigns.

A project PHS hopes to undertake soon is to collect, document and publish books and videos on our wondrous natural, cultural and industrial heritage. Like most NGO's, and despite many well-wishers, supporters and donors, the PHS is hampered by limited resources, both human and financial. More fund-raising projects will be done and benefactors sought.

Contact details:
Postal/Office: 85C Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, 30300 IPOH, Perak.
E-mail: perakheritage36@gmail.com
President, Law Siak Hong: siakhongstudio@yahoo.com

PHS Membership Information
Sign-up fees
Life Member RM500;
Ordinary Member RM30 (Perak residents only);
Associate Member RM30 (Non-Perak residents);

Annual renewal for both OM and AM are RM20. Associate Membership carries no voting right.

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BOOKS

Kinta Valley: Pioneering Malaysia’s Modern Development
Khoo Salma Nasution
& Abdur-Razzaq Lubis

Raja Bilah and the Mandailings in Perak: 1875-1911
Abdur-Razzaq Lubis
& Khoo Salma Nasution

For more information,
contact: Areca Books
120 Armenian Street
10200 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +60 4 2620123
Fax: +60 4 2633970
Email: arecabooks@gmail.com
Website: www.arecabooks.com