IPOH (Nov 25): The Edge Media Group launched a special edition magazine, titled Perak Uncovered, to introduce Perak’s most recent economic and industrial developments, and stories of its history, cities, towns and people, at an event held in the state’s capital on Tuesday.

The launching event was graced by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, who was the guest of honour.

Key attendees were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad; Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong, owner of The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd; Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian, executive chairman of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KL:KLK) and his wife Puan Sri Datuk Sandra Lee; and Datuk Haji Azmi Mat Nor, executive director at Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA).

Also present at the event were Loh Sze Yee, Perak state tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman; Teh Kok Lim, Perak state science, environment and green technology committee chairman; and Sandrea Ng, Perak state housing and local government committee chairman.

In total, around 200 people, representing various businesses, attended the invite-only event held at AC Hotel by Mariott Ipoh.

In his welcoming address, Datuk Ho Kay Tat, publisher and group chief executive of The Edge Media Group, said the magazine was inspired by Globalisation: Perak’s rise, relative decline and regeneration, a book by Sultan Nazrin Shah that offers an in-depth account about the developments of Perak.

The magazine covers a wide range of topics, including manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, tourism, education, heritage sites and more. It also highlights large-scale infrastructure projects that are underway, such as the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) and the electric vehicle (EV) hub in Tanjong Malim.

“We also feature stories on individuals like a young software engineer who returned to his hometown during the Covid-19 pandemic and never left as he ventured into sustainable chili farming; a young lady who quit her teaching job to join her family sustainable vegetable farming business and supply those produces not just locally, but to Singapore.

“Our team found so many people doing their part, in big and small ways, sophisticated and simple, to contribute to the wellbeing of the state with love, in line with the state government’s development plan. So, Perak Uncovered is really about their stories, and we are just very happy to tell and share them to fellow Malaysians and the world,” he said.

During the event, Lara Ariffin, co-founder and president of Rimau, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the preservation of the Malayan tiger, shared a presentation on conservation initiatives in Perak.

Rimau has been working with local indigenous communities in the Royal Belum State Park, and the Amanjaya and Korbu forest reserves, to form patrolling teams since 2018. The patrollers dismantle snares, track human and animal signs in the forest and collect essential data.

Although the number of snares found in the forests have been declining, the threat from poachers is still present, Lara said.

It is important to protect tigers, which are apex predators and at the brink of extinction. Less than 150 remain in the wild, said Lara, and Perak is one of the last stronghold areas for the species. “Tigers are more than just predators. They are vital threads in the web of life. When we lose tigers, it’s not just the species disappearing, it’s a sign that our forest ecosystem is collapsing,” said Lara.

“If we protect enough habitat for tigers, we automatically protect thousands of other species too. Saving the tiger is not only about saving one single animal, it’s about safeguarding the entire ecosystem.”

During her presentation session, Puan Sri Datuk Sandra Lee, also the founder of the Ipoh-based charitable non-government organisation Persatuan Daybreak, spoke about her work with Think City on an urban regeneration project in Ipoh. She believes Perak holds immense potential in showcasing the heritage and culture of the silver state.

“When we look around us, where else in Malaysia do you have such a distinct sense of place?” said Lee in her presentation titled “Urban Regeneration of Ipoh Old Town Initiatives”.

Ipoh and its old town have long been shaped by the Kinta River, a simple but important backbone that connects communities, she added.

Significant investments have been made to improve the Riverwalk, yet many areas have fallen into disrepair over time. But the potential remains strong, she said, proposing that the area could be revived through riverside installations that activate the Kinta Riverwalk both during the day and after hours, as well as a major festival supported by smaller fringe activities involving art galleries, event spaces, and possibly night light-mapping shows at Ipoh Padang.

She stressed that the festival should not stand alone, but evolve into a wider platform that brings together artists, business owners, and local communities. There are also opportunities to expand the monthly Low Carbon City Day to areas surrounding the river, reinforcing its role as a central public space.