I have been rather critical of how Batu Gajah town has developed, in terms of meeting the needs of the residents. I think it is apt to describe it as 'development at the expense of convenience' with the KTM railway station at the top of the list, MDBG building second, and bus station, third. It was obvious and felt by residents but somehow escaped the earlier attention of planners and executors. But it can easily be explained by our leaders priority in finding a reason (more an excuse) to execute a project (the bigger the better) so that they can benefit from the huge contract sums. Politically, it is necessary in BN's ways, to help their colleagues and supporters, so that they can continue to exploit the situation. It is common to find buildings built or equipment bought without proper assessments of their need, and no budgets for their maintenance. Well, there is always another chance to upgrade instead, with a bigger budget. Why bother about looking after the maintenance at low costs and negate any future opportunities?
Against this background information, I find it laughable that a recent application and later appeal by a resident for a street light was turned down by MDBG for the reason that they have run out of funds! But I have just seen some work being done on some new railings in front of a row of shops which include KFC, 7 Eleven and TNB! This reminds me of the rumour that each of the decorative stand with a plant in a wide base pot costed Rm1000 each! Earlier work which included short stands with a light on top of each were vandalized or stolen. Some things are just impractical.
Batu Gajah is also well known for Kellie's Castle, an uncompleted mansion started by a British planter. It is better known as 'ghost house' by locals, and had been over-renovated before; was used in the film Anna and the King, starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fatt; and now with fresh allocation of funds, its shops at the entrance were demolished and being rebuilt, which is now apparent to me, for the simple reason: to make them architecturally compatible with the original building! The funds come from a different ministry within Perak, probably Tourism. Years ago, one bright spark translated the name 'Kellie's Castle' to 'Istana Kellie' and I could imagine the uproar by some before the road signs were taken down! Anyway, besides the fact that the building seems a good background for making films and taking wedding pictures, Media Corp of Singapore has shot a short documentary on it...
Link
Against this background information, I find it laughable that a recent application and later appeal by a resident for a street light was turned down by MDBG for the reason that they have run out of funds! But I have just seen some work being done on some new railings in front of a row of shops which include KFC, 7 Eleven and TNB! This reminds me of the rumour that each of the decorative stand with a plant in a wide base pot costed Rm1000 each! Earlier work which included short stands with a light on top of each were vandalized or stolen. Some things are just impractical.
Batu Gajah is also well known for Kellie's Castle, an uncompleted mansion started by a British planter. It is better known as 'ghost house' by locals, and had been over-renovated before; was used in the film Anna and the King, starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fatt; and now with fresh allocation of funds, its shops at the entrance were demolished and being rebuilt, which is now apparent to me, for the simple reason: to make them architecturally compatible with the original building! The funds come from a different ministry within Perak, probably Tourism. Years ago, one bright spark translated the name 'Kellie's Castle' to 'Istana Kellie' and I could imagine the uproar by some before the road signs were taken down! Anyway, besides the fact that the building seems a good background for making films and taking wedding pictures, Media Corp of Singapore has shot a short documentary on it...
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