StarMetro’s cover story on Jan 10.
Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) is working closely with KTM Bhd (KTMB) to improve the monitoring of cleanliness at the Ipoh Railway Station for the comfort of commuters.
Responding to StarMetro’s Jan 10 frontpage story titled “Shabby station” on the rundown condition of the facility, RAC public relations officer Ane Salfarizan Mispani said maintenance work in the surrounding areas was carried out on Jan 3.
However, maintenance work to clean and upkeep areas within the station would be carried out by parties in charge of the rental area, she explained.
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“We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” she added in a media statement.
Commuters had complained about rubbish piled up in many places, dark and dank corridors, and a thick layer of dust on the fans.
They were also unhappy about the bird droppings at the station which had not been cleaned.
RAC, which is a federal statutory body under Transport Ministry, owns the station and the adjacent Majestic Station Hotel.
On plans to redevelop and rejuvenate the area into a commuter-friendly transport hub known as Ipoh Sentral, Ane Salfarizan said the agreement was still being finalised.
She said the development proposal was drafted through a collaboration with Perak State Secretary Incorporated (SSI), which is currently in the process of finalising the agreement.
The 27.74ha transit-oriented development proposal covers part of Lot 75886 and Lot 75887 in Ipoh, Kinta District in Perak.
Ane Salfarizan said the proposed redevelopment would be made through a Request for Proposal expected to be executed this year.
“This step is taken following the termination of RAC’s joint venture with Syarikat Majujaya Hebat,” she disclosed.
RAC had signed a 30-year agreement with Majujaya Hebat in January 2020 to redevelop the hotel in two phases, at a cost of RM108.3mil.
The hotel was supposed to reopen this year.
Ane Salfarizan explained that the collaboration between RAC and SSI began on Aug 30, 2021, through the signing of a memorandum of understanding, followed by a memorandum of agreement on March 19 last year.
She said RAC was looking positively into the proposed development plan of Ipoh Sentral.
“This development will not only improve the transport infrastructure of Ipoh but also boost the socioeconomic status of the area,” she added. — By EDWARD RAJENDRA
