IN its heyday, the Ipoh Central Market building was more than just a place to pick up groceries.
Located right in the middle of Ipoh, the building used to have a shopping complex, recording studios and small stores – which is a far cry from its present state.
Traders and visitors say Ipoh Central Market has potential to become a tourist attraction like those abroad where tourists look for food and souvenirs. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
Shops on the upper level of the market have been shuttered for years.
While the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Perak has taken over the shopping complex area, there are still parts of the building that have received little or no attention.
Although there are many shops that are closed, interested traders are told that there are no empty lots in the building.
Traders on the upper floor are hoping for major change.
Muhammad Hafiz Zainuddin, 41, said he had never seen the shop opposite his bookstore open.
“I started my business in 2021 and the shop in front of mine has never been open.
“Every now and then, there will be people coming to collect the electricity bills.
The Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Perak part of the building looks brighter and cleaner than the side housing the Ipoh Central Market.
“I think the shop is being used as a store room and the business is conducted elsewhere,” he added.
Muhammad Hafiz said if there were more shops open for business, more tourists and locals would come.
“There are many sections in this market.
“On my side, there are about 15 shops but only four or five are open,” he noted.
Many shops in Ipoh Central Market have been shuttered for years and parts of the building are poorly lit.
He wondered why Ipoh City Council (MBI) did not act against tenants who used the shoplots as storage units, as it was unfair for those who want to conduct business there.
“I have friends who want to set up their businesses here because the rent is affordable, but they have been told by MBI that there is no vacancy,” he added.
Florist N. Satchiathnandhan, 38, believed that if all the shops were open, business would be booming.
“My business has been here for more than 10 years.
Notices have been pasted on some shoplots after the traders have failed to pay their rent to MBI.
“Although business is still okay, it has been getting slower by the year.
“Many of the units are closed because some of the owners died, while others have abandoned the shops or prefer to use them as storage areas.
“MBI should have these units vacated to allow new traders to operate here.
One of the toilets in the building has been locked for years.
“With more businesses set up here, this building will have a more vibrant atmosphere similar to Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market,” he added.
Satchiathnandhan said the building’s cleanliness needed improvement too.
“My monthly rental is RM30 a month.
Mohamad Emir says fewer traders are now operating in the building.
“I don’t mind paying more if MBI can make this place cleaner, safer and more attractive.
“Perhaps the city council can start by changing the old shutters, painting the building, adding more lights and improving the ventilation,” he suggested.
He said customers came from Kampar, Batu Gajah, Taiping, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and even as far as Singapore.
“Even though this building has been marked as a heritage building, little care has been given to it.
“Just take a look at how different the UTC side is compared to our side of the building.
“MBI needs to do better if it wants tourists to come,” he added.
Mohamad Emir Arafat Saari, 31, longs to see the day when the building becomes the place to be in Ipoh.
He and his father operate a shop that produces customised frames and they have three other shoplots.
“My father said the building used to be crowded with locals and tourists buying groceries, altering clothes or getting items printed.
Muhammad Zulhilmi wants MBI to evict tenants who are not operating businesses there.
“Now, fewer traders operate here.
“They may still pay rent to retain the lots but that means there are no vacant lots for new traders to come in,” he added.
Muhammad Zulhilmi Mohd Yatin Yazix, 32, hopes that MBI will act to allow traders like him to set up shop in the building.
“I have gone to the MBI office to ask if there are any available lots but every time, the answer has always been the same.
“The shops here are meant to be a place where traders can operate from but these lots have been turned into storage units, and MBI has said nothing can be done because rental is being paid for them,” he said.
Muhammad Zulhilmi said there were more than 100 shoplots on the second floor.
Muhammad Hafiz says lots should not be used as storage units.
“I think only 10 of them are open for business.
“Traders like me have to set up pop-up stalls when there are shops that have been closed for years.
“What is MBI doing to vacate them besides issuing warning notices?” he questioned.
He said he was not the only who had been going back and forth asking the city council officers about empty lots.
“There are also rumours that only selected people can rent the lots.
“I want to rent one there because of the low monthly rental.
“These lots should be allocated to youths who want to venture into business,” said Muhammad Zulhilmi.
He said the building had a lot of potential and could be like Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market.
“Perhaps even better, because we still have the wet market and UTC.
Satchiathnandhan says he does not mind paying a higher rental if MBI can make the building more attractive and cleaner.
“People go to the market every day yet there are barely any who go to the upper floor as it is dark, smelly and deserted.
“Why doesn’t MBI do something about it?” he added.
Trader Nor Nazuriyati Ismail, 43, had also almost given up on finding a vacant unit.
“I saw many shoplots that had been closed for years.
“Besides issuing warning notices, nothing has been done by MBI.
“MBI should prioritise those who want to set up shop and open businesses,” she said.
She added that she wouldn’t be angry if the shops were open for business, but almost all were closed.
“Since there is no place for me to set up a store, I have no other choice but to work to earn a minimum wage,” said Nor Nazuriyati.
Last month, Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the wet market could become a tourist attraction similar to those abroad where tourists look for food and souvenirs.
A student, who wished to be known only as Alicia, 19, believed that the building had the potential to be an art hub.
“I often accompany my parents to UTC and my father has a friend who sells flowers in the building.
“I think if MBI revamps the building and add more traders, it can be a place for tourists to visit.
“There are many shops that have been closed for years, which is a waste because hundreds of people go to the UTC every day,” she noted.
She said it could be similar to Penang’s Chowrasta Market where tourists go to buy second-hand books or souvenirs, if only MBI could see the building’s potential.
“MBI should also repair facilities such as the broken toilets and eliminate the foul smell,” she added.
Rumaizi said MBI was planning to upgrade the market.
“There are 1,176 shoplots in the building and the licence fee of up to RM240 a year depends on the type of business.
“The city council has its own procedure for handling shops that have been closed for years.
“We start by issuing notices to the traders, asking them to justify the closure and if they fail to do so within 14 days, we will terminate their licences and ask them to vacate the units.
“Within 14 days after the unit is vacated, we will advertise its availability and interested traders can apply.
“If there is more than one interested party, interview sessions will be held by our panel or councillors,” said the mayor.
