The once bustling Ipoh Central Market is a shadow of its former self. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
TRADERS at Ipoh Central Market, located within the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) have been facing a significant drop in business over the years.
Those who spoke to StarMetro believe the decline was due to inadequate parking facilities as well as the presence of drug addicts at the premises.
Trader V. Nadarasaa, who has run Super Bookstore there for 42 years, said the once bustling central market, which used to be known as Super Kinta shopping centre, was seeing fewer visitors due to these issues.
“Lots of shops have closed. With fewer traders operating, it has further reduced foot traffic.
“Visitors are still struggling with the use of Flexi Parking and Park@Perak apps when they park at the multi-level parking lot at the Amanjaya Chicken Market building nearby,” he said of the three-storey market on Jalan Datuk Onn Jaafar.
“Many, especially the elderly, avoid coming here because of the inconvenience.
“Some customers have had to get the help of parking agents when they are unable to exit from the building due to issues with the apps. They just don’t come back.”
Nadarasaa says fewer traders further reduce foot traffic.
Nadarasaa said his business was still reeling from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has also played a role in declining sales, with more customers opting to shop online,” he added.
Tailor Abim Abidin said the parking issue had badly affected his business.
“Most of the people who come here are elderly, and they find it hard to find parking.
“Sometimes, when they need to use the parking payment app, there is no Internet connection inside the building,” he said.
He added that there were also incidents of motorists breaking the parking barrier gate.
Jenny Leong, who has operated Beauty Art Florist since 1989, acknowledged Ipoh City Council’s (MBI) initiatives.
Leong says businesses have still not recovered after the pandemic.
“The elderly who have difficulties with the parking payment system will have to learn,” she said.
She also said that business had dropped by about 60% since the pandemic.
“Business was good before, but the economic situation after the pandemic is tough. Many traders are still feeling its impact,” she added.
Nurul Zaiety Saidatul Akhmar, a titbits and fruit seller who is also a parking agent, acknowledged there had been many complaints about parking.
She said most elderly people found it difficult to pay via the app when they park at the complex.
“Usually they will come up to me saying that it is difficult to pay through any of the apps, and sometimes there are also issues with the machine at the barrier gate.
“I will guide them on how to make payment via the Flexi Parking and Park@Perak apps,” she said, adding that this was the scenario almost every week.
Nurul Zaiety said customers also shunned the place due to the presence of drug addicts.
She related an incident where she was confronted by an addict requesting money to park in the area.
Fearing for her life, she gave him some money.
Rumaizi says action is being taken against inactive traders.
“These drug addicts can usually be found asking money from visitors who park by the roadside,” she said, adding that most motorists usually pay up for fear of damage done to their car.
A tailor known only as Kak Noor said drug addicts stationed themselves at the upper level of the Central Market.
“We (the traders) try to avoid them, and when we see them we usually contact the police,” she said.
Another tailor, Noor Abdul Rahim said drug addicts could be seen at the basement carpark too, frightening customers who want to park there.
“We have lodged many complaints. There are times when the drug addicts are caught but will later return to the same spot,” he added.
Many shops at Ipoh Central Market are shuttered.
Sabri Ali, a craftsman, believes the number of drug addicts at the market has increased.
One reason for this, he said, was the increasing number of closed shops.
“With fewer shops open, the place looks deserted, making it a good spot for addicts.
“I was told that some traders only rent the shops to store their goods,” he said while calling for MBI to take action.
Abdullah Annas Al-I’mran Ghazali, who helps his uncle Sabri at the shop, called on MBI to support struggling businesses by promoting shops selling traditional products to tourists.
“The city council should help promote businesses like ours to tourists, so they know about the unique products available here.
“I think not many people know where to get traditional souvenirs like labu sayong and keris in Ipoh, or even know that such shops exist here at the Central Market,” he added.
Action taken by MBI
MBI says efforts will be made to make the Central Market a prime shopping destination.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said action was being taken to deal with inactive traders at the Central Market.
“Traders who are not operating will be asked to explain why,” he said.
“If they do not respond, their rental agreement and licence will be revoked.
“Our Licensing Department is also monitoring the situation.
Some find it difficult to pay for parking at the market using the Flexi Parking or Park@Perak apps.
“As of August this year, we have cancelled the operating licences and rental agreements of eight tenants due to inactivity,” he added.
Rumaizi also said MBI was in the process of obtaining an allocation from the government to upgrade Ipoh Central Market next year.
“This project will involve restructuring business activities so that more people will visit the market, and also attract traders interested in doing business,” he said.
“We have also planned for some upgrades at the premises, including expanding business spaces and making improvements like adding cargo lifts, escalators and enhancing safety measures to prevent vandalism.
“The impact of this upgrading project will make it a tourism destination on par with Pasar Payang in Terengganu, Pasar Siti Khadijah in Kelantan and Pekan Rabu in Kedah,” he said.
Nurul Zaiety, who is a parking agent, helping a visitor pay for parking using an app at the market.
On the parking issue, Rumaizi said there were several methods to pay for parking at the Amanjaya Chicken Market and Urban Transformation Centre Perak parking lots.
These include the Park@Perak app, Flexi Parking app and paying through the machine using Touch ‘n Go, debit or credit cards.
“If there are issues on site, such as barrier gate malfunctions, licence plate recognition (LPR) failure, power outage or Internet disruption, city council workers will manually open the gates to facilitate vehicle entry and exit.
“Additionally, we are monitoring the parking lots through CCTV cameras and we have intercom buttons available at the exit point for direct communication if any issues arise when leaving the premises.
“We will do what we can to make further improvements based on suggestions from the public,” he added.
Issues with parking are deterring some motorists from patronising the market.
Rumaizi said the capacitors, barrier gate circuit boards and LPR circuit boards were replaced in June and July to further streamline the vehicle entry and exit process.
Maintenance work and upgrades to the fibre optic cables were also carried out from July 15 to 19 to ensure Internet connection reached an optimal level for vehicle entry and exit data as well as for payment transactions, he highlighted.
On the presence of drug addicts at the market, Rumaizi said MBI had channelled complaints to relevant agencies such as the National Anti-Drugs Agency and the Welfare Department for necessary action to be taken.
“On our part, we will assist them when handling the matter,” he said.
