Finding right balance to develop Ipoh further

Tourists throng Ipoh city for its variety of delicacies.

MOST Ipoh folk are happy with how the city has developed and want its current serene and slow-paced environment maintained.

They do not want it to be turned into a metropolis like Kuala Lumpur (KL) or New York City.

A majority of the city folk who spoke to StarMetro believe that Ipoh should strive to keep its unique characteristics.

Their response was following Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin’s statement in September that Ipoh could become like New York City.

The HSBC Bank building is another landmark in Ipoh.

Rumaizi had called on residents to adopt the right attitude to reflect the international recognition the city had received, the most recent being the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Scroll of Honour Award given for the Ipoh Doughnut Economics programme in Mexico on Oct 7.

The “Doughnut Economy” is a model that seeks to balance humanity’s needs with the planet’s ecological boundaries, where societal well-being coexists with environmental sustainability.

In July, Ipoh ranked 465th out of 1,000 global cities in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index.

The former tin mining hub was among 12 Malaysian cities on the list and 22nd among 55 South-East Asian cities.

However, an Ipoh-based non-governmental organisation, Ipoh City Watch, said the city had a long way to go.

Ipoh needs a better public transportation system.

Its president, Dr Richard Ng, said Ipoh was well known for its heritage but it has not been explored fully.

He said Ipoh could further develop the tourism industry, taking advantage of its history, limestone hills, cave temples and local food.

“He (Rumaizi) had once mooted the idea to turn Ipoh Central Market into a tourism spot.

“Unfortunately there are many problems there such as lack of infrastructure and parking facilities as well as unresolved toilet and air-conditioning issues,” he added.

Ng said there were other difficulties in attracting industries to operate in Ipoh which had forced youths to move to KL, Penang and Singapore to look for jobs.

A view of Ipoh city surrounded by limestone hills, which is one of its major attractions. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN and ANNABELLE LAWRENCE/The Star

“It is nice to have goals but we must be realistic.

“What is so good about New York for Ipoh to emulate?

“Perhaps we should try to be better than Seremban or Melaka first.

“There are still a lot of things that need to be done to overcome traffic congestion during peak hours and weekends, address the increased cost of living as well as unemployment,” he said.

“The locals have been deprived of the quiet town and low-cost living we once took pride in.

“What happened to the Ipoh many dreamt of as a place to retire?

“What happened to the cottage industries we aspired to grow further?

“Is the city council providing enough trading licences for B40 residents to earn a living?

“Is MBI (Ipoh City Council) doing enough to provide safety and security to ageing residents?

“We also need an airport that connects Ipoh to international destinations such as China and India which can draw more tourists to Ipoh.

“This is where we lose out to Penang and KL,” he added.

Ipoh is a popular tourist destination with its unique attractions such as good food and eco-tourism spots.

Mayor’s views

When contacted, Rumaizi said taking inspiration from top-ranking global cities like New York was not to transform Ipoh into the Big Apple, but to look at ways to make Ipoh more well known globally and make it one of the best in the world.

“New York ranks among the top 10 cities worldwide and Ipoh was among 12 Malaysian cities in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index.

“I do think the recognition we are getting is an encouraging sign for Ipoh’s development. To rise further, we must learn from the best,” he added.

Rumaizi said Ipoh could also draw lessons from Paris, which has preserved its historical centre while creating a modern New Paris focusing on service industries.

“The same vision can be applied to Ipoh, by retaining our old town charm while driving modern developments in surrounding areas like Meru Raya and Sunway City Ipoh.

“I know people used to find Ipoh easy to navigate with less traffic and ample parking spaces and now it’s more crowded.

“However, development is crucial. Without it, we won’t have jobs or the resources to keep growing. We have to do it, otherwise we will be left behind,” he added.

Ipoh Town Hall building reflects the city’s colonial past.

City folk in two minds

A kitchenware shop owner, identified only as Lim, spent 30 years working in Kuala Lumpur before returning to Ipoh a decade ago.

Sharing his experiences living in two different environments, he does not want Ipoh to be turned into a busy city.

“To have more opportunities to make money in busy cities is good, but they would not be a good place to retire in.

“This is why I returned to Ipoh. It is quiet and that’s what we want as we get older,” he said.

“Even a friend of mine who has been working in New York for the last 16 years wants to come back here now.

“Ipoh is more like a retirement place for people who worked in the city. We want Ipoh to be peaceful and not busy,” he added.

Sales officer Hong Kok Peng said he appreciated Ipoh’s slow- paced life.

“Traffic congestion here is less compared to KL, where the roads are constantly jammed,” he said.

Although he acknowledged that younger people often leave Ipoh for better job opportunities, he believes they would eventually return.

“They go out to work for a while but they will come back. Most people want a peaceful and less busy place to live in,” he said.

Hong, however, said Ipoh was getting busier with tourists thronging the city centre, creating traffic congestion, especially in the weekends.

For convenience store supervisor Hadi Farhan Samerin, Ipoh’s appeal lies in its historical buildings and peaceful atmosphere.

“There’s no need for big upgrades.

“Many people visit Ipoh to admire its colonial buildings.

“If we modernise too much, we’ll lose that charm and fewer tourists will visit,” he added.

Dr Pavin Kaur Bal believes Ipoh’s population is too small for major infrastructure developments.

“For projects like monorail, I don’t think we need it now. Ipoh should remain serene.

“I know we are often called a retirement town, but that’s what makes it special,” she said.

Technical sales executive M. Lavanya, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, said she regularly visited Ipoh for its peaceful environment.

“I would come to Ipoh to enjoy the peace here and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

“There’s no need for Ipoh to mirror the bustling nature of Kuala Lumpur or even New York,” she said, adding that people visit Ipoh to relax and for its lower cost of living.

A hawker, identified only as Chan, fears that Ipoh would lose its appeal if it became busy.

“Ipoh is a small city and often known as a place for older people.

Ipoh Railway Station is dubbed the Taj Mahal of the city.

“I understand a lot of our youths are leaving Ipoh in search of better job prospects elsewhere, but I still don’t think we should make the city busier than it is now,” he said, suggesting that more job opportunities be created in Ipoh without turning it into another KL.

Sales director M. Prema said there was no need for Ipoh to emulate New York but rather focus on practical improvements like improved public transport.

“Monorail or light rail transit (LRT) services would make commuting easier and reduce traffic congestion.

“In Ipoh, everyone needs a car because the public transportation system is limited,” she said, adding that parking facilities were scarce in the city centre.

“If we have monorail services connecting Buntong, the city centre and Bercham, it would reduce our dependence on cars, making it convenient for both locals and tourists,” she added.

Prema, who has worked in KL for five years, added that Ipoh should retain what made it special.

“It is why people come to Ipoh, to relax and some even plan to retire here,” she added.

Undergraduate Nooriyan Shahrina Osman also said the public transportation system in Ipoh should be improved.

“I’ll be going to work in KL soon. It is not where I’d ideally want to work, but the public transportation system makes it practical.

“If Ipoh has more options like the LRT or better e-hailing services, I would choose to stay here,” she said, adding that bus and e-hailing services were limited.

Ipoh Padang with its fountain and light show is a popular attraction.

General worker K. Puvanesvaran believes turning Ipoh into a metropolis would be a positive shift.

He said development could help create job opportunities.

“Youths wouldn’t need to leave for other states to find work. It could boost Ipoh’s economy,” he added.

P-hailing rider Suhaimi Hairol Saleh, said to become a developed city, quality infrastructure should be in place and not pothole-filled roads.

“My motorcycle has been damaged because of these potholes. These are also risks for other road users.

“Well-maintained roads can also attract tourists, which can benefit the local economy,” he said, adding that they would improve the city’s image and allow tourists to better explore its attractions.

Waiter P. Euvaneswaran said although he enjoyed Ipoh’s calm and serene atmosphere, becoming a busy city had its benefits.

He added that New York was a model city for further development in Ipoh.

“Ipoh is an old area, but with skyscrapers and new buildings, it can become like New York and attract more visitors.”