Plans to promote Taiping's heritage, natural landscape

Taiping is known as the world’s best sustainable destination 

and rich with nature such as hilly areas, valleys as well as 

Bukit Larut and extending into the sea. 

NSTP/EFFENDY RASHID

By Zahratulhayat Mat Arif

April 19, 2019 @ 5:42pm

IPOH: Taiping may be a small town but it has a rich history, heritage, food, beautiful lakes and mountains.

Perak Tourism, Arts and Culture committee chairman Tan Kar Hing said the state government was set to promot the town to lure more local and foreign tourists in the district.

“Taiping is known as the world’s best sustainable destination and rich with nature such as hilly areas, valleys as well as Bukit Larut and extending into the sea.

“Among the initiatives is to provide allocation for upgrading the landscape of Bukit Larut amounting RM100,000.

“Besides that, we will upgrade the infrastructure of hall and jetty of Kampung Dew Kelip-kelip with allocation amounting RM350,000,” he said in reply to a question from Jalong assemblyman Loh Sze Yee at the state legislative assembly here today.

Tan said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry had allocated RM1.9 million to upgrade 1.2km walkway at the Matang Mangrove Eco-Educational Centre in Kuala Sepetang and the upgrading works were expected to be completed end of this year.

“The state government has also provided water tanks to provide clean waters for tourists who stay in Bukit Larut with an allocationof RM331,660,” he said, adding that the state government also organised tourism programmes such as Zoo Taiping Carnival, Bazaar Cross Street and state-level 2018 Malaysia Day celebration.

The Simpang Pulai assemblyman said the state government was also planning to build more infrastructures and facilities such as parking, toilet and jetty in Kuala Sepetang.

“Among other efforts is to bring media and tourism agencies to introduce the tour package and write about food, heritage as well as an interesting tourist attraction that are available in Taiping,” he said.

It was reported last month that Taiping had been placed third in the ‘Best of Cities’ category behind Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia, and Vancouver, Canada.

The recognition was given during the 2019 Sustainable Top 100 Destination Awards at the International Tourismus-Börse (ITB) travel trade show in Berlin, Germany.

Taiping Market gets RM9m facelift

Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamarudin visits the Taping Market. -NSTP//SHAIFUL SHAHRIN AHMAD PAUZI

TAIPING: Taiping Market, the oldest market in Malaysia, will soon undergo massive restoration works costing RM9 million.

Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamarudin said works on the site, which houses 212 business lots with a total area of 0.4 hectares, would begin next year and was expected to be completed within two or three years.

“The market, which was built in the 1880s, will be upgraded and modernised. It will be equipped with better facilities for traders and customers. However, the traditional design and wood structure will remain in order to preserve the historical value and to attract more tourists.

“In the first phase, a total of RM1 million has been approved to design the building with the aim of maintaining its heritage structure,” she said at a press conference after a working visit to the market here, today.

Zuraida added that traders here had agreed to pay a higher rent when the upgrading works were completed. Currently, they are paying RM80 per month.

On a separate note, she said the ministry would study the report on 97 abandoned fire trucks worth RM165 million as reported in the media yesterday.

Zuraida added that it would find ways to fix the fire trucks as soon as possible as the vehicles were crucial to the team in providing services to the public.

She said the ministry would find out if the issue involved politicians or elements of abuse of power.

“We will get the relevant authorities to investigate so that further action can be taken,” she said.

It was reported yesterday that the failure of suppliers to provide certain designs and installation of pieces of equipment according to the specification were among the reasons why the vehicles purchased in 2007, 2010 and 2014 were left abandoned.

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