Special Report By:
Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
Video: Balqis Jazimah Zahari
Are you aware? Three traditional Perak Malay ‘Rumah Kutai’ are now increasingly abandoned and decaying.
This house, which was once a tourist attraction in the state of Perak, is located near the Sultan Azlan Shah Roundabout, Bandar Meru Raya.
The excitement of Nazifah Mustaffha, 42, from Putrajaya ended in disappointment when she saw for herself the condition of the environment and the structure of the house which was not maintained and was getting old.
“I was very surprised to see the state of this traditional Malay house that was abandoned and empty without occupants and one of them was getting worse and endangering visitors.
“It’s not like what I saw on the internet where this house used to be very beautiful and was used as business premises famous for serving traditional Malay cuisine.
“I am a fan of traditional houses like this, but the condition of this house is not like in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan which are beautiful because they are well maintained.
“I am worried about what will happen next in the coming years, if this house is not repaired it will surely rot and worship the earth,” she who is also a lecturer at a higher education institution in Selangor said.
She added that the state government or local authorities should take immediate action to avoid further damage and higher costs.
“This is a tourism asset in the state of Perak which is indeed an attraction for local and international tourists, especially in the Perak Visit Year 2024.
“This is one of the old Malay heritage houses that became an icon for the Malay community of Perak which is famous for its culture and arts.
“It would be a loss and a waste if this house just disappeared and one tourism icon that is the pride of the people of Perak will bite the dust,” she said.
Meanwhile, one of the visitors from Meru, Normah Alang Marfuat, 62, said she regretted the situation of Rumah Kutai which used to be cheerful and now has become increasingly abandoned and not maintained.
“It’s a pity, this place used to be interesting and there was Labu Sayong Restaurant Signature@Meru with the concept of traditional Malay cuisine and fusion.
“When the month of Ramadan arrived we could bring the family to break fast in a relaxed atmosphere while taking pictures from various interesting angles.
”In fact, my friends and I also often come here to gather and hold several parties at this house.
“But over the past few years, this place is not as cheerful as it used to be. Visitors only come to take pictures and then leave,” she said when met at the location.
She said the responsible party may be able to successfully implement some programs in this area to revive the iconic area.
“It’s a shame this place is abandoned, I hope this place can become an attraction for tourists to come to Perak,” she said.
The Year of Visiting Perak 2024 is only eight months away. Where are our preparations as hosts to receive the visits of thousands of tourists?
Don’t just promote the promotion of Perak Visit Year 2024, but the reality is that the existing tourism products can only be the source of laughter and criticism from netizens. This is so embarrassing!!!
