By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
Silverlakes Village Outlet (SVO), which opened in December 2023, faces significant challenges in attracting visitors and retaining tenants.
Built with the “mall in the park” concept that combines natural elements with modern lifestyle, the reality on the ground shows a gloomy and less vibrant atmosphere.
SVO is divided into two main sections: West Village and North Village. However, West Village appears almost empty with no operating outlets, causing disappointment among visitors and making it not worthwhile to return.
The only attraction in this section is Dinosaur Encounter World, which is still operating; however, throughout the observation, no visitors were seen.
The lack of events, absence of family activities, and insufficient promotions make the atmosphere at SVO dull and less appealing, unlike other malls that are more lively and vibrant.
Visitors also complain about the parking fees imposed, even though the store options are very limited.
A visitor from Ipoh, Norman Ahmad, 46, said the parking fees charged are somewhat unreasonable given the limited business activities here.
“For tenants, high rents become a burden, especially since visitor traffic is very low.
“The absence of recovery initiatives, such as massive promotions or interesting events, has caused many vendors to decide to leave before incurring greater losses.
Management should be proactive in branding and promotional strategies,” he told Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
A visitor from Selangor who wished to be known as Yan said he came to Perak to visit the Lat Gallery and accidentally stopped by SVO.
“Previously, I was not aware of the existence of SVO here in Perak. I came here by chance after visiting the Lat Gallery. I was quite disappointed because there aren’t many operating stores.
“To reach its full potential, management needs to immediately reframe strategies with a more inclusive and dynamic approach.
“An initial step that can be taken includes offering temporary free parking to encourage visitor attendance, especially considering the number of operating stores is still limited,” he said.
Kamarudin Azman, 50, from Jelapang, said organising small-scale events such as local food festivals, cultural performances, or family recreational activities could enliven the atmosphere and attract local community interest.
“In terms of promotion, SVO management can emulate the approach of major malls in Kuala Lumpur that frequently organise events such as fashion shows and cultural exhibitions to attract visitors.
“Conducting comprehensive promotional campaigns, including discount offers and interesting activities, can increase awareness and interest among visitors towards SVO.
“SVO still has the potential to grow, especially with its strategic location near other tourist attractions such as Kellie’s Castle, Lat Gallery, and Batu Gajah KTM Station,” he emphasised.
Clearly, by taking these proactive steps, SVO has the potential to develop into an attractive and competitive shopping destination in Perak.
If no action is taken, SVO risks becoming another failed mega project, repeating the fate of the MAPS theme park in Meru Raya, which has been closed for a long time.
It is time for SVO management to act swiftly to save the dream of making it a premium shopping destination in Perak.
