By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Once a welcoming gateway for tourists arriving by train, the spacious square in front of the Ipoh KTM Station has fallen into neglect.
Several public amenities, including wooden benches, have been damaged and left to rot, while the once-prominent water fountain is no longer operational.
Exposed and faulty electrical wiring poses a safety hazard, especially to children. The landscaping around the square is equally unkempt, with overgrown shrubs and weeds spreading unchecked among flowerbeds.
Visitors have also raised concerns over cleanliness, with animal droppings found on the grass a sight deemed inappropriate for a popular public spot, especially during events where large screens are set up for communal viewings.
Local visitor Azam Azari Ahmad, 45, expressed disappointment over the condition of the square and the lack of functional tourism information. He noted that several signs are now faded and difficult to read.
He also pointed out that the QR codes on the Ipoh Heritage Trail markers, meant to provide digital references for tourists, lead to inactive or missing links.
“What’s the actual purpose of the QR code on the Ipoh Heritage Trail if it doesn’t help tourists? The code fails to display any relevant information on the heritage trail as I had expected,” he told Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
Azam said the local authorities’ failure to address the issue tarnishes the city’s image and hampers efforts to promote Ipoh to both foreign and domestic visitors.
He added that this oversight becomes more serious as the country gears up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, saying the current state of the square reflects poorly on Ipoh’s readiness to present itself as a tourist-friendly city.
