By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
Medan Kidd, once the main bus terminal since 1938, now appears suspended between the past and the future, much like the phrase “hidup segan, mati tak mahu” (on its last legs).
That expression perhaps best captures the state of this terminal, which was once filled with the memories of generations but is now increasingly sidelined and neglected.
Built in 1938, Medan Kidd was originally known as Kidd Road Station, named after a British officer, Major George Montgomery Kidd.
During its heyday, the terminal served as a key hub for early bus services such as the Red Buses and Green Buses, becoming a vital transport lifeline connecting journeys within and beyond Ipoh.
Today, however, that former grandeur exists only in memory.
Several sections of the roof have been lost to storms, while others have deteriorated with age, clear signs of a structure that is now visibly ageing and poorly maintained.
In the 1960s, following upgrading works at Medan Kidd bus terminal, new operators emerged, including Ipoh Omnibus Co, Kinta Omnibus Co, General Omnibus and Reliance Co.
Today, Perak Transit stands as the backbone of public bus operations in Perak.
Even more sadly, the large clock at the main building, once a key time reference for passengers, now stands frozen and nonfunctional, as if time itself has stopped here.
Around the building, the atmosphere grows increasingly bleak. The access roads are damaged, potholed and uneven, affecting comfort while also tarnishing the image of a heritage site, particularly in the eyes of visitors.
Although still operating as a city bus terminal, Medan Kidd now functions only at half capacity, with parts of the premises left abandoned and poorly maintained.
It is understood that the area and buildings are owned and managed by several private bus companies.
This arrangement is often cited as the reason why comprehensive upgrading and maintenance works are difficult to carry out, with each party waiting on the other and none taking decisive action.
As a result, Medan Kidd remains in limbo, without a clear direction forward.
From a historical perspective, the terminal once served as a vital artery of Ipoh, witnessing millions of passengers, thousands of journeys, and the early development of the city’s transport system.
However, without serious intervention, Medan Kidd risks becoming nothing more than a relic surviving only in old photographs and the nostalgia of earlier generations.
The question now is whether this once-proud heritage asset will continue to wait for its fate, either to be restored, or left to further decay in the heart of a rapidly modernising city.
