By Zaki Salleh
IPOH – Delegates attending the 2026 ASEAN-China Ministerial Roundtable Conference on Construction and Housing (ACMROCH) visited Sunway City Ipoh as one of the conference’s featured sites.
Sunway City Ipoh was selected to showcase the success of a sustainable urban development model built on the regeneration of a former mining area.
The 1,350-acre former tin mining site has been transformed over more than three decades into a fully integrated township.
Today, Sunway City Ipoh combines residential, commercial, educational, healthcare, hospitality, and tourism developments within a single urban ecosystem.
During the briefing, Sunway Group President, Datuk Mohd Anuar Taib, explained that the township was developed by balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.
This was achieved by preserving and integrating the area’s natural landscape, including 260-million-year-old limestone hills, natural caves, tropical vegetation, and geothermal hot springs.
The delegates were then taken on a tour of Lost World of Tambun, Sunway Onsen, and The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat.
The visit demonstrated how modern development can be harmoniously integrated with natural heritage, making the area one of Perak’s premier tourism destinations.
The delegation also received an update on Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh, which commenced operations in April 2025 following a RM430 million investment.
The hospital features advanced medical facilities, including Perak’s first PET-CT scanner, robotic-assisted surgery systems, and six specialist centres.
These facilities support Ipoh’s aspiration to become a regional healthcare and medical tourism hub in northern Malaysia.
In addition, delegates were briefed on the development of Sunway Ipoh Mall, a project valued at over RM1 billion and scheduled for completion in 2027.
The mall is set to become the largest shopping centre in Perak, offering more than one million square feet of retail space, 350 retail outlets, the state’s first ice-skating rink, and an exhibition centre.
Plans for a new office tower and a four-star hotel, expected to be completed in 2028 and 2029 respectively, were also presented as part of Sunway City Ipoh’s continued expansion.
The inclusion of Sunway City Ipoh in the ACMROCH 2026 programme reflects recognition of Perak’s achievements in implementing sustainable urban development.
The session was also attended by Perak State Executive Councillor for Housing and Local Government, Sandrea Ng, and the Deputy Secretary-General (Management and Development) of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Mohd Zamri Mat Zain.
