Maintain The Heritage Image When Developing Taiping

The abundant Heritage locations of Taiping. (right pix) Taiping's New Club, established since 1885 overlooks the Taiping Esplanade, established 1890, and used for official functions till now.

Taiping has great potential for development especially in the promotion of tourism. One of its iconic characteristics is its image of Heritage.

Taiping is well known as the town with many firsts, as many as 50, such as the railway, museum, prison, hill resort and lake garden all of which are over one hundred years old.

'Taiping's development should evolve around the heritage theme' Zambry at Taiping. (right pix, 4th from left) planting a rain tree. 

“As such any development to the town should evolve around that theme of a heritage environment” said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir at the start of his five day resettlement visit program to Bukit Gantang and Taiping which began on November 23.

He gave the example of an upcoming four star hotel in Taiping where he encouraged that the design of the hotel blend with the heritage image of Taiping.

Taiping's heritage buildings  (above) The Officers Mess and (below) All Saints church.

“It would be beneficial if the related agencies were to engage with the developer to ensure the design of the hotel will adopt the characteristic of Taiping’s old buildings so as to maintain the image of the area”

Another of Taiping’s strengths was the Lake Garden where the state together with the federal government and Taiping Municipal Council would develop a Botanical Garden.

“Work on the garden has started. It will be of international standard and would be planted flowers and herbs and would improve the value of the Lake Garden.

(top pix) The Lake Garden will have an international standard Botanical Garden added. Four generations of family and relatives of Yeoh Koon Joo (above, back row, stripe T-shirt) from Malacca love the Lake Garden.

“The government has allocated RM50 million for the project and it will be built in phases”.

Another Taiping heritage product mentioned was Bukut Larut (Maxwell Hill).

“Bukit Larut has always been an attraction for Taiping. However the hill resort can accommodate a maximum of 500 visitors at a time so this is an issue we need to look into.

“The NCIA (Northern Corridor Implementation Authority) is participating in Bukit Larut. Upgrading work at a cost of RM200,000 will include the steps, street lighting and billboards along three kilometers around the hill resort”

Regarding the cable car project to Bukit Larut Zambry responded that discussions are still ongoing.

JAG