The city that tin built is undergoing a major facelift

What say you on the issue below?

THE skyline of Ipoh will totally change come 2014.

Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim said this was visible from the rapid development already taking shape in the city.

“Ipoh has seen some major transformations since last year.

“It’s become more vibrant, progressing from a sleepy hollow to a bustling city.

“I have been in the civil service in Ipoh since 1996 and I can see there have been tremendous changes taking place,” he said.

Brand new: The new MH Hotel and Tower at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah will open its doors next month.

Roshidi said the city would go ‘dark’ as early as 9pm in the past.

“The environment is totally different now,” he said, noting that this was obvious from the number of projects approved by the council’s one-stop centre.

“Several hotels are coming up in the city, including the MH Hotel, which is set to open in December, and Tune Hotel, which has targeted its opening to be in March next year.

“A few other hotels will also be coming up in Simpang Pulai and its surrounding areas,” he said, adding that Ipoh would also be home to the state’s first MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) soon.

Roshidi told MetroPerak that there was high demand for hotels in the city.

More shop houses: This is one of the many development projects taking place in Simpang Pulai.

“We do not have enough rooms to accommodate the current demand by visitors especially on weekends.

“What more with Visit Perak Year 2012 approaching?” he said, adding that the opening of the new hotels was timely.

Roshidi said the upgrading of the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in the city was also under way.

“It should be fully upgraded between June and August next year to accommodate Boeing 737-800 aircrafts.

In the works: This upcoming Jusco departmental store at Station 18 in Pengkalan, Ipoh, will be ready soon. – RONNIE CHIN/The Star

“In the meantime, we are confident that the Ipoh-Medan route will resume soon,” he said.

Roshidi added that the RM300mil investment by Aeon Co (M) Bhd to set up a Jusco departmental store at Station 18 in Pengkalan was proof that Ipoh had the potential to grow further.

The project, he said, was already 65% completed.

“Another sign which shows that investors are gaining confidence in the city is the opening of a Mydin hypermarket in Meru and a supermarket in Manjoi.

“Both stores will open next year. And so, it is clear that Ipoh has developed and is progressing well,” he added.