Perhaps if the Ipoh Heritage Group starts a save the clock tower campaign and raise some funds, I anticipate it’s staus will remain unchnaged for another 20 years. Oh by the way, the funds are of course for the repairs to the mechanism of the clock and chimes !

So what say you guys ??

Sad to report we found the town in just as bad a state as it was last time and the time before, exactly one year ago. Only this time, if it is possible, the litter problem was worse as it had spread and now encompasses the railway station gardens as well, even though there were empty litter bins close by. What is wrong with Ipoh people that they prefer to litter the town rather than walk a few steps to use the waste bin provided.

Of course the Birch Memorial Clock Tower was just as bad as before, although someone had taken the hint and removed the broken bed. But of course the area is still the home of long-term litter and the clock still does not work.

Also the pavements throughout Old Town continue to deteriorate and have become a serious hazard for the old, infirm and youngsters. Whoever had the contract to lay the paving should be made to do the job again at their cost for the first effort was clearly inadequate.

How long do we have to go on apologising for the inadequacied of the the City Council and their contractors and the lack of hygiene skills of the people?

Now you may say that was 8 months ago, but in December we took a party of Singaporean students there on an Old Town heritage tour. We reached the clock tower as the last item having witnessed the dereliction of a number of buildings and numerous broken pavements. Nothing had changed, at the tower. There was still rotting food and rubbish to navigate past as you visit Ipoh’s heritage and the broken bed was still there. In addition the students had to squeeze past the additional stalls, apparently deliberately erected in the entrance to the square. There was a definite feeling that visitors to the site are not encouraged.

So what will the students tell their parents back in Singapore. Do you believe they will say: Go to Ipoh, its a beautiful place. Of course not, they will most likely say: Don’t go to Ipoh, it is falling down and dirty. And we are trying to improve tourism to Perak. As Santa would say “Ho Ho Ho”.

The footsteps near the Sam Tet end was FULL of rubbish and I don’t think the skybridge was ever cleaned ever since it was put up.