Located at Ipoh’s favourite tourist spot, Ipoh Old Town, Koo Kee is a place to go if you want to see how the 70s and 80s looked like in Malaysia. Curated and managed by See Kok Shan, who has personally collected all the vintage and classic items as a hobby, he is passionately keen to exhibit it to the public.
“This is my second space. The first time-tunnel museum is in Cameron Highlands and it is also the first in Malaysia. Most of the items displayed here are the result of collecting classic pieces for 10 years,” said See.
Upon arriving at Koo Kee, the first scene that greets you is the incredible wood pieces that are available for purchasing, while up on the second floor is where See’s exhibition begins. Visitors will be greeted by a classic bicycle and old traffic light and then they can explore the entire floor to get a glimpse and feel of the 70s and 80s era.
One crowd favourite is the old kopitiam section where you can see what an old coffee shop looked like. Each section of the museum is carefully decorated with detailed pieces that is guaranteed to bring back nostalgic memories for those old enough to remember.
“This is my first time visiting this place. When I look at the items here, old memories flash through my mind. I smile and remember the old days, how my grandfather used to live,” said Herman Iskandar Dzulkarnain, a visitor to Koo Kee.
Another highlight of the place is the alley where See placed old cassettes, vinyl records and old cameras. As an avid collector of vintage items, See is still doing some renovations to Koo Kee.
“I am currently working on the third floor which will display a living room from the old days. I really enjoy doing this and hopefully visitors like it too.”
At the moment, there is no entrance fee. However, after See and his team finish with the renovation, a small ticket price will be charged on entry. Koo Kee opens every day from 9am till 4.30pm except Mondays and is located at 23 Jalan Panglima, 30000 Ipoh. Readers can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KooKeeIpohOldTown for more details.
Ili Aqilah
