His tenure as the mayor of Ipoh has reached 100 days as of July 10, 2020. Since the declaration of Ipoh as a city on May 27, 1988, Dato’ Rumaizi Baharin is the youngest mayor ever to be appointed, at just 45 years old.
Despite being appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rumaizi took it as a challenge to improve not only the Ipoh City Council (MBI)’s management, but also Ipoh as a whole.
In his tenure so far, MBI, in line with the new norm following the pandemic, became the first local authority (PBT) in Perak to hold a one-stop centre (OSC) meeting online on May 5, which involved 13 external and nine internal technical agencies of the council.
MBI is also the first PBT to organise a tax assessment lucky draw through Facebook’s live video streaming service on June 19, as a token of appreciation to responsible taxpayers.
Other than that, Rumaizi has been adamant about environmental cleanliness. MBI issued strict warnings to around 40,000 land lot owners who purposely leave lots vacant and those who illegally dispose of trash.
Rumaizi, along with the State Executive Councillor for Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology, Ahmad Saidi Mohamad Daud, are also very active in the fight against dengue fever and Chikungunya diseases, performing spot checks around town to prevent further breeding of Aedes larvae.
In the near future, he envisions Ipoh as an internationally acclaimed city focusing on green technology and environmental preservation.
Some of his plans with MBI include the urban farming programme, where Ipohites and Perakeans are encouraged to start gardening for crops at their very own houses, and making Ipoh a city based on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), prioritising industry practices. Under Rumaizi’s guidance, MBI is also in the plans of developing Ipoh as a smart city and low carbon city by the year 2030.
Besides that, MBI is in efforts to upgrade the tourism sector around town, with a tourism package ‘Ipoh Triangular Area Tourism’, involving Gunung Lang Recreational Park, Ipoh Padang (opposite St Michael’s Institution) and D.R. Park. Rumaizi also aims to make Ipoh an arts, culture and heritage city based on creative arts products.
He also sees Ipoh as a potential ‘Ipoh Food Valley’ hub for collection and distribution of food-based spices. MBI will also be legalising food hawkers who are in the process of preparing an appropriate method of business, which will be discussed in an upcoming full council meeting later during the month.
Chris Teh
