By: Zaki Salleh
IPOH: Be cautious, beware of bird droppings!
Not to give a bad impression, but this unexpected incident can affect anyone who is at KTM Ipoh Station.
Ask anyone who has been there, and chances are they have experienced the abundance of bird droppings at the station.
Bird droppings are visibly scattered on the roads, floors, and station pillars, tarnishing the image of this heritage building proudly known as the ‘Taj Mahal of Ipoh’. The white structure, designed by British architect AB Hubback, mirrors the style of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.
This century-old station serves as the main gateway for rail users heading to Ipoh, welcoming thousands of passengers daily.
Without pointing fingers, the public interviewed feels that the condition of the Ipoh railway station should not be allowed to persist. They believe that the issue, seemingly minor but impacting maintenance and cleanliness, should not be taken lightly.
“If we truly take pride in the Ipoh KTM Station as a tourism icon, a cherished heritage building, then the issue of bird droppings should have been addressed long ago.
“Perhaps controlling the birds’ habitat is challenging, but efforts must be made to clean up the scattered droppings,” expressed entrepreneur Abdul Razak Abdullah.
Shwan Rahman, a frequent traveller and solo adventurer, suggested focusing on cleanliness maintenance. He emphasized that allowing bird droppings to become a common sight at the station reflects a lack of concern.
“I can give the example of railway stations in Thailand. Even though many are old wooden structures, they are well-maintained.
“In this case, I’m not sure what our authorities are seeing, or what their standard operating procedures are. I’ve noticed this situation at Ipoh KTM Station for a long time – bird droppings everywhere,” he remarked.
