Ipoh Old Town Walking Street

Ipoh Old Town Walking Street, supposedly a unique-concept pedestrian mall, was finally launched on 1st Feb, despite facing one challenge after another. I was one of the firsts to be privy to this project, and I admit that being an Ipohite, I was optimistic this venture would liven up old town at night.

Ipoh Old Town Walking Street was supposed to be the “Bintang Walk” of Ipoh. It’s not going to be yet another “pasar malam”, according to my source. The initial plan was to open up two hundred upmarket stalls, that would span the entire stretch of Market Street (Jalan Market).

However, strong protests by shop owners and business traders thwarted those huge plans, and now, Ipoh Old Town Walking Street has less than thirty stalls that span about 500 metres of Market Street, a short intersection between Jalan Sultan Yussuf (formerly Belfield Street) and Jalan Bandar Timah (formerly Leech Steet).

It’s no wonder the planned soft launch at the end of January was scrapped. Moreover, the organisers have decided to shorten business hours by two hours, to close the “mall” at midnight, instead of 2am. Are you for or against Ipoh Old Town Walking Street?

Ipoh Old Town Walking Street Chinese New Year 2013 Carnival
Venue: Jalan Market (Old Town), Ipoh
Date: 1st – 9th Feb, 2013
Time: 6pm – 12 midnight

Scheduled programme:
1st Feb – Opening ceremony / lion dance performance
2nd & 3rd Feb – Performance by local artiste “Sunshine Girls”
4th & 5th Feb – Performance by artiste from Chye Music
6th & 7th Feb – Performance by artiste from Stanley Studio
8th Feb – “Feng Shui” seminar by Master Wai

Event: Launching of Ipoh Old Town Walking Street
Venue: Market Street, Ipoh
Date: 1st Feb, 2013
Time: 8pm

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