Ipoh: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has instructed Ipoh Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah to resolve land issues related to the development of a parking and commercial complex at Jalan Panglima here. Nga emphasized that the issue must be resolved by this week at the latest to allow construction of the complex under the private finance initiative (PFI) to proceed.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the current hold-up involves waiting for the Ipoh City Council (MBI) to address the land issue as well as the conditions with the concessionaire. Nga has made it clear that he wants the mayor to resolve the matter swiftly, as the parking shortage problem in the old town has persisted for over 20 years. His comments came during a ceremony where he handed over letters of appointment to 160 chairpersons of Perak Chinese New Village Development and Safety Committees (JPKK).
On April 25 last year, Nga announced that the five-storey parking complex, set to be built on a 0.4-hectare site, will include 353 parking bays and commercial space on both the ground floor and rooftop. The rooftop is planned to house a creative cultural centre and food outlets. The project is a collaborative effort between MBI and a private company, which is investing RM15 million, with an expected completion time of 15 months.
Meanwhile, Nga highlighted that today's ceremony signifies the MADANI Government's ongoing commitment to enhancing community well-being at the grassroots level. He stated that the appointments serve as both recognition and a significant responsibility, requiring each village head to act as the frontline in conveying government policies and preserving community harmony.
Furthermore, Nga reiterated the ministry's dedication to empowering the development of Chinese new villages nationwide through four key directions: development, beautification, tourism, and strengthening local products under the 'Kampung Good' initiative. To date, 2,750 development projects have been implemented in these villages, covering a wide range of infrastructure upgrades and public facility constructions.