Ipoh can become like New York with the right attitude, says Rumaizi

IPOH: Folk here must have the right attitude to reflect the international recognition the city is receiving, says Datuk Rumaizi Baharin (pic).

“People are looking at Ipoh; therefore, we need to do better,” the Ipoh mayor said at a press conference after the city council full board meeting here on Monday (Sept 30).

“We cannot always have a negative attitude and should have a culture of international standard.

“Ipoh can become (a city) just like New York too,” he added.

It was reported that the Ipoh Doughnut Economics programme had been recognised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and would receive the Scroll of Honour Award in Mexico on Oct 7

In a letter dated Aug 27, UN-Habitat executive director Anaclaudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach said Ipoh was selected based on the city’s efforts to transition from a resource-intensive economy to a regenerative model focussed on health, waste management, and ecotourism while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rumaizi is set to accept the award with Ipoh Doughnut Economic City chief executive officer Dr Zulqarnain Mohamad during the ceremony, which will be held in conjunction with World Habitat Day.

Ipoh was among 12 Malaysian cities in the top global cities in the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index in July.

The former tin-mining town ranked 465th globally and 22nd among 55 southeast Asian cities.

Rumaizi said the progress could be compared to China now and about two decades ago.

“Back then, their toilets smelled bad, even in a big city like Beijing.

“And if you see now, their public toilets are just like that in a hotel,” he said.

“China has changed so much over the last 20 years, so if they can do it, why can’t we?” he added.