IT WAS recently announced by Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim that the Ipoh City Council was mulling plans to set up a Walking Street akin to that in Songkhla, Thailand.
Roshidi had said that the council was thinking of setting it up at the Ipoh old town area, which is an ideal location to help liven up the area especially at night.
Following that, however, many quarters hurled brickbats and voiced their dissatisfaction that their businesses would be affected should the Walking Street become a reality.
Let’s take a walk: Walking Street can be found in many parts of Thailand such as this one on Koh Lipe island. I wonder why is it that people are never ready for development and progress, but are happy with their current slow and boring lifestyle.
This development, I feel, will inject some form of life into Ipoh, especially at the old town area, which is otherwise dead at night.
It could be one way to help the city gain momentum and ultimately, add up to the tourist arrivals in the state.
Why is it that we are always objecting to proposals geared towards the betterment of the city and state when the same ideas have been implemented in other countries and proven to be successful?
One cannot help but conclude that it boils down to selfishness.
Those who have objected to the proposal to set up the Walking Street are not allowing room for expansion for the rest of society.
The Walking Street will only be conducted in the evenings until about midnight, during which the businesses in the area will already have closed for the day.
That said, there is actually nothing for these business operators to worry about.
One trader had complained that closing down the streets for the Walking Street would badly affect his business as he relied on lorries to transport his goods.
This trader had also said that the stalls set up during Deepavali was not good for his business as all the parking spaces were taken up and customers stayed away when they could not park.
Why the big fuss when Deepavali is celebrated just once a year?
And where the Walking Street is concerned, it is confined to the evenings.
I think the concept is a great one and if Thailand can implement it, so can we.
And being Malaysians with people of different cultural backgrounds, I believe there is more that we can offer, especially our various delicacies.
Where else is it possible to get this entire foodstuff under one roof?
Currently such atmosphere is only felt during the festive periods where stalls are set up to sell a variety of foods and drinks.
I think it would be a great idea to have these delicacies available all year round.
With this in mind, I would like to suggest that Ipoh folks be more open-minded and allow positive development to take place for the betterment of Perak.
Let’s give the Walking Street a chance.
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