KPKT Expands ‘I Lite U’ Project To Ipoh, Allocates RM2 Million

IPOH, Nov 2 (Bernama)  -- The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) will expand the Innovative Urban Lighting towards Sustainable Cities project known as ‘I Lite U’ to Ipoh City in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, with an allocation of RM2 million.

Its Minister, Nga Kor Ming, said the project will be implemented through the allocation of RM1 million from the KPKT, while a similar amount is allocated by Ipoh City Council (MBI), after the project was launched around the federal capital last Wednesday. 

“The Ipoh City Re-Lighting Programme is because Ipoh is now one of the most popular domestic tourism destinations. Last year, we managed to attract almost 10 million domestic and foreign tourists, thus making Ipoh the top domestic tourism destination,” he said.

He said this at a media conference on the launch of the Boon Bak Park MADANI Recreational Park here today.

Nga said that Ipoh is now among the most popular weekend destinations in the country, adding that based on the MBI’s statistics, the city needs a total of 13,000 hotel rooms to accommodate the growing number of tourists.

“However, we have only  8,000 rooms, so I encourage investors to come to Ipoh to develop hotels, especially eco-friendly and sustainable hotels,” he said.

Earlier, Nga, during a visit to the temporary market in Pasir Putih under the Sentuhan Kasih KPKT initiative, said the market was fully completed with an allocation of RM1.425 million after being damaged by fire last year.

“In addition, I’m announcing a RM9 million KPKT Sentuhan Kasih special allocation for the construction of a new Pasir Putih market. A design competition will be organised by the MBI, together with the Malaysian Institute of Architects, to choose the best and most attractive design.

“This is so that the Pasir Putih market has the potential to become a tourist attraction, similar to Pasar Pinji that is currently under construction and set to be completed by 2027. So, RM9 million has been approved and work (on the Pasir Putih market) will begin next year under the 13th Malaysia Plan,” he added.

-- BERNAMA