Taiping celebrated its 150th anniversary this year with a series of programmes and activities throughout 2024. The heritage town of many firsts is now setting its sights to becoming a sustainable and smart city.
Speaking at the closing of Taiping’s 150th celebrations at Dataran Warisan yesterday, Taiping Municipal Council president Khairul Amir Mohamad Zubir said collaboration between the council, local community, and private sector was key to achieving this vision.
“By focusing on preserving heritage, sustainable development, and new technology, Taiping will continue to be an exemplary progressive city that respects history while being ready for future challenges,” said Khairul Amir.
“The council will continue to support the numerous initiatives organised by agencies, associations, and the community in Taiping to ensure they succeed. Several activities have been lined up for 2025, at state and national levels,” he added.
He also said that 2026 would be a crucial year for Taiping, in line with Visit Malaysia Year.
“Taiping must take proactive steps now. With detailed preparations and collaborations between the council, community, and industry players, Taiping has the potential to become the main tourism destination for Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.
A total of 154 events were held in the Perak town throughout 2024 in conjunction with the 150 years’ celebration. Ninety-nine events involved sports and recreational activities, 21 events were educational and health-related, 13 were arts and culture, seven were heritage-related events while the rest fell into various other categories.
Earlier this year, the Taiping Sikhs organised ‘Celebrating 150 Years of Taiping,’ which included a series of events such as a golf tournament at the Royal Perak Golf Club in Ipoh on June 30, followed by three days of prayers at Gurdwara Sahib Taiping (July 5-7), a hockey tournament, and a high tea reception at the gurdwara – both held on July 6, and a dinner at Dewan Ong Si Thye Guan Tong which was attended by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo the following day.
Taiping was named the Best Muslim-Friendly Nature Destination, in conjunction with the World Islamic Tourism Awards 2023, and received the Sustainable City Award 2023.
Taiping has a series of ’33 firsts’ that include the nation’s first museum, prison, magistrate’s courts, and railway line (between Taiping and Port Weld). Dubbed the wettest town in Malaysia, Taiping was made the administrative capital of Perak in 1877. It was only in 1937 that Ipoh was named the Silver State’s new capital.
