Ipoh Municipal Car Park, The First Multi-Storey Car Park in Malaysia
The municipal car park, located on Jalan Dato Maharajalela, Ipoh, holds its own historical value, and its story—which has faded since its glorious inception—is quite fascinating to uncover. The municipal car park was built in 1962 at a cost of $100,000, and not many people know an interesting and unique fact about this car park: it is the first multi-storey car park in our country, Malaysia. The golden age of the municipal car park may no longer be what it once was, as many of today's generation are unaware of the stories behind the building. However, the history that has been etched cannot be changed; with the construction of this multi-storey car park, it was crowned as the first of its kind in Malaysia.
The late Sultan Idris II (the 33rd Sultan of Perak) officiated this first multi-storey car park in Malaysia on April 26, 1963. His Majesty graciously officiated the opening by driving a car to the first floor of the building and cutting a ribbon as a symbolic gesture.
This multi-storey car park was built on a hillside and has three levels for vehicle parking. Each level has its own dedicated entrance and exit. The construction of this nostalgic building took only six months and it can accommodate 96 vehicles.
Since it first opened to the public, all parking spaces were fully occupied by customers with monthly rental rates ranging from $12 to $25. The council successfully collected $18,788 in 1965 from the rental of the first multi-storey car park in Malaysia.
Not far from this multi-storey car park is the Birch Memorial Clock Tower located at Dataran Dato Sagor, which was built by the son (Sir Ernest Woodford Birch) of the first British Resident in Perak to commemorate his father, J. W. W. Birch. References:
- The Straits Times, 12 April 1963, Page 5
- The Straits Times, 25 April 1963, Page 7
