Menyingkap Perkembangan Perbandaran Ipoh Menjadi Sebuah Bandaraya

Ipoh is known as the outcome of the tin industry development. This unique development made Ipoh a town known for her fame from the beginning of Malaya. This paper examines and reviews the urban development in Ipoh since the period of tin mining in Kinta Valley to date. Industrial development and urbanisation in Ipoh is significant to the population and being the focus of various human needs. Urban development has always been associated with policy and urban planning. Among important aspects of urbanisation are the developments of tin industry as well as electronic and cement industries. This resulted in settlement growth and population increase. This study also involves statistical analysis of data collected from various government agencies, private sectors and NGOs, as well as historical data. Ipoh had developed her industries and population growth in line with the function and position of a city as the centre of Kinta district and the state capital of Perak. The position of Ipoh in Kinta Valley serves as the core city 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur being the fourth largest city after Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown and Johor Bahru in the peninsula. Urban industries and development activities including urban sprawl expands beyond the area of Chemor, Jelapang, Falim, Menglembu, Tambun and Tanjung Rambutan. The study also found that new urbanisation still occurs in old town and new town separated by the Kinta River which runs in the heart of the city. The industrial activities were started by the Chinese immigrant traders and miners. The population has grown to 710,798 people (2007) and greater Ipoh with 1,022,240 people mostly of Chinese descent. The settlement within Ipoh is now concentrating in Menglembu, Buntong, Tasek, Ampang, Bercham and Pasir Putih. This resulted in greater urbanisation and fast expansion into the peripheries of Ipoh City.