IPOH Datuk Bandar Datuk Harun Rawi said he needed more time to learn and understand the work process involved in heading a city council.

Harun, in replying to recent claims that he should be more approachable and go down to the ground to meet with the people, said as as district officer for Larut, Matang and Selama before, he only had to deal with the management and development of rural areas.

He said that he was still learning the ropes on how to deal with matters based on his new role.

“The previous Datuk Bandar had five years of experience.

“I still need time to learn before I know the right thing to say,” he said during a get-together session with the media at his official residence recently.

In acknowledging the efforts made by the media who wished to contact him for official statements regarding various issues, Harun reiterated that he was required to be in meetings most of the time.

“As I am new, I need to focus on the meetings in order to gain a more thorough understanding on the many matters arising before making decisions,” he said.

“If I am unavailable, the media can still contact the city council’s public relations officers, who will then relay the messages to me,” he added.

The session was organised by the city council to provide an opportunity for Harun to interact and be better acquainted with members of the local press.

However, he only interacted with a handful of press members and waved at two tables full of journalists before leaving his residence.

During the session, it was also announced that Ipoh would be celebrating its 26th anniversary on May 27.

In conjunction with the occasion, a total of 11 events have been planned to take place around that time.

Some of these highlights are the Ipoh City Nite Ride, Gunung Lang Carnival, Moh Kite Bowling, and Malam Sambutan Ulangtahun Bandaraya Ipoh Ke-26.