Rumaizi (centre), attending a photo session after chairing his last Ipoh City Council full board meeting.
OUTGOING Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin hopes poverty eradication initiatives in the city will continue.
Rumaizi, whose contract expires today, said poverty eradication was an important agenda.
“When I took office, Ipoh had one of the highest poverty rates among Malaysian cities.
“That’s why, when I became mayor, I said we cannot stay this way.
“Poverty can lead to undesirable activities,” he said in a press conference after chairing the Ipoh City Council (MBI) full board meeting.
Rumaizi said during his tenure, he was shocked to see the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially on small business owners.
“When these businesses were forced to close for a month, many had no savings.
“That’s when I realised how vulnerable they were.
“This is why we came up with the idea of increasing consumer demand to bring more customers to their shops.
“When more people visit, their sales and profits increase.”
Rumaizi said poverty eradication initiatives needed to continue in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The first two SDGs, ‘Zero Hunger’ and ‘No Poverty’ are directly related to poverty eradication.
“The method we have used is increasing urban incomes,” he said.
When asked about the biggest achievement during his tenure, Rumaizi said it was receiving the Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Scroll of Honour Award for the city’s Doughnut Economics programme.
“Previously, people didn’t really see Ipoh as a city with international achievements.
“In Malaysia, among the city councils, Ipoh is the first to receive such an honor,” he said.
Rumaizi also expressed pride in fostering unity among Ipoh’s multicultural communities.
“One of our first initiatives was to encourage collaboration among various associations representing different ethnic groups.
“That unity is something we have built together and I believe it is one of our city’s greatest strengths.
“We have managed to work as a team, despite challenges such as the pandemic and political issues at the state and national levels.”
Asked about ideas that he wished he had more time to implement, Rumaizi cited three.
“The first is the 500th anniversary of the Perak Sultanate in 2028, to help promote cultural tourism.
“Next, improving digital infrastructure to attract investors and lastly, developing the Human Development Index.
“If we can focus on these three areas, I am confident that the people of Ipoh will progress even further,” he added.
Prior to his appointment as mayor on April 1, 2020, Rumaizi was Perak Land and Mines Department director.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad had said a list of names had been submitted to the Public Service Department (PSD) for consideration in appointing Ipoh’s new mayor.
Saarani had noted that Administrative and Diplomatic Officers can only be seconded to a position for a maximum of five years, and Rumaizi would complete his term March 31.
“Although we proposed an extension, PSD did not approve it,” Bernama reported him as saying.
