Shaping Ipoh into a ‘Doughnut City'

The Star

05-06-2025

ONCE famed for its tin-mining industry, Ipoh is now on the brink of transformation.
Perak's capital is adopting the 'Doughnut Economics City' concept which balances meeting human needs and the environment.
'It is Asia's first city to embrace the cutting-edge concept, a model that seeks to create a regenerative, inclusive and environmentally sustainable economy,' said Ipoh Doughnut Economic City Secretariat head Dr Zulqarnain Mohamad.
The term 'doughnut' in Doughnut Economics refers to a visual framework for sustainable development developed by economist Kate Raworth. It is shaped like a doughnut (or ring) and represents a safe and just space for humanity to thrive.
Once an underutilised natural site, Mirror Lake is now a thriving ecotourism destination.
Ipoh City Council (MBI) will implement the pilot scheme, which is funded by a Hasanah Foundation grant, in collaboration with Institute Darul Rid­zuan (IDR) and Sunway Univer­sity's Centre for Planetary Health (SCPH).
Zulqarnain said there had been significant momentum in moving forward several initiatives since the memorandum of understanding was signed with key partners in Novem­ber 2023.
'This is one of the flagship programmes under the state's Perak Sejahtera 2030 development road­map,' he said.
Zulqarnain said Ipoh's evolution was a necessity.
Once the richest tin-mining city in the world, Ipoh was forced to redesign its future after the glo­bal decline of tin following the shift to materials like plastic and aluminium.
'We had to move from a resource-based economy to sustainable industries like ecotourism and environmentally responsible development.
'Since 2023, Ipoh has undertaken a number of initiatives to put the concept into action.
'MBI has been actively deve­loping its 'Ipoh Doughnut: City Portrait', which will serve as the city-level action plan, since last year.
'The city-level action plan incorporates other related existing action plans such as the Ipoh City Council Strategic Master Plan, Ipoh Smart Green City Plan and the Local Plan,' he said.
A cleaner, greener Ipoh is part of the Doughnut Economics that seeks to balance humanity's needs with the planet's ecological boundaries.
'We hope to present the draft of the 'Ipoh Doughnut: City Portrait' to mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah soon,' he added.
SCPH executive director Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood had previously said in an interview that Ipoh possessed a viable environment for the implementation of the Doughnut Econo­mics concept.
She said Ipoh was rich in biodiversity and this was a good opportunity to generate new economies that were inclusive and sustainable.
'We can create an environment where the economy is not based on the gross domestic product, but on the well-being of the people,' she said.
Zulqarnain said several key demonstrator projects had also been outlined for Ipoh, with a focus on several themes that could bring the greatest change.
Among the project's early achievements is Mirror Lake (Tasik Cermin), a once under­utilised natural site which has been transformed into a thriving ecotourism destination.
'The food and beverage outlets at Mirror Lake are required to hire locals,' said Zulqarnain.
MBI has been visiting companies to expand circular economy projects such as converting old tyre into pyrolysis oil.
He said the Ipoh Urban Trans­formation Centre (UTC) was being enhanced and had been accredited as a green building, incorporating solar panels and rainwater-harvesting systems.
He added that MBI was also upgrading the Ipoh Central Market to turn it into a green market, which would further reduce its carbon footprint.
Zamakhshari had said that MBI received an allocation of RM15mil from Housing and Local Government Ministry, with RM500,000 allocated for the market's revamp.
For the Ipoh Central Market design competition, elements such as natural sustainability, energy efficiency and pedestrian-­­­friendliness had been prioritised.
Separately, Zulqarnain said MBI's Ipoh Integrated Operation Centre had collaborated with Telekom Malaysia in using artificial intelligence to manage traffic flow within the city centre.
The Ipoh Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) incorporates green elements through water saving and energy efficiency.
He said MBI also hoped to expand its innovative circular economy projects, such as converting old tyres into pyrolysis oil.
Besides just announcing steps to boost the economy, the environment including the limestones must be protected, he emphasised.
'For limestone karst studies, we are working with Universiti Sabah Malaysia and Sunway University.
'We are looking at the tourism potential of karst and its biodiversity.
'We have held mentoring sessions on the carbon-credit potential to protect limestone hills,' he said.
Nevertheless, Zulqarnain ack­now­ledged that turning theory into practice was quite complex.
He said there was no manual on how to apply the Doughnut Economics concept, adding that cities like Amsterdam in the Nether­lands, Melbourne in Australia and Brussels in Belgium were also experimenting in devising their own approaches.
'We are learning from them but also creating our own path to suit the local context.
'The broad scope of the framework, spanning economic, ecological and social well-being means that careful selection of measurable indicators is critical,' he noted.
Zulqarnain said Dough­nut Economics was not just about ecological sustainability, as it was about the people too.
Zulqarnain (centre) explaining the Doughnut Economics concept to the public during Ipoh's Low-Carbon Day event held at Dataran Ipoh.
'It is about a circular economy with a human heart.
'We want safer streets, better jobs, cleaner air, all while protecting the environment.'
He said to that end, MBI was taking concrete steps to improve socio-economic well-­being by pushing for insurance and social protection for small traders when they apply for licences.
'We are also working with agencies like the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) on the minimum it can provide, so that if the sole breadwinner dies, the family does not suffer,' he said.
According to Zulqarnain, in late 2021, SCPH, IDR and a team of experts presented a vision for Ipoh as the first city to adopt Doughnut Economics in Asia, to the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah and senior state government officials.
This led to the Doughnut Economics concept being adopted in the overarching monitoring framework in the state blueprint.
Upon the receipt of grants, a series of work­shops, mentoring sessions, and community outreach programmes were held for MBI staff, industry partners and civil society.
Ipoh's Urban Transformation Centre has been accredited as a green building as it has solar panels and rainwater-harvesting systems. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star and courtesy photos
Zulqarnain said there had been public engagement on Ipoh's transformation into a Dough­nut Economics City to ensure that citizens understood and supported the transition.
This included town halls, Dough­­nut Economics booths at the Ipoh's Low-Carbon Day event and education on recycling in primary schools.
'We have held townhall sessions and provided briefings to all department heads and staff on the project's implementation stages.
'Last year, a special programme was conducted to introduce the concept to primary school pupils and create awareness of sustainable economic models.
'Ipoh is proving that small steps when guided by vision, can lead to transformative change.
'In the process, this former tin-rich city might just become an example for what urban development should look like, which is circular, equitable and built for both people and the planet,' said Zulqarnain.