No more hotel at Taj Mahal of Ipoh

By CHAN LI LEEN

lileen@thestar.com.my | Mar 11, 2011

Opened in 1935, at the same time as the railway station, the hotel will house its last batch of guests today and will cease all operations by the end of the month.

It is understood that the hotel premises will be handed back to the Railway Asset Corporation (RAC) as the lease is expiring.

When contacted, an RAC spokesperson said the corporation had not decided on what it would do with the premises.

According to a front desk employee who declined to be named, the hotel had stopped accepting reservations and would only accept walk-in guests.

“The place is a mess as we are busy moving out all furniture,” the employee said.

Construction of the railway station and ho-tel began in 1917 but the magnificent work of architecture designed by A.B. Hubback was not completed until 18 years later.

With its Moorish domes and turrets, the building has a British Raj-style facade and was often referred to as the Taj Mahal of Ipoh.

It has been a favourite filming site for many local and foreign productions, including Holly-wood’s Anna and the King.

The hotel is also a favourite venue for pre-wedding photography.

Retired teacher H.J. Harder, 63, and retired plant manager Gerhard W. Poel, 65, are the last two guests at the hotel.

“I feel very sorry but it does make us proud in a certain way. Hopefully, the building will stay like this and they will make something out of it.

“Like the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, the Straits Hotel in Yangon and the E&O Hotel in Penang, this place should be restored,” said Harder from Germany.

He said it was a strange situation for him as a similar incident happened 25 years ago.

“I was having a drink with Poel at the Majestic Hotel bar in Kuala Lumpur when we were told it was closing down the next day. Now, it’s the same story here,” he said.

Poel, who has since made Port Klang his second home, said he called up last Friday to make a booking only to be told the hotel was closing down.

“I was shocked,” he said.

(sumber: http://www.starproperty.my)