PUTRAJAYA: The renowned Majestic Hotel near Ipoh railway station is set to reopen its doors in 2023.
This after Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), the owner of the hotel and Ipoh station, signed a 30-year agreement with Majujaya Hebat Sdn Bhd today.
To be renamed as Grand Majestic Hotel, Majujaya Hebat will redevelop the hotel in two phases with an estimated cost of RM108.3 million, including RM15 million for the re-operations of the hotel.
The first phase will be implemented within the next 12 months involving renovation and refurbishment works of the hotel and the railway station.
The second phase will see the construction of new blocks with 200 additional rooms, grand ballroom and function rooms with capacity up to 1,000 guests.
RAC in return, will receive RM45 million over the span of 30 years.
RAC general manager Azhar Ahmad said the move would boost tourism industry in the area.
“The hotel was once a tourist spot due to its location and its architecture. Hence, we hope that it would not only revive the hotel but also the train station.”
Azhar said the agreement will also help the corporation to remain financially stable as it is no longer relies on funding from the government since 2015 for its operations.
“The return we gain will be used for the purpose of improving the rail sector's infrastructure to ensure comfort among users.”
The agreement was inked by Azhar on behalf of RAC, while Majujaya Hebat was represented by its director Patrick On Kok Kheng.
The signing was witnessed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Majujaya Hebat Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Azemi Kasim.
Also present was Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak.
Loke said the refurbishment and re-operation of the hotel, using build, operate and transfer method, would give a new look to Ipoh railway station, famously known as Taj Mahal due to its identical design.
Meanwhile on a separate issue, Loke said a total of 577 reminders were issued to parents who failed to use the Child Restraint System (CRS) since its mandatory implementation early this year.
Loke said the ministry will continue to educate parents on child car seats before taking any form of enforcement action.
On Oct 23, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had announced that the use of child safety seats would be made mandatory starting Jan 1.
It was reported that a total of 1,559 deaths were recorded involving children under the age of 10 from 2007 to 2017, and the usage rate of child safety seats among parents in Malaysia remains low at 36 per cent.