A set of vintage traffic lights located at DR Seenivasagam Recreational Park in Ipoh may hold considerable historical significance, according to the Perak Heritage Society. The society believes the single pole, featuring four sets of signal lights aimed in different directions, could date back to 1937 and might represent the first traffic lights installed in Ipoh and possibly throughout Malaya.
Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Tahir, president of the Perak Heritage Society, noted that traffic lights were likely installed at major intersections including Jalan Tambun, Hugh Low Street (currently Jalan Sultan Iskandar), Jalan Gopeng, and Brewster Road (now Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) during that period. The existing pole in the park could be a surviving example from this early installation.
The traffic light apparatus is made from cast iron and bears markings indicating it was manufactured in England by Siemens and General Electric Railway Signal Company Ltd. It also carries patent numbers along with the phrase “other patents pending” and is labeled as a road signal controller. Mohd Tajuddin suggested that the increase in electricity usage and the rise in motor vehicle numbers in Ipoh during the 1920s may have prompted the introduction of such traffic signals, though he emphasized that further verification is required.
To authenticate the historical origins of the traffic light, Mohd Tajuddin recommended reviewing manufacturing and registration records and consulting relevant authorities in both the United Kingdom and Malaysia. He also expressed concern over the current condition of the pole, which shows signs of rust and damage to several components. He urged for proper maintenance and conservation measures, including cleaning, rust removal, repainting, and repair of damaged parts, contingent on confirmation of its heritage value.
Perak local government committee chairman Sandrea Ng acknowledged the possibility that the traffic light system could be among the earliest in Malaya but stressed the need for cautious examination of archival records before formally recognizing this claim. Ng highlighted the importance of verifying whether the unit at the recreational park is the original 1937 installation or a similar piece from the same era.
Ng further underlined that preservation efforts should go beyond merely retaining physical artifacts. “It is about understanding what the object represents, documenting its story properly, and then deciding how best to enable future generations to appreciate it,” she said. The Ipoh City Council has invited historians, heritage organizations, researchers, former municipal officers, and the public to share any relevant photographs, documents, or records that might shed light on the traffic light’s history. Pending confirmation of its heritage status, officials indicated that plans for conservation and restoration could then be developed.