Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II

Formally known as the Masjid Sultan Idris Shah Il, it is the most celebrated mosque landmark in Ipoh, located within the historical enclave of the city centre. It features a post-Merdeka modernist architecture which was the prevalent architectural approach after Malaya gained its independence from the British colonial rule. The mosque was constructed in 1967, and its foundation was laid by the then Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein Al-Haj. The mosque was completed the following year. Ten years later, the mosque was officiated by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Idris Iskandar al- Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah II in conjunction with his birthday and was named in honour of him. Situated in the city of Ipoh, it neighbours many institutional and commercial buildings, including the city hall, railway station, police headquarters, food court and public car park. The idea to build the state mosque was proposed by the first Menteri Besar of Perak, Dato’ Panglima Bukit Gantang Abdul Wahab, in 1951. At that time, only a few mosques could be found in Ipoh.

The double-storeyed structure is visibly dominated by a series of 66 oval-pointed dome, with a central pointed dome of a similar shape. Each dome sits on an exposed cross drum beam, with a tapered needle pinnacle. The domes are distributed over the upper tier, where the clerestory windows are located. The mosque now houses the main prayer hall, female prayer section, conference room, office room, library, storeroom, with ablution and toilet facilities. On first impression, the overall facade design resembles the famous facade design of the Parliament House building in Kuala Lumpur. The building envelope is clad with a modernist design in a curve and pointed form, influenced by the tropical organic form fused together with an Islamic arabesque pattern. Made of concrete mould, the pattern is repeated and covers the whole external building facade. On the east side, a square base minaret is designed and built with an elevated balcony with a dome at top. (Aziz, A. A., 2016).