By V. Sivaji
Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow issued a stern warning to businessmen and developers not to tear down heritage buildings but instead to check on the status of the buildings with the local authorities.
“We must take good care of the UNESCO World Heritage Site status and ensure that our heritage buildings are well preserved
“We take note of complaints of old buildings which were torn down and we hope these issues can be addressed as they are not in the heritage as they are not in the heritage 1 or heritage 2 zones,,” said Chow when officiating the Town Hall earlier today.
He also gave the assurance that the state will always ensure heritage and maintain its standards.
Also present at the ceremony was State Exco for Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, the Deputy Minister of Education YB Lim Hui Ying, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi.
Others present were Penang Island Mayor Dato Yew Tung Seang, MBPP Secretary Dato A. Rajendran and councillors.
Chow also thanked the federal government for allocating RM50 million in the Budget 2023 for the conservation of heritage buildings through Think City.
Meanwhile, the new look town hall had undergone a RM8 million with major repairs to the roofing, wiring, windows and also accommodating facilities for the handicapped.
The town hall will soon be open for the members of the public to do bookings for private functions.
Jagdeep in his address said that Penang is committed to preserving heritage buildings and the
statues of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Heritage is the important component of Penang so we have to care and maintain our heritage status. We have also achieved international standards and recognition for heritage conservation.
“With some 82 Category 1 and 3,767 Category 2 heritage buildings in Georgetown, we have to ensure their standards are always met. In the meantime I will also request a sum of RM34 million for further heritage work here,” said Jagdeep.
