PENANG DAP Youth has come to the defence of the state's policies on heritage buildings following an outcry that the state permitted the Boon Siew Villa bungalow to be demolished near the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt.
Its committee member Ong Zhan Hao said not all heritage buildings are owned by the state government and not all come under the jurisdiction of the Unesco World Heritage site guidelines.
There is a density and height requirement for development within the core and buffer areas of the Unesco site, which dominate the George Town skyscape here.
The Boon Siew bungalow, where the famed Penang millionaire Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew stayed, was apparently sold for RM25 million to private interests and in turn, they have allowed for the redevelopment of the property into the 43 storey Ascott Residences Batu Ferringhi, a project dubbed as a luxurious condominium.
The villa covers an area of about 48,373 square feet, has a 360-degree view of the sea, and sits between Penang's hilly terrain and the Straits of Malacca.
Ong said that the deal was beyond the reproach of the state government simply because it was a private transaction done between two willing parties.
And he expressed disappointment that Penang MCA was quick to wield stinging criticism towards the matter, without realising the background of the deal.
"MCA should please take a closer look at the National Heritage Act 2005 before criticising the state," said Ong.
"First, the terms are defined in Article 2 of the National Heritage Act 2005. Heritage refers generally to "any national heritage, heritage sites, relics and underwater cultural heritage registered in the heritage register.
"Heritage sites must be specifically designated by the relevant authorities in accordance with the law to have the status of heritage sites in the legal sense.
"Therefore, only those who are included in the register or have been officially recognized are protected by the legislative provisions."
Unfortunately, the villa is not in the registrar, said Ong.
Penang MCA's accusation that the state government allowed developers to destroy precious "historical heritage" is actually confusing the concept of conservation.
"The removal of a private villa with neither heritage status nor application for protection is not wrong from the legal point of view.
"The protection of cultural heritage is based not on incitement but on regulations."
Its determination cannot be based on celebrity feelings, but should be determined by community consensus and professional evaluation, said Ong. - June 15, 2025.
