GEORGE TOWN – Heritage activists here say it is not their role to tell the authorities how to conserve historic buildings, in response to a suggestion by the state’s heritage commissioner.
“We are a watchdog, not policymakers,” George Town Heritage Action co-founder Mark Lay told The Vibes.
“The authorities are paid to conserve and preserve. They should just do it.”
Lay was responding to Penang Heritage Commissioner Rosli Nor, who said recently that heritage activists could suggest alternatives to preserve historical buildings instead of just telling the public of their impending demolition.
Lay said that it is not the non-governmental organisations’ job to offer ideas to the authorities on how to preserve buildings, after Rosli welcomed input to guide buildings’ private owners and developers for a win-win situation regarding heritage conservation.
Lay reiterated activists’ stand that historic buildings outside the core Unesco World Heritage zone here should also be protected, as this is part of preserving Penang’s culture and way of life.
He also blasted the Penang Island City Council’s (MBPP) silence on a string of demolitions of structures outside the core zone.
In the past one year, historic structures demolished have included the 138-year-old grave belonging to Foo Teng Nyong – who was the third wife of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee – off Fettes Park, and a pre-war bungalow along Clove Hall.
The latest iconic building slated for demolition is the 84-year-old Rex Cinema on Kinta Lane.
Lay said there have been more approvals given to redevelop old bungalows on the outskirts of the Unesco world heritage site.
This includes a bungalow on Codrington Avenue, which according to a Penang property website last year, is to give way for a condominium.
“There is a need to understand that heritage conservation should not just be confined to the heritage core or buffer zones but the tertiary areas and the entire state where possible. The Unesco listing is an impetus to do it.”
Lay also pointed out that under operational guidelines, it is clearly stated that the wider setting or tertiary zone is still an integral part of the Unesco zone. This would mean that buildings like the Rex theatre which is within the wider setting of the George Town heritage zone, should also be preserved, he said.
The heritage commissioner’s office together with the George Town World Heritage Incorporated office should work with MBPP and the Unesco Jakarta office to come up with solutions, Lay added.
Over 2,000 objections by ratepayers
Meanwhile, state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo in a separate interview, said he is open to a dialogue with heritage NGO here over conservation and preservation.
He said Penang is committed towards keeping George Town’s status as a World Heritage Site.
“We will not allow a single small mistake to undermine our status.”
“I was appointed for this purpose, and I remember the date of the bestowing of the status: March 28, 2008. Such dates must be remembered by all in Penang as it is historic in nature,” he said.
Asked why the MBPP seemed complicit with developers in demolishing old buildings, Jagdeep said that he cannot comment on specific projects.
Jagdeep said that he is equally concerned about getting the Penang Local Plan legislated to ensure that all planning and projects are regulated.
The local plan for the island is now under an evaluation committee after it completed its publicity drive on January 10.
“The plan for the mainland is almost completed. We want it gazetted as then all development will be under the full force of the law. Everything will be lawful and transparent,” said the Datuk Keramat assemblyman.
He said that there were over 2,000 objections by ratepayers here and the state is taking some of the feedback offered.
“Penang will listen to the views of the Penangites. We want the legal process to be observed.” – The Vibes, January 30, 2023
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