GEORGE TOWN, Aug 20 ― Penang has awarded the contract to manage and operate the Suffolk House heritage building to fine dining operator Baba Success Sdn Bhd.

Baba Success, which runs 13 high-end eateries in Penang, was the only bidder when a request for proposal was made for the project.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government accepted Baba Success's proposal as it has more than 20 years’ experience in managing and operating fine dining restaurants.

In the contract, Baba Success will lease the Anglo-Indian Georgian double-storey mansion at RM12,000 per month for five years with an option to renew for a subsequent period of five plus five years.

The company will also have to allocate a minimum of RM300,000 per year for repairs and maintenance of the mansion.

“The company has to maintain a minimum three rooms as heritage interpretation spaces to feature the history of the building in the mansion,” Lim said.

Suffolk House was built by Captain Francis Light on a vast pepper plantation in 1786.

Light, who was from Suffolk, England, was the founder of the East India Company trading post in Penang.

The building fell into disrepair and was later restored before it was accorded the Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Distinction in 2008.

The contract to manage the heritage building in Air Itam was first awarded to Badan Warisan Malaysia Heritage Services Sdn Bhd on August 1, 2009. This ended on July 31 this year.

With the award of the new contract, the mansion will also undergo renovation works to install additional lighting and to modify the second storey to allow for food and beverage operations.

Currently, the mansion is being used for filming by Biscuit Film Sdn Bhd for the Indian Summers drama series.

The three interpretation rooms will be at the ground floor for public activities such as exhibitions, music recitals and workshops.