GEORGE TOWN, Sept 5 — The historic Chew Jetty here was unaffected by a fire that broke out about 20 metres away and destroyed five business premises early this morning, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said the state government was ready to provide assistance to the owners of the five business premises, including support for rebuilding efforts.

“This involves government land. I believe the owners of the affected premises are either tenants or Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) holders.

“Should the owners decide to rebuild the affected premises, the state government will assist in the process,” he told reporters after visiting the fire site today, accompanied by Tanjung MP Lim Hui Ying, who is also Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.

Five business premises near the Chew Jetty area here, including a car workshop, a welding shop and a timber factory, were destroyed in a fire that broke out at 1.08am today, with no casualties reported.

Chow said the Penang Fire and Rescue Department, assisted by the Volunteer Fire Brigade, had brought the fire under control, while efforts to remove the timber stacks continued after traces of the fire were detected in the wooden structures.

Situated along George Town’s iconic waterfront, Chew Jetty is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site and has been home to generations of the Chinese community since the 19th century. — Bernama