PETALING JAYA, Nov 9  — The claims by the management of Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields that they do not have sufficient funds to maintain the building had been quashed by the National Heritage Department, who said gazetting as a heritage site would open the door for income generation.

Heritage commissioner Dr Zainah Ibrahim said the ashram’s management would be able to apply for loans and grants to carry out conservation and preservation works.

The trustees, she said, had rejected the department’s offer to gazette the site in 2008 without providing any reason.

“They would have been able to generate income if they had accepted our offer,” she said.

“Upon approval for the site to be gazetted, the owner, or in this case the trustees, can charge entrance fees.”

She said being gazetted as a heritage site would also enable the ashram to be promoted as a tourist site and it would be protected under the National Heritage Act.

“It will be a privilege to the owner if it is gazetted as it would be recognised as a Malaysian heritage.

“In addition, our department would also provide technical advice for any conservation and preservation works on the building

The controversy over the status of the building erupted after it was revealed the century-old ashram in Jalan Tun Sambathan is set to undergo major redevelopment which will see the construction of a 23-storey residential tower at the site.

Vivekananda Ashram chairman Tan Sri Dr K. Ampikaipakan was quoted in reports saying the board of trustees had approved the decision to sell the 0.4ha plot of land to developer F3 Capital Sdn Bhd. He however refused to reveal how much the trust would obtain from the sale, instead revealing the proceeds from sale would be kept in a secured fund.

Dr Ampikaipakan had said the trust did not have enough financial resources to perform basic maintenance on the building and said those who opposed development should instead be giving donations to support their charity work.

The trustee had previously tried to sell the land twice, once about 25 years ago and the second attempt was 10 years ago. The plans were however aborted following public protest.

Repeated attempts to obtain comments from Dr Ampikaipakan proved futile.

On Friday, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz once again offered to gazette the building as a heritage site.