GEORGE TOWN, March 6 ― Penang must implement unambiguous laws on the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage to preserve George Town’s Unesco world heritage site status, said a heritage activist.
Penang Heritage Trust secretary Clement Liang said there are now too many legal loopholes that allow property developers to act without regard to preservation within the heritage zone.
“Even now, we can see some developers doing whatever they like in developments within the heritage zone and original residents are being chased out but it is not their (developers) fault because there are no clear guidelines for them to adhere to,” he told Malay Mail Online in an interview.
He noted that the Special Area Plan (SAP) for the heritage zone is still pending despite George Town attaining the heritage status six years ago in 2008.
“It has been six years, don't wait till Unesco come to inspect the heritage site one day, saw the mess it has become due to lack of clear guidelines and retract the status because by then it will be too late,” he warned.
Other than clear laws to ensure the preservation of the heritage zone, he said there should also be clear laws governing the protection of historical and heritage buildings outside the zone.
Now, heritage buildings outside the zone are more susceptible to being demolished, as befell the Khaw Sim Bee Mansion in 2010, which was demolished without the local government permit.
The developer was fined RM6,000 and ordered to rebuild the mansion, but did not comply
Today, Local Government Committee Chairman Chow Kon Yeow also confirmed that the developer would not rebuild the mansion as the site was located outside of the heritage zone and could not be compelled to do so as it was not listed as a heritage building.
Liang uses this case as an example why the state needed stricter laws governing heritage buildings and also intangible heritage of the state.
The demolition of the Khaw Sim Bee mansion is similar to the demolition of the former Metropole Hotel back in 1993, Liang said, which was also never rebuilt despite being illegally demolished and the developer fined.
Currently, developers who tear down such buildings without permit can be charged in court under the local government by-laws and fined for committing the offense.
The Khaw Sim Bee mansion along Pykett Avenue is a 19th century building that originally belonged to Khaw Sim Bee, a well-known Sino-Thai then known as Phya Rasada Nupradit of Ranong.
Coincidentally, the former Metropole Hotel, also known as Asdang House along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, was also built by Khaw Sim Bee before it was sold off to Metropole Hotel.
George Town was listed a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008 along with Malacca.
