GEORGE TOWN, Aug 10 ― A full report on the archaeological findings at Sia Boey will only be ready in November, Penang Development Corporation (PDC) general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar said today.

PDC had appointed an archaeological team from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for the study which is still in the early stages.

“We appointed them in June and they will present a full report on the study which is expected by this November,” he told a press conference here.

Rosli also accepted full responsibility on behalf of PDC for allowing several media workers visit the site last Saturday without Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s explicit authorisation.

Two days ago, Lim reprimanded the organisers of the site visit, calling it a breach of protocol that also risked the security of the area.

Today, he said the state government will hand over management of the old Prangin Canal market site to George Town World Heritage Inc (GTWHI).

Archaeological digs at Sia Boey started after an old canal built by the British was uncovered, leading to discovery of ceramic shards, coins, tiles, wooden and metal objects and some bricks outlining the foundation of a building believed to date back to the 1800s.

The finds have been sent to a laboratory for further analysis.

Other than the archaeological works, Rosli said PDC's flood mitigation works for the canal are still ongoing.

“Works on the flood mitigation are now at 90 per cent and it will continue on,” he said.

As for the proposal to build the LRT station on the site, Rosli said feasibility study is still being conducted.

“There are no physical works being done, they are conducting the feasibility studies, at the same time the archaeological works will continue, we will have to wait for the complete report on the archaeological findings before making any announcements or decisions,” he said.

The state had originally planned for Sia Boey to be turned into an art district before shifting the art district to another site.

The old market area, located next to the stagnant Prangin Canal, was then earmarked as a site for a planned LRT station.