The Penang Heritage Trust has come up with the following statement on the demolition of several shop-houses in George Town.
Photos by Penang Media
The PHT regrets the initial demolition by the state government of the traditional shop-houses along Magazine Road which is part of the historic ‘Sia Boey’ enclave.
We had earlier inspected the buildings and spoken to the residents of the area on their invitation. While these buildings are not situated strictly within the heritage enclave (which is bordered by the Prangin Canal), they nevertheless form part of the established communities living and providing services in the inner city.
PHT is very concerned with the rapid depopulation of many precincts in the city which may lead to a completely new population taking over and changing the traditional cultural life of the city. This is a concern that conservation experts in Unesco would definitely share.
We have alerted the YB Chow and appealed to him to consider integrating these buildings and their residents in their proposal to make the Sia Boey area into a public park. There is no reason why these attractive buildings cannot be restored and upgraded and the traditional businesses allowed to carry on in the vicinity of a public park.
PHT has also been working with like-minded group like CHAT (Cultural Heritage Advisory Team) over this issue and several Aduns have also been alerted. We are happy to note that the PDC (the landlords) have finally decided to put this action on hold pending further discussions and investigations ‘unless they become a threat to public safety’.
We hope to convene a meeting with the local authorities and PDC soon future, to discuss a possible development plan that would include revitalising the Prangin Canal area as a recreational public space while integrating the buildings and communities along Magazine Road.
That area already mean to demolish since the announcement of Komtar project since 20 years ago.Thus
as you can sea what show in pictures, there are no resident stay at there. I wonder how the PHT get invitation from the resident at there? If there are, there are just merely rent at there and not the owner of that area. Since when the owner cannot do anything on their belogings?
Currently I wondering how many people who wish to preserve that area are really concern to bring back the glory the Georgetown? does bad shape of trafik, ghost town at night and revive such building are mean to preserve the “iving heritage of Penang”? I doubt it.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Kepada Mist,
isu Kg Buah Pala sudah selesai. Apa yang perlu saya komen telah dibuat pada tajuk yang lalu.
Taktik perhubungan awam bagi memburukkan nama DAP dan Pakatan Rakyat tidak lagi berkesan kerana ramai sudah sedar akan hal ini.
Sila jangan bertindak memcuba memperkecilkan hakim atau keputusan kehakiman. Ini merupakan tindakan menghina mahkamah dan boleh dipenjara. Kamu sekarang rasa selamat kerana tiada orang memaklumkan hal ini kepada pihak yang berkenaan. Komen anda tiada akan dipadam dalam masa yang singkat kecuali Anil cuba bantu kamu. Jika Anil berkerjasama dengan polis atau Anil dipaksa berkerjasama dengan polis, identiti kamu akan diketahui. Sila percaya kepada kata saya, saya terlibat dalam industri IT dan saya tahu cara perhubungan internet.
Jangan membawa budaya buat komen dari laman RPK ke sini. RPK tidak akan membongkah identiti pelawat mereka. Bukan semua orang sanggup bertindak seperti RPK. Lihat keadaan RPK sekarang. Sila jangan salah faham, saya hormat kepada beliau kerana beliau memang berjasa besar.
Bukan Kg Buah Pala sahaja mempunyai sejarah. Sejarah unik sahaja bernilai. Jika kebanyakkan tempat mempunyai nilai sejarah yang agak sama, dimana keunikannya? Apa kata UNESCO terhadap Kg Buah Pala? Sila jangan syiok sendiri tentang nilai warisan sejarah ini.
Pulau Pinang itu kecil jika berbanding dengan Pahang. Ladang-ladang getah di Pahang lebih luas meliputi bukit-bukit.
Selain Sabah dan Sarawak, semua negeri di Malaysia telah saya pergi, tinggal, dan selami. Pada zaman muda, saya ini merupakan “sales executive” yang perlu mengambil tempahan dari luar negeri balik ke pejabat di Kuala Lumpur. Saya tahu keadaan kampung lain di Malaysia.
Kampung saya di Pahang. Di kampung saya terdapat majlis kampung di mana senarai orang-orang kampung dari mula-mula sehingga hari ini juga dicatatkan. kampung ini sudah berusia lebih 200 ratus tahun. Perkara ini tak perlu saya besar-besarkan. Di dalam kampung ini juga terdapat kubur kuno bukit yang masih digunakan. Jika sesiapa lihat tahun yang tercatat dalam batu nisan, kamu boleh tentukan tahun dimana sudah ada orang tinggal disitu. Di negeri lain juga terdapat kampung seperti ini. Memang ada nilai sejarah, tetapi tidak unik.
Sekian.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Kepada nkkhoo,
oklah saya di sini minta maaf kepada kamu supaya kamu boleh bebas daripada kebencian. Komen kamu juga saya baca dan renungkan. Sila jangan baca komen saya jika perlu.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We cannot say everywhere in Penang is heritage country. We already have the core of old Georgetown preserved as heritage for all eternity.
What is the purpose of keeping dilapidated eye sores where owners have zero interest to maintain because there is no commercial value in them and the state does not have the monetary resources to expand the heritage zone?
We can only propose that those buildings/structures outside this zone should, as far as possible, be esthetically built to blend into the environment.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Tommy
September 12th, 2009 at 11.38am
Anil, I just wish that only Penangites are allowed to give their comments as it concerns Penang only. All those who are not from Penang, if you do not know the situation please refrain from commenting. It make you all look like fools!
====
A typical islander parochial mindset.
I am not Penangites, but was stayed in Penang for over 10 years. I can recognize every single road and lane in Georgetown by heart unlike many real Penangites.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is clear that many of those who post comments here are ignorant of town planning, heritage conservation and the values of world heritage sites.
I don’t blame them as it reflects the failure of those government departments at the federal, state and local level to inform the public and present a clear vision of how heritage conservation and economic development can be complementary. Indeed politicians also need to be educated on these issues.
It is not difficult to look at good practices all over the world to learn what and what not to do.
While Singapore’s approach is regarded by conservationists as property-development led, it’s success is due to its Urban Redevelopment Authority’s ability to get developers and investors to “buy in” its district conservations plans through its Sale of Sites Program. These are conservation areas, comprising rows of shophouses, not individual buildings, which aim at preserving the integrity of the heritage area.
Singapore has managed to conserve more buildings in its central area than George Town has. Its success has spread to its so called ‘heartland’ areas in other parts of the island state.
What we see in Singapore today is the result of the Singapore Master Plan drafted 20 years ago. Penang has to go back to its “master plan” and find out what has gone wrong and what needs to be done.
How many of you have read the Penang Structure Plan? How many of you have given feedback in the public exhibition of the Structure Plan and Local Plan?
If the buildings were demolished in contravention ofthe Structure Plan and Local Plan, then those responsible have to answer for it.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Nkkhoo, it is people like you who are not directly affected in everyday chores can yack like you are a wise person. Please keep it to yourself, do not try to blow your trumpet!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is not difficult to look at good practices all over the world to learn what and what not to do.
While Singapore’s approach is regarded by conservationists as property-development led, it’s success is due to its Urban Redevelopment Authority’s ability to get developers and investors to “buy in” its district conservations plans through its Sale of Sites Program. These are conservation areas, comprising rows of shophouses, not individual buildings, which aim at preserving the integrity of the heritage area.
====
What the world heritage status achieved by Singapore so far? None.
Singapore is a bad example of heritage preservation. Lee Kuan Yew publicly admitted that Singapore did a blunder to tear down “Kereta Ayer Lembu” Chinatown.
=====
Tommy
September 13th, 2009 at 5.31pm
Nkkhoo, it is people like you who are not directly affected in everyday chores can yack like you are a wise person. Please keep it to yourself, do not try to blow your trumpet!!
===
This is showing how narrow-minded you are again.
When the Georgetown downtown was declared as a world heritage, every citizen in the world is entitled to voice out their concerns.
Mind you, world heritage status is not your private property as you try to believe.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i agree with kee (and a few others) that ever since unesco’s heritage listing, suddenly everyone is treating everything as gold and heritage! justifying their support on certain things because of penang’s heritage status. ayoh!
and whyfunyou was correct – this area had already been ear-marked for demolition years ago when the komtar project started (see, it’s like going back to the previous govt. – BN! who started it). anyway as many said, the houses are already old and worn out, so it is not safe to have them around. if the buildings need to be conserved, they should start the conservation much earlier (ear-marked it for conservation)… now it is too late.
PHT’s job is to fight for heritage/conservation right but they should not do it blindly.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think no point preserving this building. It has no cultural or heritage value, just like Kg Buah Pala. Better demolish and build condominium there.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
just demolish the whole of peneng and build new condominium then maybe (state govt) n Nusametro can make money la
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sia-bui is a heritage building. The shop houses there built along the Prangin River, which are the earliest transportation mode in Penang. It is of prime value to conserve the building.
KOMTAR is an eyesore, continue of this project is meaningless, especially Georgetown is now a Heritage city, and when Time Square is coming(which will created traffic problem, I wonder why the plan is approved, especially when with the narrow Dato Kramt Road ). KOMTAR will remain the pain of Penang.
Look at Germany and other European countries, how they conserve their heritage building. They are the money generating source for the state.Penang’s pride is in the food and colonial heritage building, without them the tourism is dead. I am anak Penang, we cannot followed the footstep of Singapore, they regret it for tearing down the old building. We can developed new project outside Georgetown and PW. If KOMTAR & Time Square is in Bayan Baru, the scenario will be different….
Sia-buai is still our heritage and will always be, just ask any anak Penang.Unless you are not anak Penang.
Forget about Kampong Buah Pala now, it is totally different issue. At least there is no legal issue involved. Both Kampong Buah Pala and Sia-buai are closed to my heart, I spent my young days(Bukit Glugor) and childhood there. I loved these place, but talking about heritage, Sia-buai is the one the heritage lovers should fight to preserve with the spirit of Kg Buah Pala!
Where are all the NGO?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i am agree wid ray…and its all about planning…we need landscape architect to do planning…
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0