GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang governor assistant secretary Sir Stamford Raffles’s bungalow could have been spared from the wrecking ball if the local authorities were careful, said Penang Heritage Trust vice-president Khoo Salma Nasution.
Khoo said the ‘hurried manner’ in which the clearing was done had raised eyebrows and that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) could have negotiated with the developer before issuing a demolition permit to save the building.
Khoo described the council’s nonchalance concerning heritage outside the World Heritage Site as “dangerous” as more buildings could suffer from the same fate.
“It is clear that the MBPP does not know what is heritage. It is saddening that the council’s heritage department did not know about Raffles’s bungalow. They should have done research. The council must buck up and act on public interest first,” said Khoo.
Khoo advised MBPP to conduct a heritage inventory to avoid a repeat of the incident.
Conservation architect and cultural heritage expert Laurence Loh decried the lack of political will to preserve heritage and the “pathetic” state of affairs.
“It has been proven that political will, statesmanship and good public guardianship was instrumental in George Town attaining World Heritage status,” said Loh, adding that the demolition of the bungalow had erased part of Penang’s history.
Meanwhile, Tanjong PKR chief Ng Chek Siang called for Mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail to be held accountable for the “discreet” demolition that took place.
“Developer should never have had the privilege to lay hands on this government property.
“This property belongs to the people of Penang and not in the hands of private developers,” said Ng in a statement.
Meanwhile, Local Government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said local authorities could save Runnymede Bungalow by cancelling the planning permission.
In response to calls by heritage groups for the Penang government to use Section 25(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 to revoke the planning permission, Chow said if it were to do so, the state government would have to fork out millions in compensation.