GEORGE TOWN: A row of six local council-owned pre-war houses here has been left to rot within the heritage enclave, and this has irked civil liberties group and visitors.
The state government had announced in June that the structures, at Lebuh Kimberley, were up for restoration – but a check on the dilapidated site today showed that works have yet to start.
Penang Heritage Trust council member Clement Liang told the New Straits Times yesterday that the delay by the local authority has tarnished the image of George Town as a Unesco world heritage site
"There has been a lack of urgency to revive dilapidated premises.
"There should be added urgency to speed up restoration works.
“(Also, many craftsmen) who work in the endangered traditional trades (and would participate in restoration works), have left the inner city due to poor business.
"They need to continue plying their trade to stand a better chance of keeping their business afloat," Liang said when contacted yesterday.
The six shops, seen with hoarding boards covering their facades, have been an eyesore for visitors who visit the premises during their heritage sightseeing.
An interstate visitor, Jimmy Ang, 42, from Kuala Lumpur, said the state government should spruce up historic buildings under its jurisdiction with renewed vigour.
"I am a big fan of pre-war houses in Malaysia, and it is sad for me to see rundown premises everywhere in Penang," he said when met.
Earlier, Penang Gerakan Youth assistant secretary Loh Kit Mun took the state government to task for not keeping the public updated on the latest progress of the restoration project.
"The state government’s much-publicised competency mantra is in question. Are they serious in protecting the heritage assets in the Unesco city (George Town)?
"There has been no update, and no progress report has been made available for public knowledge," Loh said at an on-site press conference.
The six premises comprise medical supplies and tailor shops, and handicraft centres.
Loh also hit out at the delay behind a RM9.7 million project to revive a row of dilapidated pre-war houses at the nearby Lebuh Victoria and Lebuh Acheh, as announced by the state government on June 6
A Penang Island City Council spokesman said the open tender process had started in July, and the delay is due to the fact that the selection panel is still scouting for a contractor that can work according to technical specifications.