SUNGAI PETANI: CIVIL society groups and residents have objected to a proposal to develop a piece of land in Jalan Sungai Layar here, where the historical Kuala Muda district officer’s (DO) official residence sits.
They said the bungalow, once resided in by the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, when he served as the DO here for two years from 1937, should instead be turned into a heritage gallery.
Sayang Sungai Petani Association president Datuk Jaafar Mohamad said it was shocked upon learning that the state investment arm, Kedah State Development Corporation (PKNK) had applied for the property to be developed.
“Three weeks ago, Kuala Muda DO Md Nordin Yahaya officiated a project to rehabilitate this bungalow to turn it into a heritage gallery for Sungai Petani.
“Now, there is a notice from the District Office that PKNK has applied for the land to be developed.
“We heard that they plan to build a shopping mall here.”
As a local non-governmental organisation here, Jaafar said it would file an official objection to the proposal by sending a memorandum to the District Office tomorrow.
“Sungai Petani will lose an important heritage building, which had shaped its history.
“It is baffling that we are losing an iconic heritage building to make way for a shopping mall.
“Honestly, we already have too many shopping malls and hypermarkets here. If PKNK wishes to build a new one, they should do it elsewhere, not here.”
Jaafar said other than the DO’s official residence, the town had other iconic heritage buildings that could be promoted in heritage tourism packages.
The District Office has finished constructing a wall around the bungalow and a new drainage system.
The dilapidated bungalow, which was left vacant for more than a decade, had been a favourite spot for drug junkies and most of its wiring system had been stolen, with many parts of it vandalised, before the rehabilitation project started three weeks ago.
The notice put up by the District Office stated that the land would be handed over to PKNK should it not receive official objection from any parties by 4pm on Jan 10.
Tunku Aishah Tunku Zainal Abidin, 83, a member of Kedah royalty who resides near the DO’s official residence, urged the authorities to reconsider the plan.
Tunku Aishah, a resident here since the early 1960s, agreed with the plan to turn the building into a heritage gallery.
“It is very important for us to have a heritage gallery so that future generations will have a place where they could learn the history of this town.
“Sungai Petani’s history is part of the state’s and the nation’s history because Tunku Abdul Rahman had once resided here,” she said.