GEORGE TOWN: A pre-war bungalow is being torn down, angering activists who called it another example of the authorities’ ignorance of the significance of heritage sites.
The building, on Clove Hall Road, is more than 100 years old, going by colonial records. The roof and other structures were in ruins yesterday as the demolition work proceeded.
Checks by FMT showed the demolition was approved by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). The planning permission was given to a property developer, the present owner of the bungalow, last August.
A resident in the area told FMT he was surprised to see it being torn down.
“I asked the construction workers what was going on. They told me they had to tear it down because it was infested by termites,” he said.
He said another bungalow, lying diagonally adjacent to the one being demolished, was torn down a few months ago. “We heard there is to be a major condo project here,” he said.
George Town Heritage Action co-founder Mark Lay said the excuse of termite infestation to tear down a heritage building was unacceptable as there were ways to preserve it.
“That is the oldest and stupidest heritage building demolition excuse,” he told FMT.
“Termite damage can be rectified and buildings can be restored for adaptive reuse in a new development. Heritage building owners should retain old buildings and ensure they don’t fall into disrepair.”
Lay said the bungalow can be traced to the 1920s and was in a state heritage agency’s register in 2014.
He said it had a unique heritage value with its ornate plasterwork, detailed porte cochere timber staircases and geometric encaustic tiles.
“The demolition came as a shock knowing it is listed in the 2014 Penang built heritage inventory as worthy of conservation, especially after Penang mayor Yew Tung Seang was quoted in the media in 2018 as saying buildings with heritage value outside the Unesco zone will also be preserved,” he said.
Penang Heritage Trust vice-president Khoo Salma Nasution said it was disappointing that the state lacked the political will to extend heritage protection to buildings outside the Unesco site.
“It’s a real shame that after enjoying the glory of Unesco status for 14 years this state government has not had the vision or political will to extend heritage protection even an inch beyond the current World Heritage Site boundary,” she said.
“Our present and future needs include heritage as an anchor for social cohesiveness, strong urban identity and cultural economic development.
“Our politicians seem to love posing and virtue signalling in the WHS, but I wonder if they have learnt anything about taking responsibility for heritage protection.”
Source: FMT
