When Lim Guan Eng became Chief Minister of Penang in 2008, he introduced the Competency, Accountability and Transparency maxim. Today, CAT has different meaning. It is an open invitation to developers across the nation – Come, Annihilate and Take. More than ever before in the history of Penang, the DAP rule of Penang has seen an unprecedented demolition rate of heritage buildings.
© 2008-2014 Citizen Times | All Rights Reserved
A first-class potential Academy Award winner for best actor in the politicians category would be CM Lim Guan Eng. Four years ago, Lim Guan Eng in this video http://tinyurl.com/oojlb43 (2010) could express his regrets at the demolition of the Pudu Jail in a press conference where he sermonized about the importance of heritage. Yet, this same Lim Guan Eng and his minions do worse and more than just the demolition of Pudu Jail. The transcript of his speech can be found at the end of this article.
Apart from that, how can we forget Lim Guan Eng’s famous Save Bukit Cina 20th Anniversary Dinner Speech given on 28th November, 2011 at http://tinyurl.com/k7j9sj4:
DAP’s success in saving Bukit China from being demolished by the then BN and MCA in 1984 shows the importance of preserving important cultural and historical heritage over development projects for the sake of private gain. Both BN and MCA saw only ringgit signs when they proposed leveling the oldest Chinese cemetery in Malaysia to build houses, shophouses and shopping complexes.
Unlike BN and MCA may see ringgit signs in the largest piece of available land in the centre of Melaka town, DAP and the people of Melaka saw 3 important links in preserving Bukit China namely:
• cultural and historical heritage not only for the Chinese community but also as an important mark of friendship between Chinese and Malays when Princess Hang Li Po married the Melaka Sultan;
• environment heritage in providing a green lung that made Melaka a more natural and livable area for resident apart from helping to maintaine its historical atmosphere; and
• an important tourist site that attracted foreign tourists and revenue helping Melaka’s economy.
DAP has been proven right and validates the necessity of a strong opposition party to check the excesses and correct the mistakes of the ruling party. The story of Bukit China 20 years ago is also the story of our future 20 years. If not for the DAP, our children and tourists will not have the opportunity to enjoy Bukit China. DAP had much earlier saw the need of balanced growth enjoyed by all not motivated purely by considerations of profit at the expense of national unity and cultural heritage. MORE AT http://tinyurl.com/k7j9sj4
They say time changes everything. The same applies for Lim Guan Eng and his wavering stand on heritage and development. Can Lim Guan Eng explain the chasm between his public declarations about heritage and what we see in Penang? Penang Heritage Trust and Penang Forum called for a moratorium on the demolition of heritage buildings outside the World Heritage Site. Recent developments show their efforts have been in vain and the state government is NOT serious about conservation. Words are cheap. Actions matter.
As a concerned Malaysian, I request Lim Guan Eng and his state government to give answers to the following questions:
218 Macalister Road http://tinyurl.com/nfr6mdw
Recently, it was revealed that a developer ‘dismantled’ a bungalow along Macalister Road to be rebuilt elsewhere.
1. Did the developer apply for a permit from MPPP to do this?
2. Who in MPPP gave this permit and when was it given?
3a. Who were the experts called in to the site to undertake this dismantle-reassemble project?
b. Were they foreign or local?
b. Were they foreign or local?
c.What techniques were used?
d. Why wasn’t the media invited to witness this historical dismantling of a historical building which has never ever been carried out in Penang?
4. Since it is an important heritage building and since Lim Guan Eng has said in no uncertain terms on a few occasions (see Appendix of his speech on demolition of Pudu Jail)that we must preserve our cultural heritage, did MPPP:
a. send their representatives to video/film/photographic evidence of the ‘dismantling’ process?
b. send experts to ensure whether this dismantling was done according to building relocation guidelines?
a. send their representatives to video/film/photographic evidence of the ‘dismantling’ process?
b. send experts to ensure whether this dismantling was done according to building relocation guidelines?
5a. Where are the parts of the building kept?
b. Are there high levels of security to prevent looters from stealing the parts?
b. Are there high levels of security to prevent looters from stealing the parts?
6. What is the rationale behind relocating the house?
7. Where is the new site for the dismantled house to be reassembled?
8. Kindly disclose concrete evidence that indeed the house was dismantled and furnish answers to the above queries.
For the record:
1. An old bungalow previously belonging to the family of businessman and leader Khaw Sim Bee was illegally demolished by a developer at Pykett Avenue in George Town. To this day, residents there object to the development. This site http://tinyurl.com/le6uldy explains Khaw Sim Bee’s historical importance.
2. The population residing in the WHS is rapidly declining. Instead of being concerned about tourist arrivals, what is Lim Guan Eng doing to prevent the inner city area from dying because it is vital to give the right ambience to the WHS?
3. We see how many original property owners in the Georgetown Heritage Site have sold their
properties to tourism investors and property speculators. Little wonder that property prices in Penang have escalated, especially in the heritage zone, many, which have been bought by foreigners. Yes, there are more boutique hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Beyond the initial cosmetics of revitalization, old familiar residents, the real living history of Penang are gone forever and the allure of Georgetown will gradually diminish through time and who knows, we may even lose our UNESCO status if Lim Guan Eng does not get his act together to really be a responsible custodian of Penang’s jewels instead of approving more and more development projects which flatten old buildings.
The 2011 Unesco State of Conservation Report on Penang (http://tinyurl.com/nf858pm) reported:
The Plan also provides, in annexes, detailed Conservation Guidelines for various types and categories of buildings, based on analyses of what exists and their spatial disposition. This states that buildings that are not individually protected - unlisted buildings located within conservation areas – and which are not seen to have intrinsic architectural and heritage interest may be demolished and replaced simultaneously subject to the conservation guidelines. The value of the overall townscape consisting of both listed and unlisted buildings does not appear to be articulated as part of the value of the property.
The Plan acknowledges that its implementation will require stronger administrative arrangements than those that are currently in place. There are many weaknesses in the existing government, institutional and administrative set-up such as shortage of staff, lack of experience, expertise, competency, bureaucracy, and a lack of adequate procedures for assessing the heritage impact of proposed development. In order to address these, the interim institutional and management mechanisms for both parts of the property will be strengthened further to carry out the necessary implementation programmes.
Three years have passed since that report. Since then, what has improved? What does the recent demolition of 218 Macalister Road show us?
In 2009, the UNESCO State of Conservation Report on Penang (page 199) (http://tinyurl.com/ppf3uog) recommended that MPPP Guidelines for Conservation Areas and Historic Buildings be renamed to Regulations for Conservation Areas and Historic Buildings. Five years have passed by. Nothing has changed. It is still mere guidelines and you can access it at this link http://tinyurl.com/o54e27z.
If the state government cannot comply with Unesco guidelines to change ONE WORD from Guidelines to Regulations, does it give Penangites confidence that the State government can comply with other requirements?
So what if Lim Guan Eng has declared July 7 Georgetown Heritage Day as a state public holiday? We do not need cheap gimmicks and glam street projects. What matters is how serious is the state government on protecting and promoting Penang’s heritage, history and heirlooms for the next generation. At the rate, historical or old buildings are making way for development – in sharp opposition of his views expressed in public speeches.
As a concerned Malaysian, I want to remind Lim Guan Eng that So, that money is not everything. He himself said it in his speech about the demolition of Pudu jail in the video at: http://tinyurl.com/oojlb43. I have transcribed the whole speech in Appendix 1 at the end of this post. If it is a private property, there is nothing we can do, yes. We will not blame the government. But when a particular property of historical/heritage value is in the jurisdiction of the state government, why does it appear that they (MPPP and state government) is not concerned at protecting the cultural, architectural and living heritage assets of the state?
Lim Guan Eng and his state leaders do not seem to realize they have the responsibility of protecting and conserving Penang’s heritage BEYOND the Georgetown World Heritage Zone. Just because 218 Macalister Road is out of the designated zone, does not mean they can close one eye and let developers ‘dismantle’ the building at their disposal.
Currently, more and more heritage buildings in the city and outskirts are being demolished rapidly and if Lim Guan Eng is sincere about preserving Penang’s assets, he should direct MPPP to monitor all heritage buildings in and beyond the World Heritage Site. In fact, he should apply to EXTEND the buffer zone of the WHS.
For example, the Brook Road development saw the demolition of two existing pre-war buildings for developing more houses on that land. Is it justified? See the following photos from Penang Heritage Trust:
Another example is the historical Seah Boey area along Prangin Road. The former Prangin Market site belongs to PDC Phase V/VI of Komtar Project. Apart from demolishing houses there, the state government has made no effort whatsoever in any urban renewal projects to rejuvenate or beautify the vacant plots, which are eyesores because some have become public dumps. Surely, Lim Guan Eng and his leaders can do more than just talk and host street parties during celebrations?
As the walls of old buildings come tumbling down in Penang, remember Humpty Dumpty.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings’ horses and all the king’s men,
Could not put Humpty together again.
It is the same for Penang. No matter how hard they try, once our heritage and character is gone, money cannot buy it back again.
Lim Guan Eng and the Penang state government must be held accountable for the overdevelopment of Penang in Pulau Tikus, South-West District, even Balik Pulau and the impossible traffic jams in Penang.
Is this the quality of life you want for your children?
Tell Lim Guan Eng what YOU want for Penang. Send him an email, a petition.
Speak to your ADUNS for your constituency. Save Penang for your children and your descendants.
Do you want to see more walls tumbling down in the city we love – Georgetown Unesco World Heritage Site? Watch the following video and think of Penang. And the walls kept tumbling down in the city that we looooooooove...lyrics provided...
I was left to my own devices
Many days fell away with nothing to show
And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above
But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
In your pose as the dust settles around us
And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Rain clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above
But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?
Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?
And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Rain clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above
But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
Appendix 1:Here is the transcript of Lim Guan Eng’s Speech regarding the demolition of Pudu Jail.
Video at: http://tinyurl.com/oojlb43
I’d just like to express my regret at the demolition of the Pudu Jail wall – one of the few heritage sites in Kuala Lumpur. And it is sad that a historic building that is built in 1895 is torn down, to make way for commercial development.
I’d like to remind the Federal government that you cannot buy heritage. Once it is destroyed, nothing can return it back. Look at the experience of some countries like Singapore when they tore down their heritage buildings to make way for modern skyscrapers. Now, I think if they are given an opportunity to do it again, they would have retained many of these heritage buildings. But, no matter how much money you have in the world, you will never get it back.
Remember – you can buy a lot of things. Money can buy a lot of things. Money cannot buy love nor time. Money cannot buy love nor can it buy time. 1895, 115 years – destroyed in a matter of seconds. I think this is sad and we hope that the new management of UDA can appreciate that if you want to talk about soft power, soft infrastructure under the 10th Malaysian plan where you want to increase the investments from 18% to around 40%, you must have your cultural assets in place.
Malaysia wants to become a civil society. To become a civil society, you must first be a civilized nation. To be a civilized nation, you must take care and protect your cultural assets. And even though Pudu Prison, the government claims that this is a site that we have nothing to be proud of. True, it is a prison but yet, it represents how a prison was in the past. I know if you go and see the cells, as one ex-prisoner said, six persons packed in a small cell like a sardine with a toilet facility inside. I think you all can understand that this does not reflect well on Malaysia’s human rights treatment, record of prisoners. But it is still part of our past and part of our heritage.
So, once again, we would like to remind the Federal Government that money is not everything. If it is a private property, there is nothing we can do, yes. We will not blame the government. But when this property belongs to the Federal government, at least retain part of it so that the wall still exists.
You look at the Great Wall of China. Do they tear down the Great Wall of China to make way for commercial development? Retain the wall. The longest mural painting in the world is now no more. It used to be in the Guiness World of World Records. Now it is no more. Is that something that we are proud of?
That is why I think YB Fong Kooi Lun will be interviewed by the BBC afterwards. Even international attention is highlighted on the wall. Because if we as a nation do not know how to preserve and protect our cultural heritage, it does not reflect well on everyone.
So here, on behalf of the DAP we want to express our regret and our disappointment at the failure of the government or at the wrong sense of priority placed by the government where they value money and commercial interest more than at least preserving part of the heritage.
We hope that what is demolished can be stopped so that it can be retained. And there is nothing that we can do. I mean, for us, if it is in Penang, then of course we can stop the development by of course er not approving the plans lah unless you conform to heritage requirements. But since this is a project by UDA, so I am sure they have got all the necessary approvals and green light.
But I think they can complement each other. You look at foreign countries where you can have development but you can also retain the heritage aspect by complementing and supplementing each other. It need not be mutually exclusive that you have to destroy one in order to replace a modern development. I think you can complement and supplement each other.
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