Torn Down and Disassembled is not Preserve or Restore

Penang Gerakan expressed regret that East Design Architects director Richard Jong had failed to explain the “disassemble and reassemble” format was acted on which guideline.

Penang Gerakan secretary Oh Tong Keong referred to the approval letter No:JPB/KM/5020/A (MPPP/OSC/PM(2171)/13) that mentioned: Memulihara Bangunan perniagaan No 218 Jalan Macalister sediada Jalan Macalister. Di atas Lot-lot 914,915,916 & 918, Seksyen 13, Bandar George Town, D.T.L,Pulau Pinang.

Oh said the key word in this document is ‘memulihara’, which means to preserve and restore. “Now the building is gone,” Oh said at a press conference at the Penang Gerakan headquarters on Wednesday.

“Be it torn down or disassembled, you simply can’t link it with ‘preserve’ or ‘restore’,” Oh added.

Based on the document, Oh alleged that instruction or instructions from the Penang Municipal Council had been seriously violated.

“The building which has been torn down is a second-class heritage building which must be preserved and restored,” Oh said.

Oh stressed that he was not targeting any individual or company on this issue. “Our concern is always with the preservation and protection of heritage buildings. “But, only Jong can help us to understand the situation better.”

“Even State Executive Councilor Chow Kon Yew and Penang Municipal Council president Datuk Patahiyah don’t seem to know about this project,” Oh added.

Local dailies reportedly quoted Chow as calling for relevant authorities to come out with a guide for future reference.

Oh doubted the second-class heritage building was ‘disassembled’ according to any guideline.

He said the rakyat deserved to know who had approved the demolition and under which guideline was used.

He said a USM professor might have been appointed as consultant for the project. “But expert consultants have no power to approve the demolition of the building,” Oh said.

During the press conference, Oh showed the brochure for the said development.

“The brochure did not mention nor show the existence of the heritage building. If the heritage building is part of the development, it should be made known,” Oh added.

MPPP Sends FOUR Notices Asking Residents To Object To Project!!!! Why???

ONCE TO MANY: Over 200 households in Lorong Pykett receive a fourth notice from the Penang council following alleged amendments to planning bylaws

GEORGE TOWN: RESIDENTS in the serene Lorong Pykett neighbourhood are seeing red over repeated notices issued by the Penang Island Municipal Council to them to object to a  twin-block condominium project.

The 294-unit medium-cost project was slated to commence in 2010 but it has never taken off due to a series of alleged amendments in planning permission, causing the residents to be in the dark about the status of the project.

Non-governmental organisation Citizen Awareness Group (Chant) legal adviser Yan Lee, who is also the spokesman for the residents, said over 200 households received a fourth notice last month.

The first notice was issued in 2010.

"The residents are confused about the proper channel to object against the project. Why are they being asked repeatedly to state their objections against the same development?

"The high-density project right in the middle of the housing estate is going to cause massive traffic congestion," Yan said at a press conference here recently.

In addition, he said the high-rise development would lead to worsening flood in the area including Lebuhraya Pykett and Jalan Khaw Sim Bee.

Lorong Pykett is a quiet upscale neighbourhood with about 220 semi detached houses located a mere five-minute drive to the heart of the city.

Yan also questioned the proposed density within the 1.32ha area where the condo will be built at a ratio of 100 units per 0.4ha surpassing the limit of 30 units as allowed in the by-law.

"The surrounding houses are only two-storey high. It is unthinkable to see a concrete jungle built next to the row of houses," said Yan.

In a related development, Yan said Chant wanted the Penang government to speed up the gazetting of the Penang Local Plan.

"The plan is aimed at protecting the wellbeing of the people to ensure that new development does not encroach on the housing estates," said Yan.

He said it was also important for Penangites to have a say in the development of their neighbourhood before the local plan is gazetted.

-NST -