PETALING JAYA: Badan Warisan Malaysia has called for the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to form a heritage steering committee that will allow it to have executive powers when it comes to preserving heritage buildings.
In a statement, its president Lim Wei-Ling said the group was concerned about the alarming number of illegal works being carried out on heritage buildings, including those listed as “category one” in George Town’s heritage zone.
Lim said such a committee, comprising MBPP officers and heritage group representatives, should be given the authority to approve any development that involves a heritage building.
“We are deeply worried that the illegal work taking place at heritage buildings in George Town will continue unabated, thus eroding its unique architectural heritage.
“Until this is set-up, a full moratorium on any demolition must be enforced,” she said.
Lim said if action is not taken against the illegal work, George Town and even Melaka could risk being delisted as a world heritage site by Unesco.
She also urged MBPP to stop giving planning permission to those who have already “illegally demolished” heritage buildings as this is tantamount to “conspiring and assisting developers” to undermine and contravene laws that were set up to specifically protect such sites.
Last week, FMT reported on the destruction of the customs building on China Street Ghaut.
The building was found to be in ruins by the George Town Heritage Action group despite a stop work order having been issued by MBPP.
Similarly, last month the 200-year-old Fooi Chew Association building at Prangin Lane was found to be “hacked and destroyed”.