Photo: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: The demolition of a two-storey bungalow in Jalan Clove Hall was initiated with approval from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), checks found.
A spokesman from the council, who referred the matter to its Building Department, said the owner of the privately owned building had obtained permission to work on it.
"This building is not being demolished by the council, but by its owner.
"They had obtained planning permission to demolish it," said a response from the department.
The contractor tasked with the work, who declined to be named, said they had received necessary approvals since last year but declined to divulge further.
He said among the reasons for the demolition was for the safety of the site and to prevent the building from collapsing when unattended.
"Wooden beams supporting the roof and structure were infested with termites.
"We have removed sections of it starting from the roof and it will eventually all be demolished," he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Heritage Commissioner Rosli Nor said the bungalow owned by a Chinese family was believed to have been built in the 1920s.
"People in Malaya were richer then, to build such bungalows, thanks to the high price of rubber and tin at that time," he said.
Rosli explained further that prior to approval for the demolition, the owner would be required to document the entire structure in photographs and measured drawings.
He said the building had also been inventorised twice by George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) but because it fell outside boundaries of the World Heritage site, it would be up to MBPP if to gazette it for preservation.
"The building is not listed under heritage for safeguarding but only on the inventory list of GTWHI.
"As it is outside the boundary of the heritage site, it would be up to MBPP to gazette it under a Category II heritage building, which meant that it was important but privately owned.
"If it falls as state heritage under Penang State Heritage Enactment, it would be placed on a higher status and may also be included as national heritage in future.
"However, the state is very strict on selections as other than documentation, gazetting of any heritage building would also mean funds need to be allocated and a management plan prepared," he said.
Rosli said while the demolition was being conducted in an orderly manner, he wished the owner had retained the building for modern use.
"If the owner had maintained it, they could retain the building to serve as a lobby or heritage space to accompany a new structure.
"It may be costly but in the economics of heritage, the return is usually worth it," he said.
On Monday (Jan 9), heritage activists took to social media and shared photos of the dilapidated building and its ongoing demolition.
Some netizens expressed disappointment over the demolition of the building as heritage property while one expressed empathy for the owner who might be suffering from poor economic times and now in need of money from new development.
