Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng has urged the Penang state government to introduce proactive, practical and affordable solutions for managing the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During a state legislative assembly debate on the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ramli Ngah Talib’s address, Teh said the ongoing global energy crisis has had a direct impact on the economy and the daily cost of living faced by the rakyat.
This is particularly profound within the heritage enclave, where repair costs are excessively high.
The UNESCO-accredited site covers approximately 259.42 hectares (roughly 2.6 km²), encompassing a 109.38-hectare core zone and a 150.04-hectare buffer zone. Inscribed in 2008, it contains over 4,600 historic buildings in the northeastern corner of the island.
Teh said the state must commission a study on lower-cost alternative building materials that uphold the heritage value but make repairs accessible to owners lacking personal funding.
“Many property owners in the heritage zone are struggling with maintaining their buildings due to the specific building materials required to first preserve and conserve the properties,” he said.
There is also a shortage of specially trained contractors and architects qualified to carry out conservation work within the enclave.
“In light of rising living costs, I would like to propose that Penang strengthen its people-centric assistance packages with approaches that are more practical and closely aligned with the needs of the rakyat on the ground,” Teh said.
The Komtar assemblyman proposed that the Pinjaman Harapan Scheme (SPH) be expanded, particularly for traders and hawkers operating in the enclave. He also suggested that the Penang Island City Council consider discounts or reductions in business licence fees for small traders struggling with rising operating costs.
Teh further urged authorities to punish wealthy building owners who have abandoned their properties or left them unkempt.
Penang is said to possess the largest number of pre-war shophouses in the region, around 5,000 of them, although some are located outside the enclave in the southwest district of Balik Pulau and the Prai mainland.
The outstanding universal value of the enclave is driven by the living testament to over 500 years of multicultural trading, cultural exchange and exceptional architecture linking East and West cultures in Penang.
Source: The Vibes
