GEORGE TOWN (July 26): Seri Teratai, the official residence of the Penang Chief Minister will require some minor repairs and and renovation.

Having been left vacant for 10 years, the Class II heritage building along Macalister Road is now due for some fitting and rewiring works.

State secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, said the building and roof structure are still strong.

“The Public Works Department (PWD) will be assessing the renovation works required for the building,” he told the Malay Mail today..

After the former Penang CM, Lim Guan Eng moved out from the place almost 10 years ago, Seri Teratai had been vacant.

“He only lived there for a short period of time before moving out to another place,” he said, reported the daily.

The building was last renovated between 2008 and 2009 at a cost of RM145,000, and had been regularly maintained since.

“Now that the current chief minister has said he wants to live there with his family, we have asked the PWD to assess the amount of works needed before the chief minister can move in.

“The wiring of the building is 20 years old and needs to be replaced,” he said, according to the Malay Mail.

The air conditioning system would need replacement, as the old system did not function. The curtains would also need to be changed.

“The PWD will conduct a full assessment and then specify the works needed and then only we will open it for tender,” said Farizan, adding that the work will likely take three to five years.

The state will be transparent about the full renovation process, said Farizan to the Malay Mail.

When Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon was the chief minister, Seri Teratai had been used as a guest house.

Meanwhile, Koh had lived in his own home, leaving the building vacant.

Farizan said the Penang governor lived in the house for three years when the governor’s official residence, Seri Mutiara, was renovated back in 2002.

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