Penang government questioned on progress of restoration of derelict buildings

GEORGE TOWN (Dec 7): Penang Gerakan Youth questioned the state government about the restoration of derelict buildings along Victoria Street and Kimberly Street, here, Bernama reported today.

The organisation’s assistant secretary, Loh Kit Mun said the Penang government had promised to restore and transform the buildings to house traditional trades and the creative industry by year-end.

"On June 6, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that Penang Development Corp would spend RM9.7 million on restoration of derelict buildings located along Victoria Street.

"On Feb 7, 2015 the Penang state government had also promised to restore six pre-war houses along Kimberly Street to house those traditional trades so as to continue their business but to this day, we have not seen any progress there," he told a press conference here today, Bernama reported.

Meanwhile, the Malay Mail Online reported that Loh accused the state government of not caring about the mass exit of traditional trades from the heritage zone owing to evictions by building owners.

“Is the state government even serious about protecting the traditional trades and intangible heritage of George Town?

“These shophouses were supposed to be alternative sites for traditional businesses that have been evicted but the buildings are not ready,” Malay Mail Online reported him as saying.

"It is not enough to just organise cultural festivals and events, but the state government needs to have concrete plans and proposals to retain and cherish the traditional trades," he told Bernama.