Burma Lane bungalows not to be demolished

Rebecca Wilkinson

Seems that the heritage houses with their link to the historic Thai- Penang relationship don't have much time left before demolition. This morning a 12 foot high metal construction hoarding has gone up along kelawei Road in front of the former Tenby School & along the side of Lorong Burma towards Gurney drive, & the frame for continuing the hoardings in front of the two double- story houses is already up.

 ·  ·  · 19 hours ago

• Keith Hockton likes this.
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    Mark Walker Is there anything people can do at this stage ?

    19 hours ago · 
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    Rebecca Wilkinson I have, as PHT council member, just off emails to Mr Yew & Mas Norhanis asking for clarification on these Category 2 buildings.

    18 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Peter Wong i just checked on web site and there is no approval given by MPPP or OSC for the demolition of the buildings.

    17 hours ago via Mobile ·  ·  1 person
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    Andrewong Wkit Can't save it d......

    13 hours ago · 
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    Clement Liang these old bldgs will test the sincerity of heritage conservation from the authorities.

    11 hours ago · 
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    Clement Liang Cik Hajjah Patahiyah Ismail
    Yang Dipertua
    Majilis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang
    Level 17 KOMTAR
    Jalan Penang, 10675 Pulau Pinang
    Fax : 04-2636 345
    
    Dear YDP,
    
    Re : Impending Demolition of the Historical Buildings along Burmah Lane
    
    On behalf of the Penang Heritage Trust, historians from Thailand and concerned people in Penang, I'd like to raise the objective to the impending demolition of the rows of historical buildings along Burmah Lane which borders between Kelawai Road and Gurney Drive.
    
    One of the bungalows (painted yellow colour) sitting in the middle of the lane have been confirmed to be the residence of the 1st Prime Minister of Thailand Praya Manopakorn Nititada when he was in exile in Penang from 1932 ~ 1947. His presence in Penang was such an honour that the Penang City Council decided to name 2 streets off Jalan Bagan Jermal after him; Jalan Mano & Solok Mano.
    
    The adjoining bungalows were at one time and another hosted the Thai royal families including Prince Svasti Sophon, who was serving as the Minister of Defence of Siam in 1917 and later became the father-in-law to King Rama VII. Prince Damrong Rajanubhab who has been declared by Thai government as the father of Thai history, education, health system, provincial administration also lived nearby in Kelawai Road and documented their lives in Penang and provided a valuable insight to the people of Thailand about Penang during the 1930's.
    
    A group of historians and academics from Thailand visited Penang in April 2011 and started to trace the history of these well-known Thai personalities in Penang. The physical presence of these historical buildings where the great people used to live before serve a crucial link between Penang and Thailand's history and prove that Penang in the good olden days, was a safe heaven to attract important people including royal families and politicians in exile to seek refuge here.
    
    I strongly appeal to your administration not to allow any destruction of the old buildings there for the sake of Penang and Thailand's history. Besides this, the narrow 2-lane passage traffic of Kelawai Road is no longer able to cater for high density development in that area anymore.
    
    Clement Liang
    
    Cc YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang
    YB Chow Kon Yeow, Ahli EXCO Pulau Pinang
    YB Koay Teng Hai, Ahli EXCO Adun Pulau Tikus
    Mr. Yew Tong Seang, Jabatan Bangunan MPPP
    Cik Norhanis, Arkitek Jabatan Warisan MPPP
    Ms. Lim Chooi Ping, Pejabat Warisan Dunia George Town

    10 hours ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy Now if you are talking about attracting tourists to Penang this is the stuff Thais would come to Penang to visit these houses associated with part of their modern history and be visited by students etc. This is also important for our understanding of our own heritage and what had brought Penang to where it is today. These important social histories must be retained for our future generations. What is the point of having our sons and daughters grow up in a vacuum?? We must not destroy everything. Why are fathers and mothers always defending their children's rights for the better?? Leaving them some of our RICH HISTORY is equally important to anchor our existence to our roots............Mr CM you know what I am talking about? LETS LEAVE SOMETHING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN......don't you agree??? Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (PEKA)

    4 hours ago ·