Begin forwarded message:
From: Jimmy C S Lim <cslcyy@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: October 23, 2011 4:58:02 GMT+08:00
To: Jimmy Lim PG <jimmylimdesign@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: today's NST Streets
Reply-To: Jimmy C S Lim <cslcyy@yahoo.co.uk>
Interesting to note the inconsistency of the CM. He says one thing and does something else. It is a no brainer that this guy has got his value system topsy turvy.Wonder how he would react if the Kamunting was to be demolished?Below is the excerpt from today's New Straits Times:"When Pudu Jail was demolished, the Penang chief minister was quick to express his regret that "one of the few heritage sites in Kuala Lumpur" was being torn down.
A YouTube video of him confidently saying that such a thing would never happen in Penang is there for all to see.
A verbatim excerpt of what he said in June last year follows:
"I want to remind the government you cannot buy heritage. Once it is destroyed, nothing can return it.
"Look at the experience of some countries like Singapore, which tore down their heritage buildings to make way for modern skyscrapers.
"Now if they were given the opportunity, I am sure they would retain these buildings. But no matter how much money you have in the world, you would never get it back.
"Remember money can buy a lot of things but it cannot buy love and time. The year 1895 (the year Pudu prison was built) ...115 years destroyed in a matter of seconds... this is sad.
"Malaysia wants to become a civil society and to become one, it must first be a civilised nation. To be a civilised nation, we must take care of and protect our cultural assets. Pudu jail may be just a prison but it represents how a prison was in the past." " --Is he your friend?? With consistency like that one would be very cautious as you do not know which side of the bed he gets up from every morning?Sent: Saturday, 22 October 2011, 9:57
Subject: today's NST StreetsHERITAGE LOST
2011/10/21
By Phuah Ken Lin
A historic bungalow in Lorong Burma, Penang, has been demolished for the building of a luxury condominiumWorkers remove the debris from colonial bungalow demolished to make way for an upscale condominium project in Lorong Burma. — Picture by G.S. Narinder SinghGEORGE TOWN: A historic bungalow in Lorong Burma, near Gurney Drive, here, has been torn down to make way for an upscale condominium project, to the outrage of heritage conservationists and the people.
The majestic double-storey building was reduced to rubble by a demolition team engaged by the developer.
It was located next to the old Tenby International School site, off Jalan Kelawei.A check at the site showed that the site had been fenced up, with several adjacent colonial buildings under imminent demolition threat.
The roof tiles of the school had also removed.
A worker,who declined to be named, said a unit from Tenaga Nasional Bhd had just dismantled the power cable on Thursday.
It is learnt that the demolition work had just started and was now in full swing.
Local architect and conservationist Professor Dr Jimmy Lim was disgusted by the lack of transparency in the project approval process.
"The demolition of historical mansions should not be allowed to continue," Lim said.
Heritage conservation body, Penang Heritage Trust, has also objected to the project.
A Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) building department spokesman said he was aware of the demolition work currently taking place.
However, he said MPPP had granted planning permission but had not approved the building plan.
"The demolition was allowed to go ahead after the planning permission was given," the spokesman said.
He confirmed that the site was for a condominium project but declined to reveal details
Read more: HERITAGE LOST http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/gopgdemo/Article#ixzz1bXsYtdtQAnother priceless piece of history destroyed
2011/10/21
By Sharanjit Singh
AT this very moment, yet another row of historical buildings is being demolished in Penang, with little done by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) or anyone from the state government to put a stop to the blatant destruction of the island.This is despite the outrage and objections expressed by concerned individuals, groups and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) here.
The latest to be bulldozed and wiped off Penang's list of heritage buildings are the buildings along Lorong Burma, between Jalan Kelawei and Gurney Drive.
One of the bungalows -- painted in bright yellow -- sitting in the middle of the lane was the residence of the first Prime Minister of Thailand Praya Manopakorn Nititada when he was exiled in Penang from 1932-1947 (see story below).His presence in Penang was such an honour that the Penang City Council decided to name two streets off Jalan Bagan Jermal after him -- Jalan Mano and Solok Mano.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), in a letter to MPPP seeking clarification of the demolition, indicated that the adjoining bungalows were also of significance as they had, at one time or another, hosted the Thai royal family including Prince Svasti Sophon, who served as the Minister of Defence of Siam in 1917, and later became the father-in-law of King Rama VII.
Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, whom the Thai government has declared the father of Thai history, education, health system and provincial administration, also lived near Jalan Kelawei. His documentation of their lives in Penang provide valuable insight into the people of Thailand in Penang during the 1930s.
PHT secretary Clement Liang said the physical presence of these historical buildings where these prominent people lived was a crucial link between Penang and Thailand's history.
"It also proves that Penang in the good old days, was a safe haven that attracted 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 the narrow two-lane traffic of Jalan Kelawei is no longer able to cater for high-density development in that area," he wrote in the letter addressed to MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail and copied to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, several of his exco members and World Heritage Trust representatives here.
However, those hoping for a positive outcome from the letter had better not hold their breath for too long, as even as you are reading this, demolition of the buildings is already happening.
The irony of it all is, while politicians here have been fast and furious in condemning others for the destruction of heritage and historical buildings, they appear to be downright lethargic or even apathetic to what's happening in their own backyard.
When Pudu Jail was demolished, the Penang chief minister was quick to express his regret that "one of the few heritage sites in Kuala Lumpur" was being torn down.
A YouTube video of him confidently saying that such a thing would never happen in Penang is there for all to see.
A verbatim excerpt of what he said in June last year follows:
"I want to remind the government you cannot buy heritage. Once it is destroyed, nothing can return it.
"Look at the experience of some countries like Singapore, which tore down their heritage buildings to make way for modern skyscrapers.
"Now if they were given the opportunity, I am sure they would retain these buildings. But no matter how much money you have in the world, you would never get it back.
"Remember money can buy a lot of things but it cannot buy love and time. The year 1895 (the year Pudu prison was built) ...115 years destroyed in a matter of seconds... this is sad.
"Malaysia wants to become a civil society and to become one, it must first be a civilised nation. To be a civilised nation, we must take care of and protect our cultural assets. Pudu jail may be just a prison but it represents how a prison was in the past."
" So what is happening here in Penang now?" asked local architect and heritage conservationist Professor Dr Jimmy Lim.
He also expressed regret that instead of engaging NGOs and concerned citizens seeking to protect Penang's heritage, Guan Eng had resorted to accusing them of being used by his political opponents.
The chief minister had, during a DAP Penang political retreat in Pulau Jerejak on Oct 15, claimed that the media were using Buddhist bodies to run down the Penang government.
"We are now faced with a leader who is not listening to people about issues confronting Penang," said Jimmy.
"These are real problems. What are we talking about? The environment, the illegal construction, damage to the environment, the poor decision-making process in approvals, the heritage core zone destruction, the cutting down of ancient trees, developers running roughshod over the city, numerous ills confronting the environment and people, are matters that need the CM's intervention and attention.
"But what does he do? He turns and accuses the people to be part of the Barisan Nasional conspiracy to attack his administration," Jimmy said, adding he could not understand why everything in Penang was being politicised these days.
Instead of giving priority to core issues like heritage conservation and environment protection to safeguard the people's quality of life, the state authorities seem to be taking a political stance in handling all issues, said Jimmy, the person behind the newly formed Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group.
"The speed at which development is taking place on the island, it is as if Penang is being raped," he said.
That is the sad reality indeed
Read more: Another priceless piece of history destroyed http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/gossdemo/Article#ixzz1bXsEuOKf
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