'Talk to us before you do anything'
Heritage conservation groups want government to consult the experts and the people before starting projects in the city
GEORGE TOWN: HERITAGE conservation groups here are urging the state government to talk to them before embarking on any kind of work in the city's heritage areas.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) council member Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson said this was to prevent damage to George Town and subsequent jeopardy of its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"We are not against any work... however, we are of the opinion that it should not be done at the expense of the prestigious listing.
"It will be good for the state authorities to get public feedback before it proceeds with any work so as to ensure it does not have to do rectification work."
The Penang Island Municipal Council's (MPPP) ongoing work to mitigate floods in the city centre has met with protests from NGOs.
MPPP is upgrading and widening drains in Lebuh Cintra, Lebuh Kimberly, Jalan Lim Chwee Leong, Jalan Kuala Kangsar and Jalan Sundai Ujang.
Duckett-Wilkinson said the NGOs were not objecting for the sake of objecting, but because they felt that the work should be carried out in a proper manner.
She said the work was being carried out without taking into consideration the structural make-up of the building around the project site.
She said digging work had compromised the structures of some buildings, while the council's use of concrete covers would aggravate the very flood situation it was trying to mitigate as concrete does not allow the absorption and evaporation of water.
"MPPP has not understood the structural make-up of the heritage drainage system.
"If the state authorities had consulted the NGOs and stakeholders, we would have advised them and the situation could have been averted."
It was love for the state that had prompted the newly-established Penang Citizens' Awareness Chant to speak out, said member Prof Dr Jimmy Lim.
"As Penang people, we only want what is best for the state and the people it is better for us to speak out now before it is too late. Lim suggested that the authorities carry out public surveys before proceeding with projects.
Read more: 'Talk to us before you do anything' - Northern - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/northern/talk-to-us-before-you-do-anything-1.13169#ixzz1fFdhAbTU
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