GEORGE TOWN: The erection of a makeshift tomb at the Protestant Cemetery – a Category I heritage site in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah - drew the ire of heritage conservation activists.
The tomb made of black marble and concrete, engraved with the name Danny Song, was spotted at the more than two-century-old cemetery recently, where Penang’s founder Captain Francis Light was laid to rest.
Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) council member Clement Liang said he was embarrassed when a group of about 20 people, whom he was leading in a guided tour on Sunday, spotted the “new tomb”.
“Just a moment earlier, I proudly told the group that our heritage sites were well kept. It was really embarrassing when the tomb caught our attention.
“I knew that it was erected as a movie prop, but even if the tomb was erected temporarily, it’s still not right as the cemetery is a Category I heritage site,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Liang, who posted a photograph of a man looking at the makeshift tomb on PHT’s discussion board on Facebook, said the putting up of the tomb would disturb the ground and the authenticity of the heritage site.
“The law and rules on Category I heritage site conservation are very strict. According to the Special Area Plan, nothing is allowed to be put up or built at the site.
“The cemetery is also a sacred site and not suitable for a movie shoot,” he added.
Liang said he believed the tomb was removed on Monday night.
Some netizens questioned the permission given for the movie shoot which was deemed inappropriate.
In one of the comments, heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution said there was no objection from the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), but its general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee refuted this.
Dr Ang urged Khoo, who is also a Penang Island city councillor, to ask the council what happened.
MCA member Tan Khai Beng, who shared the post in his Facebook page, blamed the state government for allowing the tomb to be erected for the Hong Kong movie.
When contacted, city council secretary Yew Tung Seang said the council only issued an approval for the filming to be done outside the cemetery compound.
“They were not allowed to enter the cemetery ground. The council is upset and will issue the company with a warning.
“Inner George Town is a World Heritage Site and many film companies like to choose Penang as their filming location for movies and dramas,” he added.
It was reported in major Chinese dailies that Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh was at the cemetery on Friday to film a new movie entitled ‘The Leaker’ directed by Herman Yau.
She was spotted paying tribute to Danny Song, a character in the movie that was said to have died.
According to Wikipedia, the cemetery was established in 1786. The last person buried there was Cornelia Josephine Van Someren in 1892.
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