RESTORATION of the iconic City Hall at the Esplanade has been put on hold.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is expecting major renovation work to resume next year.
Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the local council’s operations had been shifted to alternative premises pending the next phase of works.
He also said that some MBPP meetings were currently being held in other buildings near City Hall.
“The renovations, which include restoration works due to City Hall’s heritage status, is expected to cost about RM10mil.
“When dealing with a heritage building, the cost is high because we must preserve its original structure,” Rajendran told reporters after chairing the MBPP full board meeting in George Town.
Works include structural repairs, replacement of furniture and lighting, and a complete rewiring of the building.
The mayor added that the building needed to be rewired, as outdated wiring posed a fire risk.
It was reported that the renovation and conservation works of City Hall was scheduled to begin in April.
Explaining why the renovation was put on hold, Rajendran said budget constraints had prompted MBPP to prioritise projects that would directly benefit the public.
He said the city council was prioritising people-oriented projects such as balai rakyat, markets and hawker complexes.
He explained that City Hall mainly housed MBPP’s administrative offices which did not directly serve the public.
“We are also facing a budget deficit and we want to reduce it.
“Only priority projects that deliver direct benefits to the people will proceed, while others − including City Hall restoration − can be deferred.”
Currently City Hall is mostly vacant, with fewer staff in the building, as alternative facilities are being used.
Rajendran said RM500,000 had been allocated for repairs and maintenance of the City Hall building this year.
“The allocation is mainly for minor repairs and essential maintenance work to upkeep the ageing building,” he said.
It would fund the necessary repairs and required works, as the building needed extensive maintenance, he added.
Built in 1903, Penang City Hall is a prominent colonial-era landmark and holds great historical significance as one of the oldest municipal buildings in the country.
