State wants owners to come forward and assist in data compilation

A pre-war building in Batu Pahat town with Chinese and English-style architectural elements.

PASIR GUDANG: Johor wants owners of old buildings with significant historical backgrounds and architectural elements to come forward and assist the state government in data compilation.

Youth, Sports and Heritage executive councillor Datuk Zulkurnain Kamisan said the data would provide useful details and backgrounds needed to gazette the old buildings as heritage buildings.

“So far, we have identified 208 old buildings but we might overlook others (old buildings) in the process which could qualify as heritage buildings,” he said after presenting certificates to about 643 trainees from 26 Giat MARA vocational training centres from all over Johor.

He said the state government hoped to complete the study and gazette the old buildings as heritage buildings by the end of the year.

Zulkurnain said the study included getting details about the architecture elements, the ownership and the history of the monuments or buildings.

“We hope owners of old buildings will consult us before tearing down or doing renovation on their buildings as they might destroy parts of the state’s history,” he added.

Zulkurnain said a team of consultants from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia had been appointed to provide advice and recommendations on the conservation and renovation of the old buildings.

He said the state government would ensure that old buildings within the city’s central business district would be preserved and conserved under the multi-billion ringgit transformation project.

Zulkurnain said by blending old and new elements in the project, including turning old shop pre-war shop houses into specialty retail stores and food and beverage outlets, could attract crowds to the city centre.

“Apart from Johor Baru city, Batu Pahat and Muar towns also have rows of pre-war shop houses and old buildings worth preserving,” he added.

Zulkurnain said four buildings had been gazetted as heritage buildings and historical monuments – the Grand Palace and Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi’s Old Johor Fort and Muar High School.