IPOH: The Ipoh City Council should set up a special committee consisting of professionals from the private sector when dealing on issues pertaining to the development of heritage buildings.
The Perak Heritage Society president Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Tahir said it would be advisable for the council to have engineers, architects, and experts on heritage buildings sitting in the committee.
He said there was a similar committee in Penang, which Ipoh should follow.
"This is to ensure that there is check-and-balance when approvals are granted for development of heritage buildings within the Special Area Draft Plan (RKK).
"With the committee, the public could be made more aware of what is stipulated in the RKK each time there is an application for development.
"For example in terms of height, there are different specifications according to a certain area, then there are the interior and exterior factors to look into as well," he said on Wednesday (Sept 14).
Mohd Tajuddin said currently the council had a committee, but it was within the department.
He added that with the committee consisting of experts in the field, any sort of "favouritism" in approving such development could be avoided as well.
"Right now, we don't know what is happening – whether the guidelines are really being followed, or 'one eye is closed' when approving any applications.
"People with the passion for heritage will have in-depth knowledge of the building's structure, whereas those without such sentiment may just approve without blinking an eye," he said.
He said to avoid any issues, the committee could play a role in ensuring people abide by the rules when such applications are made.
