Don't demolish buildings in Penang without permission, warns CM

GEORGE TOWN: Developers have been warned not to demolish old buildings without local council approval.

"Whether buildings are in heritage zones or not, no developers should demolish buildings without prior approval," said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Speaking at the refurbished Town Hall building at Esplanade on Saturday (March 4), he said non-governmental organisations (NGO) were unhappy with the lack of conservation and preservation efforts in the state.

He acknowledged that complaints had been made to the Unesco office in Jakarta about the demolition of old buildings and structures on Penang island.

"Local councils should be on their toes as nobody cares about the 1,000 good deeds you have done but will remember the one small mistake," he said.

Penang, said Chow, remains committed towards conservation and preservation practices in line with its Unesco Heritage status.

He urged local authorities to engage NGOs although none of the buildings in dispute were listed as categories one or two, or located in core and buffer zones.