GEORGE TOWN: Owners of old and dilapidated heritage shophouses in George Town who fail to ensure their premises are safe could face enforcement action and even be taken to court.
They may also be ordered to carry out repairs, demolish dangerous sections of their buildings or take other necessary safety measures, said state local government and town and country planning committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye.
He said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) could act against buildings found to be dangerous, seriously damaged or posing a threat to public safety.
“Action can be taken under Section 82 of the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) to address any nuisance identified.
“For buildings that are dangerous or at risk of collapse, MBPP can also take action under Section 83 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
“This includes ordering owners to carry out repair works, demolish dangerous sections of their buildings or take the necessary safety measures.
“If owners fail to comply with valid notices or instructions, further enforcement action, including court action, can be taken under the relevant laws,” he said during the Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting on Monday (Nov 2).
H'ng (PH-Jawi) was replying to an oral question from Ong Ah Teong (PH-Batu Lancang) on MBPP's efforts to ensure the safety of old and dilapidated buildings in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, including cooperation with building owners.
On Aug 4, two Sri Lankan tourists, a 66-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman, were injured when part of a heritage shophouse along Armenian Street collapsed.
The incident, reported at 1.11pm on Tuesday, involved stones and timber falling from a beam on one floor of the building.
H'ng said MBPP could also take immediate action permitted under the law to protect the public, while the cost of the work could be recovered from the responsible parties where provided for by law.
He said 63 dilapidated buildings remained in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, down from 510 identified in 2008.
The 2008 figure comprised 223 buildings in the Core Zone and 287 in the Buffer Zone.
“Since the site's recognition, the state government, together with MBPP, building owners and other stakeholders, has carried out various conservation, repair and maintenance initiatives on heritage buildings.
“This reduction reflects the progress made in conserving and monitoring heritage buildings to ensure public safety, sustainability and the preservation of the heritage value of George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site,” he said.
He said MBPP, together with George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), continued to give attention to the safety of old and dilapidated buildings to protect occupants, building users and the public, while ensuring their historical and architectural value was preserved.
“MBPP carries out inventories, inspections and regular monitoring of heritage buildings to identify damage, structural deterioration and safety risks that require follow-up action.
“This includes further inspections, repair works and enforcement action,” he said.
Among its latest measures was the appointment of a termite-control company on Sept 11 to conduct visual inspections of 3,853 heritage buildings.
“The inspections cover 82 Category I heritage buildings and 3,771 Category II buildings, and are expected to begin in November 2026,” he said.
MBPP was also in the process of appointing a qualified engineering consultancy to conduct preliminary assessments and visual structural inspections of Category II heritage buildings to identify damage and deterioration that could affect safety.
H'ng said MBPP had also held an engagement session with owners of old and dilapidated buildings on Sept 19 to raise awareness and explain their responsibilities in ensuring their premises were safe and properly maintained.
“In September, MBPP also wrote to Chinese clans and non-governmental organisations that own buildings within the heritage site, asking them to appoint an engineer to inspect and certify the structural safety of their respective buildings.
“Copies of the inspection and certification reports were also requested for MBPP's records,” he said.
For building plan applications involving premises within the heritage site, H'ng said MBPP imposed additional requirements on fire and structural safety in accordance with technical standards.
These included submitting a structural safety report certified by a Professional Engineer registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) before the approved building plan could be released.
“Building owners must also conduct inspections and submit structural safety reports if damage or deterioration affects the safety of their buildings, or at least once every five years, whichever comes first,” he said.
To encourage the conservation of heritage buildings, MBPP had also streamlined procedures for repair and conservation applications and provided advisory services to owners.
“Among the initiatives was the removal of the requirement for a Heritage Pre-Consultation Building Plan application from Jan 1, 2024, to speed up the approval process and reduce bureaucracy in conservation and adaptive-reuse projects,” he said.
From Oct 1, 2025, MBPP also improved its guidelines on land surrender for road-widening purposes by introducing a replacement-charge mechanism as an alternative to land surrender, subject to prevailing conditions.
“More recently, from July 1, 2026, MBPP improved procedures for building plan applications involving changes of use from residential premises to shophouses or permanent shops, including alteration and extension works,” he said.
H'ng said the measures were aimed at encouraging the optimal reuse of buildings, subject to planning, safety and heritage conservation requirements.
“The state government hopes building owners will continue to carry out maintenance, repairs and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings to ensure public safety and preserve George Town's heritage.
“The state government, through MBPP and in collaboration with GTWHI, will continue to strengthen safety monitoring and cooperation with building owners.
“At the same time, enforcement action will be taken against owners who fail to comply with safety requirements to protect the public while safeguarding George Town's heritage,” he said.
