Group out to preserve medical hall

The Save Yin Oi Tong Cultural Living Heritage Community has launched a signature campaign to pressure the Penang Government and the Cheah Kongsi to preserve the 214-year-old traditional Chinese medical hall in George Town.

Its coordinator Joann Khaw said they wanted to collect as many signatures as possible by Monday for presentation to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

She said although the three-storey building belonged to the Cheah Kongsi, the state government should take the initiative to keep the living heritage alive.

Khaw said the tenant Yin Oi Tong has been occupying the building in China Street for the last 124 years and was moving out as it could not sustain the business including paying the rental.

“Since traditional medicine had a strong history in Penang, we need to preserve this culture.

“The tenant is willing to rent one floor of the building just to preserve the medical hall,” she said.

The medical hall was initially based in Pitt Street before moving to its current premises. It is learnt that the tenant would be moving to Paya Terubong.

It was reported recently that several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as the Cultural Heritage Advisory Team (CHAT) and Penang Heritage Trust, as well as heritage researcher Tan Yeow Wooi, have joined hands to try to preserve the building’s traditional usage as a medical hall.

Khaw said Yin Oi Tong staff were packing up their things, and were in the midst of moving out to their new premises.

“Maybe the state can give incentives such as exemption on the payment of assessment and quit rent to the property owner in order to allow the tenant enjoy a lower rental,” she added.

When contacted, state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the owner planned to refurbish the building that was in a dilapidated condition.

“I am not sure what the owner plans to do with the building after the refurbishment works are completed.

“We can only ensure the refurbishment is done according to heritage guidelines. We don’t have the jurisdiction to tell the owner on who should rent the building,” he added.

Chow said he hoped a win-win situation can be achieved to ensure the medical hall can be maintained as part of the living heritage in the city. - By Manjit Kaur