Documents, pictures of bungalow sought
Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN (March 31, 2011): The Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) is in the midst of locating documents of a colonial-era bungalow here which was illegally demolished last year.
This move is part of efforts to rebuild it to its approximate original condition.
MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail said the council’s officials are gathering plans and pictures of the double-storey building at 20 Pykett Avenue which was torn down without a permit on July 26 last year.
“The council’s building department is tracing the plans, and asking people in the surrounding area to provide old photos as we do not have these,” she said adding that a search is on to find the old plans.
MPPP had on Jan 11 issued an order to developer Klassik Tropika Sdn Bhd to rebuild the bungalow it had torn down without the necessary approval.
The demolition of the building led to an outcry from heritage activists and residents nearby.
The building was originally owned by Khaw Bian Cheng Sdn Bhd, which is connected to the 19th century magnate Khaw Sim Bee who became governor of Phuket in the 1890s.
Klassik Tropika, a subsidiary of Mah Sing Group Bhd, submitted a proposal to build an apartment complex with four high-rise towers at the site, to MPPP on Oct 6 last year.
The company has said that it had already complied with action taken against it, including a fine of RM6,000 set by the George Town magistrate’s court on Jan 17 this year, for demolishing the bungalow without a permit.
“We will let (state Local Government Committee chairman) Chow Kon Yeow give further comments on this as he wants to make an announcement about it,” Patahiyah added when asked about the matter at a press conference today.
Updated: 10:34PM Thu, 31 Mar 2011
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