Penang Watch

NST Online » Local News
2008/05/28
Pre-war heart of Penang is crumbling
By : Phuah Ken Lin

A dilapidated pre-war house in Lorong Aboo Siti. The Penang Island Municipal Council may subsidise repairs.

EORGE TOWN: Dilapidated pre-war buildings at the inner city centre are becoming an eyesore and a danger to the public.
There have been reports of motorists and pedestrians who were almost hit by falling roof tiles.

Penang Island Municipal Council councillor Tham Weng Fatt said there were about 400 pre-war buildings in the city and about 100 of them were on the verge of collapsing.

Tham said the council had received six reports of tiles hitting cars parked near the buildings.

"The owners must repair the structures to prevent any untoward incident," he said after inspecting dilapidated structures at Lorong Aboo Siti yesterday.
Dilapidated pre-war buildings can be found in Jalan C.Y. Choy, Jalan Burmah, Jalan Macalister and Lebuh Carnavon.

Tham said notices would be sent to the 100 owners, asking them to repair the structures, adding that action would be taken if they failed to do so.

He said the council would trace owners who had moved to other states or migrated.

He also added that the council would consider subsidising repair works on the buildings.