A LETTER to Unesco on Sia Boey (old Prangin Market) has angered the Penang state authorities. This proposed site for the transport hub is just across the 40ft-wide Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong from the heritage zone.
Excavations at the site have unearthed artefacts and Unesco may want to make it part of the heritage zone for the good of Penang.
As a matter of courtesy the authorities should get the views of Unesco on turning Sia Boey into a transport hub.
Why did the state authorities keep their plan a secret from Unesco? Some excavation work is going on at the site. Does this mean the site had already been approved for the transport hub?
The state says the transport hub proposal is not finalised but that Penang Forum’s letter has potentially sabotaged the plan. The Forum’s Lim Mah Hui is accused of being discourteous to the state government for not informing it of his letter. But what about the greater discourtesy of the state government not informing Unesco of its plan that could adversely affect the heritage zone for good as the 40ft-wide road is not a sufficient or proper buffer between the two?
The secretive manner of trying to turn Sia Boey into a transport hub without seeking the views of Unesco is reminiscent of the way three rows of shophouses in the residential zone of Desa Jelita, Permatang Damar Laut, were re-zoned by the state planning committee from “residential” to “industrial” without consulting the Department of Environment which says the conversion is in breach of laws. Yet factories operating illegally were legalised giving the excuse that action to evict them could not proceed as the enforcement officers could not get into the illegal factories to take photographs as evidence. And this was after the residents were told that the small industries were operating illegally and would be evicted.
The Penang Forum is thus right to have sought the opinion of Unesco before it is too late.
Ravinder Singh
Penang
Excavations at the site have unearthed artefacts and Unesco may want to make it part of the heritage zone for the good of Penang.
As a matter of courtesy the authorities should get the views of Unesco on turning Sia Boey into a transport hub.
Why did the state authorities keep their plan a secret from Unesco? Some excavation work is going on at the site. Does this mean the site had already been approved for the transport hub?
The state says the transport hub proposal is not finalised but that Penang Forum’s letter has potentially sabotaged the plan. The Forum’s Lim Mah Hui is accused of being discourteous to the state government for not informing it of his letter. But what about the greater discourtesy of the state government not informing Unesco of its plan that could adversely affect the heritage zone for good as the 40ft-wide road is not a sufficient or proper buffer between the two?
The secretive manner of trying to turn Sia Boey into a transport hub without seeking the views of Unesco is reminiscent of the way three rows of shophouses in the residential zone of Desa Jelita, Permatang Damar Laut, were re-zoned by the state planning committee from “residential” to “industrial” without consulting the Department of Environment which says the conversion is in breach of laws. Yet factories operating illegally were legalised giving the excuse that action to evict them could not proceed as the enforcement officers could not get into the illegal factories to take photographs as evidence. And this was after the residents were told that the small industries were operating illegally and would be evicted.
The Penang Forum is thus right to have sought the opinion of Unesco before it is too late.
Ravinder Singh
Penang