Penang state govt commits RM3m to help support heritage buildings
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has committed RM3 million as seed capital to support heritage shophouse owners restore their pre-war buildings in the heritage enclave.
"The purpose of the fund is to assist the community to safeguard their continued habitation of their rented heritage premises in light of the high conservation costs," Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said, after launching the George Town World Heritage site's 10th anniversary celebration programme at the George Town World Incorporated (GTWHI) offices.
The GTWHI is considered to be the local custodian of the Unesco heritage status, and it is involved in all aspects in relation to the marketing and promotion of the conservation as well as perservation of the area, besides providing a historical perspective of Penang.
Present were Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation exco Chow Kon Yeow, GTWHI general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee and Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai.
GTWHI has been tasked with developing incentive programmes to support owners to rent out their properties at affordable rates to long-term tenants, Lim added.
He said the efforts were to ensure that the people who make the soul of the heritage site continue living there.
"We need the support of the local communities to sustain the practices and traditions. The state government will start off with this RM3 million and look at the response before considering expanding it," he said.
The house owners in the heritage zone could apply for funding to restore or repair their buildings.
According to Lim, the state government had channelled another seed fund, which amounted to RM1 million, to upgrade public facilities in the precincts around Little India in George Town.
"The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has committed to finance and to build an arch for the enclave while the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce will provide financial support to boost trade and investments there," he said.
He added that the restoration of Fort Cornwallis will be completed within this year and that a one-metre water-filled moat surrounding the walls of the fort will be unveiled.