March 11, 2010 | Broadcast News

GEORGE TOWN - George Town’s World Heritage status will be endangered in two years’ time if heritage building owners continue to renovate their buildings without adhering to restoration guidelines set by the World Heritage Office (WHO) and Penang Island Municipal Council.

State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said the whole facade of George Town and its unique heritage values will be altered in two years if the renovation activities by building owners are not checked.

In view of this, the council and WHO have set up a heritage taskforce consisting of officers from various council departments such as the enforcement, licensing, planning and engineering units to monitor renovation work on heritage buildings in the World Heritage zone.

Chow said WHO and the council have called for roundtable meetings to curb this worrying trend and also to create outreach programmes to educate heritage building owners, architects and contractors.

“We need these building owners to know that they must protect the outstanding universal values (OUV) of their buildings in order to preserve the value of their buildings,” he said.

Full article available via> The Sun Daily

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