This, according to Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), is because conservation of living culture is an important but often neglected focus of the heritage inscription – more so with an inspection by Unesco on the overall site looming as early as next year.
PHT has emphasised the need for urgent measures to stem the loss of the city's culture and communities which have been tied to escalating rentals and property prices since the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2000.
"There are several premises and enclaves that have seen traditional communities disappearing over the last few years," said PHT president Khoo Salma Nasution
For instance, in the Beach Street financial district, the rows of money changers, booksellers, merchandise stores and textile shops that had existed for decades moved out over the last three years, to be replaced by pubs, discotheques, cafes and fast-food outlets.
In Little India, traditional traders who cannot afford rising rentals and are seeing their customer base dwindling due to local communities departing from the precinct are having their premises taken over by modern emporiums and stores.
Khoo said there should be a mechanism that encourages original tenants and communities to be preserved and maintained in the area as long as possible.
This would require introducing appropriate regulations on usage of premises, especially those that house endangered trades.
She said there needs to be proper deliberation on the types of protection that can be given to help support the trades.
She cited an example a policy to ensure premises or enclaves that were traditionally occupied by certain trades or segments would be reserved for similar uses.
This means that an owner would have to apply to have such a premise used by a different and incongruous trade.
"The authorities can enforce applications for change of use," Khoo said in an interview.
She added that the authorities could penalise owners who changed the usage in sensitive buildings without permission.
"This would act as a deterrent to other owners, and slow down any major changes."
She said this could tie in with licensing on usage of buildings. "The government should set up an integrated data management of the site, to guide issuance of permits in premises," she said.
"For example, there are many premises being converted into hotels, although some of the new businesses do not comply with requirements such as the need to have back lanes."
George Town, together with Malacca, were made World Heritage Sites by Unesco on July 7, 2008 as both are port cities of the former Straits Settlements.
Khoo added that a comprehensive assessment was also needed on the conditions of buildings within the inner city.
In line with this, the process of approving renovations in heritage buildings needed to be reviewed to ensure work was done according to the character and build of the structures.
"There are owners who apply for renovations in their buildings, but do different kinds of renovations," she said.
"Improvement in public infrastructure, including aspects like flood mitigation, sewage, drainage and pedestrianisation, is also an important component in the habitable landscape of the city." – November 6, 2014.
Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/save-george-town-people-too-not-just-buildings-says-heritage-trust
