Thesun 2009-09-11 Page11 Rais No Rm25m Allocation For Penang

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| FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2009

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Rais: No RM25m allocation for Penang by Himanshu Bhatt and Eva Yeong [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government said there was a “misconception” that it had allocated a RM25 million grant to Penang for heritage conservation. Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said on Wednesday such an allocation for George Town, after it had been conferred World Heritage Site status by Unesco last year, did not exist. “There has been a misconception. There is no allocation in that matter. I have arranged for the chief minister to get an official letter from the commissioner of heritage.” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had sent Rais a letter on Aug 27, saying the state needed the funds for conservation and research, and for critical plans it is required to submit to Unesco by Feb 1, 2011. Unesco is expected to inspect George Town and Malacca, which share joint heritage listing, to review their status after the deadline. The Penang government had also submitted its implementation proposal for the money to federal heritage commissioner Datuk Prof Zuraina Majid on March 24. Lim has said Malacca has already been given its RM25 million. Rais said the ministry had carried out some heritage conservation work in Malacca, but had

not granted the state any cash. “It was within the purview of the Heritage Department to spend some money for repairs and certain basic administrative costs.” He said the ministry will continue with conservation works in both states when the economic situation improves. “On future projects for Penang, I will explain to the chief minister. It will be on the same basis. But for now our financial situation is not good, so we cannot allocate this year.” On Nov 22, 2008, then prime minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had confirmed a RM50 million allocation from Budget 2009 for George Town and Malacca, to (what was then) the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry. Lim, who was away as a panelist at the World Economic Forum at Dalian, China, was reportedly furious when informed by his aides after theSun contacted his office for comment. “If there is no RM50 million as promised, it shows the federal government does not care about the heritage status and does not value Unesco’s recognition,” a preliminary response from his office said. It noted that Abdullah had promised RM50 million to both Malacca and George Town. Lim urged the federal government to be responsible, and play its part to preserve, protect and promote heritage in Penang and George Town.

Abdul Malik (left) shakes hands with one of the stall traders during his visit yesterday.

‘Tension between traders under control’ GEORGE TOWN: Tensions between the traditional Penang Bazaar traders in Chowrasta and unlicensed Ramadan stall traders nearby – which resulted in a scuffle last Saturday between the illegal vendors and state authorities – have been brought under control. State domestic trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Abdul Malik Kassim said yesterday there was some miscommunication between the bazaar and stall owners. He said he would meet with representatives

from the bazaar as well as stall traders on the location three months before Ramadan next year. “We want everyone – the state government, traders and consumers – to be happy,” he said. Abdul Malik said the state would continue to look for a location suitable for some 30 illegal Ramadan stalls as the area near the Penang Bazaar, where they are currently located, is congested. “These (unlicensed Ramadan stall traders) prefer to set up their stalls here as they are comfortable with the place,” he said after visiting the site.

Woman and son perish in fire by Charles Ramendran [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: A 28-year-old woman and her three-month-old son were killed in a fire which broke out at their house on Jalan Pudu early yesterday. The charred remains of Lee Yoke Koon and Lee Park Yee were found among the rubble at 2am. The fire was believed to have started an hour earlier. Witnesses said Yoke Koon’s father-in-law, who woke up to ease himself, was the first to spot the fire and alerted the remaining six members of the family. It is learnt that Yoke Koon’s husband Lee Han

Pew, 29, having brought two older sons to safety returned to the smoke-filled house to searched for his wife and Park Yee but to no avail. He was forced to leave the burning house due to the intense heat. Han Pew and five occupants of the adjoining houses, which were also destroyed in the fire, sustained minor injuries. Fire and Rescue operations chief Azizan Ismail said 44 personnel rushed to the scene in fire engines and managed to control the fire within 30 minutes. He said the victims’ remains were sent to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM) for post mortem. The cause of the fire as yet to be ascertained.