More than 3,800 heritage buildings in George Town to undergo inspections

MORE than 3,800 heritage buildings here will undergo visual inspections as authorities step up efforts to monitor structural safety in the Unesco World Heritage Site.

State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) regularly conducted inventories, inspections and monitoring to detect structural deterioration and identify safety risks.

MBPP has engaged a pest control firm to conduct visual termite inspections at 3,853 heritage properties — 82 Category I and 3,771 Category II buildings — beginning this month.

"MBPP is also in the process of appointing a qualified engineering consultancy firm to conduct preliminary assessments and visual structural inspections of Category II heritage buildings to identify damage, structural decay and conditions that could compromise safety," he told the state legislative assembly yesterday.

Chinese clan associations and non-governmental organisations owning properties in the heritage zone have been told to hire registered professional engineers to assess structural soundness and submit verified reports.

Under current guidelines, owners applying for building plans must first submit fire and structural safety reports endorsed by a Board of Engineers Malaysia-registered engineer and conduct safety audits at least once every five years.

H'ng said MBPP also simplified procedures to encourage heritage conservation, including removing the Heritage Pre-Consultation Building Plan requirement from Jan 1, 2024, introducing a fee mechanism in lieu of land surrender for road widening from Oct 1, 2025, and streamlining procedures for converting residential properties to commercial use from July 1 this year.