GEORGE TOWN (Nov 5, 2009) : The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) has appointed a contractor to demolish run-down pre-war houses that are lying vacant along Maxwell Road, posing a safety threat to the public.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said today the move is necessary as many of the terrace houses had fallen into bad physical condition and are beyond repair.

He stressed however that the contractor has been instructed that vacant lots next to occupied ones should not be demolished.

Ng was commenting on a fire in one of the heritage units on Oct 24, allegedly started by workers who had come to clear the vacant home.

The lot where the fire began was sandwiched between two occupied units.

The entire row of about 24 terrace houses along the historic Maxwell Road enclave are located just outside the Unesco heritage zone of George Town.

The houses have been earmarked by PDC for a development project for the expansion of Komtar.
The famous century-old Sia Boey market adjacent to the houses has also been relocated, but several of the Maxwell Road residents have defiantly stayed out.

Ng, who is also the chief minister’s political secretary, said he has instructed PDC to conduct an investigation into the fire, which had been put out by the Fire and Rescue Services Department.

“The initial report on the incident revealed that the culprits were not PDC’s contractors but could have be workers from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB),” he said.

He said the authorities had obtained the car licence plate number used by the workers, and were in the process of identifying them.

“We believe three men were involved in setting fire to some electrical wires on the front portion of the shop. Two are believed to be foreigners while the local is believed to be a TNB worker,” he said.

Ng added that if it was found that the culprits were TNB workers, a police report would be lodged, to allow the police and TNB handle the matter.

“But if we find that they were workers under PDC’s appointed contractor, we will terminate the contractor,” he said.

On Oct 24, smoke billowing from the vacant shoplot caused panic amongst age-old occupants along the road.

The fire was put out in time and only scorched the front portion of the vacant unit.

The Sun – 04:24PM Thu, 05 Nov 2009 by Opalyn Mok
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=39877