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| Give Incentives To Owners Of Heritage Buildings |
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| PENANG: The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry plans to recommend that incentives be given to owners of heritage buildings so that they will preserve them. |
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| Its Deputy Minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong said the ministry would recommend to the Government to provide incentives like assessment and quit rent deductions for those who preserve heritage buildings. |
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| He said following the demolition of the 77-year-old Bok House in Kuala Lumpur, his ministry was seriously looking into getting private owners to help cooperate to to preserve heritage buildings. |
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| “It is important for owners of such buildings to understand the historical and cultural values of their premises,” he told a press conference on Sunday after launching Children Education programme at Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society. |
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| Wong said the owners should not be shortsighted but be aware that heritage buildings also had commercial value. |
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| “We know that the cost for proper restoration works could be burdensome but private owners would benefit in future,” he said. |
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| Citing the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion here as an example, he said when the buyers first bought the mansion it only cost a few million ringgit. |
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| He said after restoration works, there were many who were willing to offer a price many times more than the original value. |
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| Wong said it was impossible for the Government to acquire all heritage sites and restore them. |
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| He said the Public Works Department had also set up a special unit with trained personnel for proper restoration of heritage buildings. |
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| He said private heritage building owners who needed help on proper restoration works were welcomed to seek technical assistance and consultation from his ministry. |
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| “We hope to cooperate with private sectors and non-governmental organisations that have knowledge on preservation to protect our valuable heritage,” he said. |
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