It wants the state government to take the responsibility of restoring the building as it carried significant historical value as a home for the founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan wants the state government to restore the Runnymede ancillary building for its significant historical value after it was demolished on Feb 9.
Gerakan Bayan Baru Chairman Teh Leong Meng said the Runnymede was categorised as Category II heritage but the demolition was carried out based on planning permission obtained 17 years ago.
He said the state government must take the responsibility to restore the building as it carried significant historical value as a home for the founder of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
“The planning permission for the project was granted in 1999.
“How can the demolition of a heritage building be based on an outdated and lapsed 17-year-old planning permission? How did Penang Island City Council (MBPP) allow this?” he asked after visiting the site here today.
He said according to the Penang Structure Plan 2020, gazetted on June 28, 2007, any planning permission could only be extended for five years and any construction work must be completed within five years.
During the recent Chinese New Year break, landowners demolished the 208-year-old Runnymede bungalow where Sir Stamford Raffles had lived.
The bungalow, along with six other buildings, was cleared out, only leaving the three-storey hotel annexe, built in 1930.
Penang Gerakan Liaison Committee member H’ng Khoon Leng said state exco Chow Kon Yeow and the MBPP should provide a remedial plan after the Runnymede demolition debacle.
“Those who flouted the law, including the developer and the people allowing the planning permission, must be severely punished to ensure such work without approval is not repeated.”
The Runnymede building was built in the 19th century and has a remarkable history as it was the home of Stamford Raffles when he was the assistant secretary to the Penang Governor, Phillip Dunlas, before he became the founder of Singapore in 1819.
The Runnymede was named after the English field on which King John of England signed the peace treaty known as the Magna Carta.
– BERNAMA
– BERNAMA
-FMT NEWS-
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