theSun | FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2009
news without borders
Rais: No RM25m
allocation for Penang
by Himanshu Bhatt and Eva Yeong
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
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 criti-
cal 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 submit-
ted 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
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 tradi-
tional 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
Woman and son perish in fire
by Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
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
 11
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 conser-
vation 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 respon-
sible, and play its part to preserve, protect and
promote heritage in Penang and George Town.
from the bazaar as well as stall traders on the lo-
cation 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 Ra-
madan 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.
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.