A group of residents of Kampung Tanjong Tokong here have reiterated their concerns over the proposed redevelopment of the village with physical buildings without any element of living heritage development.
Tanjong Tokong Residents’ Association chairman Mohd Salleh Yahaya said the residents were apprehensive over the physical development of dense flats like ghettos which was seen as being detrimental to the lives of the people.
He said the Penang DAP government should be sensitive when approving the project plan so as not to bring harm to the people.
“The association is not against development. We support a balanced development with tradition and modernity as stated in our original memorandum,” he told Bernama.
“We want the preservation of heritage and culture as found on the World Heritage Site in George Town. After George Town, the scope of heritage should be extended to the whole of Penang.”
Mohd Salleh said the association regretted that up to now there was no reply from the state government to assist villagers in preserving Kampung Tanjong Tokong’s heritage and traditions.
The kampung, once a fishing village, is one of the oldest settlements in Penang but has been cut off from the sea over the years and now lives in the shadow of a luxury marina property development on reclaimed land.
FMT