Penang gov't unable to prevent parts of Runnymede Hotel from demolition

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has made it clear to heritage activists that the administration was unable to prevent the demolition of several annex buildings to the Runnymede Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.
State Local Government, Traffic and Flood Mitigation committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said that the administration has no option but to allow the buildings to be torn down in accordance with the planning permission granted to the developer by the then Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) in 1999.
"However, the three-storey Runnymede Hotel will be preserved," he said at a press conference today.
Commenting on the demolition works which were carried out on a public holiday, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) secretary Ang Aing Thye said demolition works should not take place during weekends and public holidays in accordance with planning permission granted by the council.
"A notice has been issued to the developer, " he said, adding that the developer has two weeks to provide an explanation.
In a blog post on Wednesday, activist Anil Netto said heritage circles in the state were abuzz with news of the demolition on Tuesday, on the site of Stamford Raffles home in Penang.
Meanwhile, Local historian Marcus Langdon, George Town Heritage Action co-founders Mark Lay and Joann Khaw were also present to voice out their concerns over the demolition.
Langdon said the buildings on the property had heritage value and should be preserved.
Runnymede was built in 1807, it was destroyed in a fire in 1901 and a hotel was built on the site in the 1930s.