Bid to save Johor's heritage buildings
JOHOR BARU: It was a painful loss, but a lesson learnt. This is what
the local community has felt following the demolition of the
150-year-old mansion belonging to Johor's iconic philanthropist and
contractor Wong Ah Fook, whose name was etched in Johor's modern history
with a road named after him.
Johor Baru Chinese History and Heritage Museum chairman Tan Chai Puan said the incident had prompted a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to start making an inventory of all the historical buildings in the state, especially in Johor Baru.
Tan, who was instrumental in the transformation of the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk into a cultural hub in the heart of the city, said for Johor Baru to achieve international city status by 2020, as targeted by the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), there should be proactive measures to preserve its heritage and culture.
"An international city that has no heritage or culture will not appeal to tourists."
He said he and a group of history buffs had met Datin Patricia Lim Pui Huen, the great-granddaughter of Wong Ah Fook, an hour before the demolition was carried out to discuss the preservation of the site.
Lim is the fifth generation of the Wong family.
"The tearing down of the old mansion was a very great loss, not only to the Chinese community but to the rich history of Johor Baru.
"The reaction would have been similar whether it was an old mosque, an ancient Indian temple or any old building."
Tan said there were about 20 heritage buildings in Johor Baru and the NGO would now focus on preserving such sites.
"I admit we (the NGO) were slow in taking action.
"There should have been better planning, such as working closely with the local council on the matter.
"We missed the chance to save the old mansion. It was a case of a lack of awareness.
"Awareness will create consensus which will lead to determination and action."
It was reported on Thursday that Johor had lost a piece of its history when the mansion along Jalan Lumba Kuda, which was formerly occupied by squatters and two Taoist temples, was demolished on Wednesday.
Community leaders from the Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association rallied together to prepare a formal appeal to the Johor Menteri Besar's office, albeit, a tad too late.
Wong, who had close ties to the then state ruler Sultan Abu Bakar in the mid-1800s, had built some of the most recognisable heritage buildings in Johor, including Istana Besar, Balai Zaharah, the residence of the state's first menteri besar, Datuk Jaafar Mohamed, at Bukit Senyum and the Johor Baru prison in Jalan Ayer Molek.
Wong, who was born in 1837 in Canton, China, died in 1918 at the age of 81 at his home in Kampung Java Road in Singapore.
Guan Sheng Tan Buddhist Association chairman Koh Kim Poh said they would seek the help of Johor Baru Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, through the Johor Baru MCA complaints bureau, on the issue of the temples.
The temple committee had rented the premises for the past 14 years.
"We hope an alternative site would be provided for us to rebuild our temple."
Johor Baru Chinese History and Heritage Museum chairman Tan Chai Puan said the incident had prompted a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to start making an inventory of all the historical buildings in the state, especially in Johor Baru.
Tan, who was instrumental in the transformation of the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk into a cultural hub in the heart of the city, said for Johor Baru to achieve international city status by 2020, as targeted by the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), there should be proactive measures to preserve its heritage and culture.
"An international city that has no heritage or culture will not appeal to tourists."
He said he and a group of history buffs had met Datin Patricia Lim Pui Huen, the great-granddaughter of Wong Ah Fook, an hour before the demolition was carried out to discuss the preservation of the site.
Lim is the fifth generation of the Wong family.
"The tearing down of the old mansion was a very great loss, not only to the Chinese community but to the rich history of Johor Baru.
"The reaction would have been similar whether it was an old mosque, an ancient Indian temple or any old building."
Tan said there were about 20 heritage buildings in Johor Baru and the NGO would now focus on preserving such sites.
"I admit we (the NGO) were slow in taking action.
"There should have been better planning, such as working closely with the local council on the matter.
"We missed the chance to save the old mansion. It was a case of a lack of awareness.
"Awareness will create consensus which will lead to determination and action."
It was reported on Thursday that Johor had lost a piece of its history when the mansion along Jalan Lumba Kuda, which was formerly occupied by squatters and two Taoist temples, was demolished on Wednesday.
Community leaders from the Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association rallied together to prepare a formal appeal to the Johor Menteri Besar's office, albeit, a tad too late.
Wong, who had close ties to the then state ruler Sultan Abu Bakar in the mid-1800s, had built some of the most recognisable heritage buildings in Johor, including Istana Besar, Balai Zaharah, the residence of the state's first menteri besar, Datuk Jaafar Mohamed, at Bukit Senyum and the Johor Baru prison in Jalan Ayer Molek.
Wong, who was born in 1837 in Canton, China, died in 1918 at the age of 81 at his home in Kampung Java Road in Singapore.
Guan Sheng Tan Buddhist Association chairman Koh Kim Poh said they would seek the help of Johor Baru Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, through the Johor Baru MCA complaints bureau, on the issue of the temples.
The temple committee had rented the premises for the past 14 years.
"We hope an alternative site would be provided for us to rebuild our temple."
Read more: Bid to save Johor's heritage buildings - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/bid-to-save-johor-s-heritage-buildings-1.585803#ixzz30bdCK16U
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