In a press statement, CHANT asked how permission to demolish the buildings could have been automatically granted for a development site that had been inactive for 10 years.

“Where is our Draft Local Plan?” Chant pointed out, asking if the State Planning Committee, MBPP councillors, MBPP Technical Review panel, and George Town World Heritage Incorporated, or the “seemingly” defunct Heritage Advisory Panel, knew about the move to demolish the buildings.

“Where are the State Heritage Council and State Heritage Commissioner, promised under the Penang Heritage Enactment of 2011?”

Referring to a Penang Island City Council (MBPP) document – MBPP/OSC/PM2798/15 –, CHANT said the planning permission had been cancelled and called on Chow to explain whether a Commencement of Works order had been issued instead.

CHANT also asked Chow if he felt the buildings should have been conserved in light of him being the assemblyman in charge of MBPP and his vast experience in heritage conservation, as well as the historical value of the buildings.

Yesterday, Chow reportedly said that the Runnymede heritage buildings in George Town were demolished in accordance with planning permission approved by the council 17 years ago.

Chow said the demolition by developer Warisan Pinang Sdn Bhd on Tuesday was valid according to Section 24 (1) and (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1976, as planning was approved on November 10, 1999.