“During the restoration process, it is necessary to dismantle and rebuild some sections to restore (the market) to its 19th century architectural splendour,” he told reporters after an event in Kota Damansara today.

“(Rest assured) it will be preserved, rebuilt and made into a ‘tourism product’ in conjunction with Taiping’s 150th anniversary as a heritage town.”

A Facebook post in April showed photos and videos of the market being torn down except for a small section of one of the two buildings comprising the superstructure.

Netizens had questioned whether the two buildings had collapsed amid the restoration work.

Earlier this year, Nga said the renovation work, which began in January 2021, was proceeding well, but was taking time because the government wanted to maintain its unique features.

In 2019, then housing and local government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the government had allocated RM9 million to renovate the Taiping Market, which housed 212 business lots on an area measuring 0.4ha.