11 shophouses to regain pre-war beauty in Pulau Tikus

GEORGE TOWN (Sept 14): Eleven pre-war shophouses in Pulau Tikus, Penang, are set to relive their heyday in the 1920s with the restoration of their good looks and identity at the end of the year.

The RM146,000 Pulau Tikus Sustainable Community project is a cost-sharing initiative between the Estate of Cheah Leong Keah, Think City and Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey's office.

The Cheah estate  has also agreed to withhold rent increments for the 11 shophouses after the restoration.

"Before the repeal of the Rent Control Act in 2000, the rental of a shophouse in Pulau Tikus ranged from RM30 to 400 a month. Since the repeal, the rent has increased steadily and drastically. For example, a tenant who was paying monthly rental of RM2,500 in 2010 is now paying RM3,800.

I'm glad that the landlord has agreed to not increase rental for the next four years," said Yap.

Work will commence soon to repair or replacing all windows with wooden shutter louvres, wooden balusters bottoms and hardwood window panels.

"Upon completion, all the shophouses will have wooden chicks or tarpaulin canvas awning for shade as well as double-sided light box and front-facing signage that are of consistent size," she said.

They will also receive a RM20,000 paint job.

Think City executive director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said the facade restoration project was the beginning of the journey to build up the character and identity of Pulau Tikus.

"Cultural heritage is an asset for the future of Penang. It is important to preserve the living heritage and physical buildings," he said.