The World Architecture Day 2018

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang
At The World Architecture Day 2018

20th October 2018

 

YB Dato’ Yew Tung Seang, Dato’ Bandar MBPP

Pengarah Kawalan Bangunan MBPP En. Rizuwan Bin Salleh

YB Dato’ Khor Siang Gin, M.D. of Hunza Properties Berhad

Ar. Aw Hooi Fang – WAD Organizing Committee Chairperson

RISM Chairman Sr Hj Mohd Zahry Shaikh Abdul Rahman

IEM Chairman Ir Ting Chek Choon

MGBC Chairman Mr Baylon Tham Wai Leong

PAM NC chairman Ar Loh Chiak Eong and committee members

Representatives of MIP, REDHA, PMBBMDA, Mano Plus, Hin Bus Depot

Members of PAM, members of the Media, Students from the University

Good morning.

First of all, congratulations to PAM Northern Chapter for celebrating World Architecture Day 2018 in the state level. This annual event which is held in the month of October is held throughout the world to celebrate how architecture is shaping the world’s-built environment. This year’s theme reflects just that: “Architecture. for a better world”

In order to achieve a better world, each of us need to do our part and what better way to begin with is from home, from our very own Penang state. I look forward to PAM’s contribution with the state’s Vision 2030, A family focussed green and smart state that inspires the nation.

I know PAM Northern Chapter had already engaged in a few programs with the state government. For example, the “pemutihan” of child care centres. The child care centres have always been a family related agenda and unfortunately there are a few centres in the state that operated without proper approval from the local authorities. The state decided to review these centres and ensures that they follow the proper regulations.

PAM assisted to link its members to some of these centres so that the centres can get a proper professional advice and to be corrected if necessary to follow the regulations.

Another example would be the PAAG program, Penang Accessibility Action Group. The state seeks to improve accessibility in the built environment for the physically challenged community. PAM Northern Chapter has contributed in this aspect to review guidelines to encourage more built environment to be more accessible. This is part of the vision to increase liveability for the disabled community.

There are other areas of focus we hope PAM can assist. For example, how to bring back dwellers back to the city of George Town. We know as the real estate become more expensive, it is not viable for residents to reside in the heart of town. We need a new formula to make the inner city more liveable and still maintain its heritage outstanding universal value. After all the people are the life and pulse of a city. We hope that more people who work in the city can live in the city itself.

I hope PAM Northern Chapter could regularly organise architectural competitions for public buildings and have the best plans for Penang.

I wish the World Architecture Day celebration this year a success. With this, I declare the official opening of the World Architecture Day Celebration.

Thank you.