Ensure every building is used and not left vacant

Lai Cheng April 16, 2025 0 Comments
Staff quarters building of the Penang Fisheries Dept in Batu Maung supposed to be demolished remain abandoned.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the government to make use of every building that has been constructed and not leave them abandoned, as this would only be a loss to the country, considering the large amount of money that has been spent on building them.

A local newspaper in January 2025 reported that the Federal Court building, which holds heritage status and is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, has been left abandoned, tarnishing the beautiful scenery of the capital city.

Condition of the stalls which remain empty at Batu Ferringhi

In Penang, the Batu Ferringhi Public Market Complex, located at Jalan Sungai Satu, which began operations in August 2020 and also includes a food court, multipurpose hall, badminton court, public spaces, and other fully equipped facilities, is now abandoned.

These abandoned buildings should not be left as they are, as they need to be redeveloped and utilized. Leaving them vacant indicates poor asset management.

The government should take action to restore these buildings, as they can be used for other beneficial purposes. If left vacant, more damage may occur to the buildings. More cost will be required for repairs when damage occurs.

Batu Ferringhi Public Market Complex which is abandoned.

The government can conduct an assessment first, to determine whether the building is suitable for reuse or needs to be demolished and replaced with a new one. If it can still be used, the government will be able to save on expenses.

For example, the staff quarters building of the Penang Fisheries Department in Batu Maung which was supposed to be demolished and rebuilt but until now, the quarters remain abandoned.

Batu Ferringhi Public Market Complex at Jalan Sungai Satu.

All empty spaces and buildings need to be utilized for the sake of environmental sustainability, more efficient use of resources, and community development. This issue does not even include buildings left abandoned due to stalled projects.

These abandoned buildings also clearly disadvantage people from accessing better public infrastructure and facilities. Although the number may be small, it still represents a loss to the country and the relevant authorities, especially since it involves a significant amount of public funds.

CAP urges the parties entrusted with managing these abandoned buildings to fulfill their responsibilities by ensuring that buildings that are still usable are not left unused.  Monitoring must be emphasized to ensure that all buildings owned by the Federal and State  governments are fully utilized and not left abandoned.

CAP menggesa agar pihak yang diberikan amanah dalam menguruskan bangunan terbiar ini melaksanakan tanggungjawab mereka dalam memastikan bangunan yang masih boleh digunakan untuk tidak membiarkannya tanpa dimanfaatkan.

Oleh itu, dalam masalah ini aspek pemantauan mestilah ditekankan bagi memastikan semua bangunan milik kerajaan Persekutuan dan Negeri digunakan sepenuhnya agar ia tidak terbiar begitu sahaja demi untuk manfaat bersama.

 

 

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumer Association of Penang (CAP)

Press Statement, 16 April 2025