TAIPING: The Local Government Development Ministry has announced an additional allocation of RM11.5 million for the restoration of the iconic Taiping Market, the oldest market in Malaysia which was built in 1875.
Its minister Nga Kor Ming said this brought the total cost of restoring the entire market, which consists of three major structures including the day and night promenade, new market, and old market, to RM20 million.
He said the addition of allocations through the Local Government Department was made as about 115 original balau-wood poles in the market were severely damaged by termites.
"This first market in Malaysia will be known as a national heritage market and therefore every structural construction component that is built must follow the historic characteristics as stipulated in the Heritage Building Act.
"When we look at all these woods and pillars, they are all balau wood that was used in the 19th century, and we (want to) re-use the same wood. In fact, we want to have the same design and also the same colour used.
"The severe damage to the wooden structure of this market has forced us to take positive and progressive steps to save this historic building.
"Discussions between the Taiping Municipal Council, the Local Government Department, and the National Heritage Department were held and we decided to maintain the characteristics of the heritage structure of the Taiping Market with the use of the original material of balau wood," he said this at a press conference after visiting the restoration works of the Taiping Market during his working visit here, today.
It was reported on April 19, 2019, former Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamarudin said that Taiping Market would undergo massive restoration works costing RM9 million.
Zuraida said works on the site, which houses 212 business lots over a total area of 0.4 hectares, would begin in 2020 and were expected to be completed within two or three years.
https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2019/04/479930/taiping-market-get...
Nga added that the responsible contractor would need to complete the construction and upgrade of the market involved by August next year.
He said one of the provisions of the contract with the contractor was that RM1,287 per day in late delivery damages must be paid if the market could not be completed on time.