Penang govt accused of not doing enough on state history

 

Noted architect and cultural figure Lim Chong Keat has questioned the fate of precious old paintings of Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: A founding member of the Penang Museum Board has taken the Penang state government to task for not doing enough to promote interest in the state’s history and state archives.

Noted architect Lim Chong Keat, a prominent figure on Penang culture and heritage, said not much was being done by the state’s museum and library boards to kindle interest in Penang history among Penangites, as well as serious research into Penang’s history.

He also said NGOs such as the Penang Heritage Trust, where he was the founding chairman, should take the lead in making it happen.

Chong Keat is the brother of Lim Chong Eu, the state’s longest serving chief minister and noted for his interest in Penang’s history.

He said while it was “fine” for authors everywhere to write about Penang history or to fictionalise it, there must be more serious historical research by Penangites.

The Penang museum and library should be compiling the documents for Malaysians to study, he said.

“And we should also ask, what is the status of our Penang museum and library, and all the cultural institutions in the state?” he said in a talk on Penang history on Saturday.

“A lot can be done if the museum and the library are really activated into dynamic research institutions, say like the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. It can be done by political edict.”

Lim asked about the fate of precious early paintings of Penang; he said he had been told they had been severely damaged in the basement of the state museum.

He also asked what had happened to James George’s paintings of Suffolk House and the view of Kedah Peak from Penang Hill.

“Why are these most important paintings left in the basement and still not being restored?

“Accountability in history and archival work is something that we should question. What has happened to all the great things that were done historically 50 years ago?” he said.

Lim also questioned the state library on the whereabouts of books belonging to David Brown, the Scotsman who founded the Glugor spice estate, and after whom Padang Brown is named.

“Where did all these books go? To the karung guni? To kacang putih sellers? The state library and museum were set up at that time, including the Penang Free School’s library. It’s a huge collection.”

Lim, who is an Old Free, also raised concerns about the Free School library, suggesting that the school seemed to have overlooked its historical significance. - FMT