We speak with Lillian Tay, architect and Chairperson of the Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia's Heritage and Conservation Committee and a Council Member of Badan Warisan Malaysia, and also Lim Take Bane, conservation architect and member of Badan Warisan, on Cabinet's decision to consider moving the Parliament to Putrajaya International Convention Centre. They say alternatives should be sought instead of moving our August house, not just for cost reasons but most importantly, for its heritage significance.

Lillian says the present Parliament House would merely be a shell of a heritage building if the move happens. There is nothing more powerful than  a "living heritage" a building which is alive and being used for its original purpose. Therefore, any plans for a new Parliament must also come with a workable proposal for the worthy use of the existing Parliament House. It would be disrespectful to this institution of democracy to convert the present Parliament with its wealth of historical significance, to another lesser use.
If other much larger and populous and wealthier nations can live with the same Parliament Building for several hundred years, and with great pride too, for example the British Parliament at Westminster, surely we can find modify and repair the building to better serve any change of needs today.

This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories: 

Tags: