Perak MB not staying at official house
Ahmad Faizal to move across the road as premises ‘not fit for occupation’
IPOH: Perak Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu will not be staying at his current official residence and will instead move across the road after deeming the house not fit for occupation due to “safety concerns”.
Ahmad Faizal will move into the State Secretary’s official residence near the state Cultural and Arts Department on Jalan Raja Dihilir.
He said safety was one of the reasons why the official residence could no longer be inhabited by the mentri besar.
“There are many commercial buildings nearby, especially the tall Menara SSI.
“I don’t think it is suitable for any other mentri besar to live here any-
more, not just me,” he told reporters at the residence recently.
“The building is also old and no longer safe. I’ve informed the Sultan
of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah about it,” he added.
The official residence, located near the Sultan Yussuf roundabout, was built in 1962 and completed a year later.
Among the mentris besar who have stayed were Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib, Tan Sri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
Ahmad Faizal said the State Economic Planning Unit was now collecting proposals from various groups on what to do with the premises.
“Among the suggestions are to swap the land with developers. The value of the land is quite high.
“It could be used to build houses for state executive councillors,” he said.
“Whatever the decision, we will safeguard the state’s interest, and it must benefit the people,” added Ahmad Faizal.
Ahmad Faizal said he felt the people would not shed a tear even if the building were to be demolished.
“We should have a proper official residence that is sturdy and beautiful and that can last 50 to 100 years,” he said.
Ahmad Faizal will not be the first chief administrator of a state to not live in the official residence.
In Penang, the chief minister’s official residence, Seri Teratai, a Class II heritage building along Macalister Road, has been left vacant for over 10 years following complaints of termite infestation.
It is currently undergoing repairs after current Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow expressed his wish to stay there.