Hefty restoration bill
> Chow’s plan to move into official residence hits a snag with RM1.2m repair cost
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s (pix) plan to move into his official residence at Macalister Road hit a snag as the state was slapped with a refurbishment cost of RM1.2 million for the Seri Teratai mansion.
The property was unoccupied, except for a few months in 2008, for the past 28 years after the then chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu vacated the premises in 1990. Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Lim Guan Eng opted to stay in their own homes during their tenures.
Chow planned to move into it to salvage the property instead of leaving it abandoned. However, he is put off by the repair bill of RM1.2 million after an initial assessment by the state Public Works Department (PWD).
He has directed the state secretariat and PWD to find ways to reduce cost and seek alternative payment methods.
Chow said he is mindful of the high cost, especially with the national deficit at over RM1 trillion left behind by the former Barisan Nasional government for the Pakatan Harapan coalition to manage.
“After deliberations, it would be better in the long term to occupy the residence and to repair it. If we wait too long, the costs could escalate. And it is good to upkeep one of the state assets,” Chow said in an interview. He added the repairs could be carried out in stages.
The 59-year-old chief minister has to commute for over 60 minutes daily between his house in Balik Pulau and the state administration at Komtar in George Town. And if there is a major accident, his travelling time could be as long as two hours due to traffic congestion.