Preserving built heritage, attracting talent
TWO stories in recent weeks caught my attention. One was the imminent re-opening of the Loke Thye Kee restaurant located at the junction of Burma Road and Penang Road in George Town following a RM2mil restoration project and the other, the imminent destruction of Falim House in Ipoh.
The first is a story of the rejuvenation of inner-city George Town and the second, the almost-certain failure of conservationists in their fight to preserve a historic Ipoh mansion from being demolished.
These stories bring to mind a conversation that I had with a colleague on Malaysian history and heritage and how this may be one of the avenues to lure talent to the country.
Studies have shown that besides compensation, career opportunities and security issues, talent is also attracted to places where there is a lot of culture, be it in the architecture, art galleries, cuisine, folkways, museums or theatres. Universities and other educational facilities are also part of the attraction.
That’s the reason why talent is attracted to certain parts of the world. Certain regions in the United States have done well in terms of luring talent and in the process, after achieving critical mass, become known for their innovation, successful start-ups and high productivity.
Nearer to home, talent is attracted to Singapore not only because it’s South-East Asia’s financial hub but it has also been successful in preserving its 18th to early 20th century built heritage in the shadows of modern multi-storey office towers.
But, what does that have to do with Loke Thye Kee and Falim House, you may ask? The answer is that it’s not just about a restaurant which people have fond memories of or even of a run-down mansion in the Kinta Valley, but these buildings, as part of our built heritage, are part of the experience of living and working here.
There never has been a better time nor a more pursuasive argument to preserve our built heritage, because it makes economic sense. Of course, preserving them is just part of the plan, how to make them sustainable as society and the economy transforms is the other part of the plan and probably the harder part.
As the politicians say, this nation is at a critical juncture of development, but should we lose out on the opportunity to preserve these buildings and in the process lose our past even as we develop to become a high-income nation? I should hope not.