Rais: Bok House issue closed
Malaysiakini.com
Dec 21, 2006
Bede Hong

The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry today closed the chapter on the demolished palatial Bok House, deeming rehabilitation costs as prohibitive and that the structure never had any historical or aesthetic value to begin with.

The 77-year-old two story structure, located in downtown Kuala Lumpur, was torn down over the weekend despite concerted efforts by conservationists, historians and activists to get the government to recognise it’s historical significance.

Minister Dr Rais Yatim said he wanted to put the matter behind him and that there would be no change to the National Heritage Act, gazetted last year, in the foreseeable future.

“The ministry tries to be empathic but objective. There was no need to look at the Heritage Act, we feel sorry for people who are expressive... but the building had no overpowering aesthetic value,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

“The matter is closed,” he said, adding however that the public ‘must continue to petition’ on buildings deemed fit to come under the protection of the Act.

It is said the Bok House, located along Jalan Ampang near the Petronas Twin Towers was built by tycoon Chua Cheng Bok to please the father of a woman he was courting.

Chua made his fortune as the sole distributor of Mercedes Benz vehicles in the region for several decades under the Cycle & Carriage company. He passed away in 1940.

Private property

Rais reiterated that the Bok House was located on private property and the action to demolish it could not be stopped as it is not registered as a heritage building.

Badan Warisan Malaysia had petitioned the Bok House in Jalan Ampang as a national heritage site in April.

The structure was torn down by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on Sunday. Chua’s family, who own the property, had ordered the demolition.

“The main factor we have to consider is the safety and soundness of the structure. Major parts of the Bok House have been subject to severe deterioration. Rehabilitation costs would have been severe,” said the minister.

Rais said the information was based on a report made by the ministry last September, which found many parts of the building dilapidated and in need of repair.

“It was built by a wealthy man. I don’t want to irk heritage lovers, but it was just one house in town that was defective,” he added.

Rais said the ministry is open to public petitions to place buildings under protection of the Heritage Act, naming the Central Market and the Majestic Hotel as beneficiaries of such requests.

“If the public is interested, please contact the heritage commissioner (Prof Siti Zuraina Majid ) or myself,” he said. 

Activists have been calling for the amendment of the National Heritage Act, warning that more historical buildings would be torn down heedlessly.

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