George town: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is set to appoint consultants for structural safety inspections on heritage buildings following the collapse of a building facade at Lebuh Armenian, which resulted in injuries to two Sri Lankan tourists. This initiative aims to ensure preventive measures are in place to safeguard these historic structures.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran announced that the council will fully fund these inspections, prioritizing buildings within the heritage area that exhibit signs of deterioration or pose potential safety hazards. The mayor emphasized that buildings deemed less safe will receive a notice to carry out necessary repairs, while severely compromised structures may require vacating.

Additionally, MBPP plans to engage pest control companies to specifically inspect wooden structures in heritage buildings for termite infestation, as these pests can cause significant damage without visible external indicators. Currently, MBPP has issued notices to 66 poorly maintained building units and 63 dilapidated premises.

Regarding the Lebuh Armenian incident, the mayor confirmed that the building owner will remove the identified unsafe structural parts. The collapse, which injured tourists Mohamad Ammtar and Fatimah, was attributed to termite damage of a wooden beam.

In related news, the introduction of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system by MBPP has bolstered parking enforcement on the island. Since its implementation in April last year, approximately 7,000 summonses are issued monthly for parking offences. The ANPR system enhances enforcement efficiency by verifying parking status, with each record reviewed by officers before issuing summonses.