On August 4, a beam from a pre‑war building collapsed, injuring two tourists. — Picture courtesy of Bomba By Opalyn Mok First Published: Friday, 07 Aug 2026 2:00 PM MYT GEORGE TOWN, Aug 7 — The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is considering engaging qualified engineers to conduct visual inspections of heritage buildings within the George Town World Heritage Site.MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the city council is also considering introducing a requirement for heritage building owners to submit a structural assessment report to the council every two years.He said the report is necessary to ensure that their properties remain safe and well maintained.“The recent incident serves as an important reminder that all owners of heritage properties have a responsibility to carry out periodic inspections and maintenance to preserve the historical significance, structural integrity, and safety of these valuable buildings for future generations,” he said.He was commenting on a recent incident in which the beam of a pre-war house along Armenian Street collapsed and injured two tourists walking by.“Owners or occupants should pay close attention to any signs of structural deterioration, including cracks in walls, leaning walls, decayed timber beams, water seepage, roof damage, termite infestation, loose plaster, and any movement or displacement of structural elements,” he said.He also encouraged property owners and occupants to visit the Department of Heritage Conservation at the Town Hall during office hours to obtain advice and guidance on appropriate conservation methods and maintenance practices.He said pre-war house owners should carry out regular maintenance of their properties throughout the year.He added that they should also conduct structural inspections at least once every two years.“Given the age of these buildings, periodic inspections are essential to identify early signs of deterioration and to ensure the safety of occupants and the public,” he said.He said MBPP has identified 66 heritage buildings within the George Town World Heritage Site as being poorly maintained.“Out of that, 63 units are dilapidated buildings,” he said.Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the issue, state exco for tourism and creative economy Wong Hon Wai said there needs to be more engagement between these building owners and the city council and George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI).“Because some of these owners, they may not have the financial means to upgrade,” he said.He said he has instructed GTWHI to look into providing more assistance to pre-war house owners.“We need to have advisory, assistance and enforcement all come together to resolve this issue,” he said.He added that if any of these pre war buildings are found to pose a danger to the public, businesses will not be allowed to continue operating on the premises. “They will be advised to stop operations until they restore the building,” he said.On the tourists who were injured in the incident on August 4, he said both are in stable condition.“The husband has been discharged from hospital while the wife is still being treated in the hospital,” he said.