The sorry "state" of Penang

LITTERED with cigarette butts and plastic bags and vandalised – that is the dismal state of the cenotaph in the Espla-nade which is dedicated to the fallen heroes of World War I (1914-1918).

A bronze sword sticks out from the face of the memorial but minus the hilt. The bronze and copper plaques bearing the names of those who died in World War I have also been stolen.

What’s left is a bare stone structure, surrounded by broken stones and withering plants.



Penang Veterans Association (PVA) president Harold V. Spelde-winde, 82, said the association has been urging the state to restore the cenotaph since 2005.

“We have engaged the services of architect Lawrence Loh who restored Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion to draw up restoration plans for the cenotaph. The plans have been submitted to the state.

VANDALISED:Withering palms surrounding the cenotaph and the plaques have been stolen.
“The cenotaph will celebrate its 85th anniversary on March 31. We plan to have a grand parade complete with bagpipe players and the armed forces, navy and high commissioners in attendance.

“If we are unable to get it restored in time, we will have the grand celebration on Aug 15 – the day the Imperial Army of Japan surrendered, ending nearly four years of Japanese Occupation in the state,” he said.

He said they planned to erect a gold and black plaque to remember those who perished during World War II (1939 – 1945), Siam and the Burma Death Railway (1942 – 1945), the Malaya Emergency (1948 – 1960), the Indonesia Confronta- tion (1963 – 1966) and the Communist Re-insurgence Period (1968 – 1990).

“We recently received word that the state Tourism Action Council is waiting for the budget to be approved to restore the cenotaph to its former glory.

“I am very excited. The cenotaph has been left at the mercy of vandals for at least 20 years,” Speldewinde said.

State Tourism Action Council chairman Teng Chang Yeow said the cenotaph must be preserved because it is a significant monument that marks an important event.

Teng, who is also the State Tourism Development and Environ-ment Committee chairman, said it would cost about RM150,000 to carry out repairs and fence up the area.

“After repairing the cenotaph, we hope to deter vandals by putting up fencing.”

To commemorate the surrender of the Imperial Army of Japan 62 years ago, PVA members and war veterans gather at the cenotaph yearly to pay homage to the fallen heroes of World War I.

The cenotaph was unveiled by the Prince of Wales on March 31, 1922, at the Esplanade seafront where some World War I battles were fought and where many sailors lost their lives.

Still wondering why Penang is NOT in the World Heritage list??