Thanks NST for the coverage!
Much love to Audrey Dermawan!
GEORGE TOWN: A concerned Penangite has started an online petition to save Rex Cinema here, which has been approved for demolition to make way for a 27-storey condominium project.
As at 1pm today, more than 400 people have signed the petition at https://www.change.org since its launch yesterday.
In a brief description of his petition, Nor Azan Ibrahim, 44, said: "Penang's magnificent 1939 Art Deco Rex Cinema has been tragically approved by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for demolition.
"How can this be when the Rex Cinema is located within the Unesco wider setting, and is listed in the state government's very own 2013 Built Heritage Inventory as worthy of protection and conservation?"
Speaking to the New Straits Times, Nor Azan said his childhood and many other "Penang Lang" (local folk) revolved around this Rex Cinema building.
He recalled how his parents, especially his father, would bring the family there to watch a movie, transforming him into a movie buff/pop culture indulger later in life.
As a young lad in the 1980s and 1990s, I managed to watch quite a few movies there.
"The building itself is a great artwork. We have an interesting array of beautiful architecture in Penang," he said, explaining why he started the petition.
Expressing disgust, Nor Azan said there had been several incidents regarding the demolition of architectures in Penang.
"And I, as a concerned Penangite, feel I need to do something about it. It hurts so much to see our beautiful island being torn bit by bit.
"We are talking about a Class A heritage building, which is really magnificent and a marvellous piece of art and architecture," he added.
Nor Azan said if he had the financial resources, he would turn the Rex Cinema into a community center, an event space or even a retail space.
He added that even concerts could be held there.
"We need to preserve all our heritage buildings..
It was reported that the iconic Rex Cinema was set to be torn down to give way to a 27-storey condominium project.
The building was considered a heritage of Penang's heyday as it was a state-of-the-art cinema when it opened its doors back then.
According to Tiffany Lim, who signed the petition, iconic, historical architecture should be preserved as much as possible, with a view to resuscitate them as useful community and cultural centers.
PT Tan added that the Penang government had an obligation if it was within the Unesco radius.
For Naimah Khalid, heritage could not be bought and sold.
"It is intangible, and once destroyed, it is lost forever.
"So, we need to be grateful that we have a heritage that can be saved for us and our future generations," Naimah added.
Ronni Pinsler believed that the demolition of this building would be a tragic loss to the cultural identity and history of Penang.
"With so much on-going demolition of heritage sites, I salute this attempt to save the more iconic buildings on the island," Ronni said.