THE Atkinson Clock Tower again took centre stage at the close of the State Assembly sitting, with State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun stressing that development is only good when it does not harm any heritage site.
Delivering his winding up speech, Masidi highlighted to Kemabong Assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang - the proponent of a mixed development commercial building next to the tower site - that there was a difference between warisan (heritage) and monument, and the term history and nationalism.
He said the Atkinson tower was the only clock tower made from wood in Malaysia and the oldest and the only mechanical clock in Sabah, adding it is also listed in the wood clock tower world database.
"This clock tower is so significant that it received recognition from the Federal and State governments as a main icon on postage stamps during colonial times in 1918, 1950, 1954 and post independence on June 6, 2007," he said, adding it was placed fourth in a list of more than 100 clock towers picked by travellers' guide television programme, the Lonely Planet.
The Atkinson tower was gazetted as a monument/historical site under the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Enactment 1977 on Oct. 27, 1983, before that provision was cancelled on March 26, 1998.
"The tower was re-gazetted as a cultural heritage site under Section 4 of the Cultural Heritage (Preservation) 1997 on April 9, 1998, which was enforced on March 26 the same year," Masidi pointed out.
"Our country, particularly Sabah, has legislation like the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Enactment (Amendment) 2006 and Cultural Heritage Enactment 1998 that protect heritage and monuments.
"Considering that these legislation exist, it is quite clear here that the issue is not whether we allow or not the commercial building at the disputed site but ensuring all laws protecting heritage sites that are gazetted or historical structures are respected and preserved."
As he was getting to the end of his point, Rubin interjected, saying the clock tower could have been built anywhere in then Jesselton but probably the contractor picked the hill it sat on now.
"But it doesn't mean Atkinson died or was buried there," said the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (SHTDA) Chairman.
Towards this end, he was of the opinion that the site possessed no historical value, pointing out that Francis George Atkinson, the man the clock was named after, had tried to kill "freedom fighter" Mat Salleh.
Masidi responded that this was not a question of the history being good or bad but that it concerned the building of the centre at the disputed site.
He also said, in a loud voice, that if Rubin was concerned about glorifying a so-called wicked person, then why was the commercial centre he was championing also using the word Atkinson in its name.Rubin tried interjecting but Masidi did not give way.
He cautioned against misplaced nationalism where one objects to every single thing left behind by the imperial administration, and in this context, wondered, albeit cynically, whether the State should also stop using the English language, remove mission schools, all of which were started by Missionaries.
"Don't compare historical buildings with history," he said, pointing out he never objected to any development provided it did not contravene any law protecting the gazetted clock tower.
Continuing his speech, Masidi said considering that the latest development plan submitted by the developer was a new one, the issue of seeking the green light from the State Museum Department did not arise.
"The approval must be obtained from the State Cultural Heritage Council, in line with Section 9(1)© of the Cultural Heritage Enactment (Preservation) 1997, and not from the Sabah Museum Director," he said.
He also concurred with Membakut Assemblyman, Datuk Hj Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, who stressed that whatever history or monuments, good or bad, must be protected as a reminder for future generations.
"This is my Ministry's responsibility."
Source : The Daily Express
Having finished reading the above article, one can tell which among the two YBs are really doing their job for the State and its people.
Datuk Rubin definitively will not get my vote come the next General Election. Alas, I'm not voting in Kemabong.
