KUCHING: There are no plans to turn the historic Song Kheng Hai Recreation Ground into a commercial centre, says Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng.
He said public discussions surrounding the Greater Padungan Development Plan had been misunderstood, adding that the urban regeneration initiative for Padungan was aimed at balancing heritage preservation with modern development, particularly as parts of the century-old commercial district continued evolving.
“In actual fact, when I looked at the articles, I was quite shocked,” he said when met by reporters at an event here today (May 17).
He explained that MBKS was currently focusing on conserving the “old Padungan”, which includes heritage shophouses that have reached more than 100 years in age, while allowing newer developments in surrounding areas such as Jalan Abell to complement the district’s historical identity.
“You will see an old Padungan, you will see a new Padungan. Somehow, the old one should stay to maintain, while the new one must be able to complement the old one,” he said.
Wee noted that MBKS had already formed a task force involving relevant agencies and authorities to guide conservation efforts and protect the architectural heritage value of old Padungan.
He added that heritage buildings should not merely be preserved as physical structures, but should continue generating business and community activity to keep the area alive.
“The building itself should not just be a building by itself. It needs a soul inside there,” he said.
On Song Kheng Hai specifically, Wee stressed that the field had long been gazetted as a leisure and recreational space dating back to the Brooke era after the Song family donated the land for public use.
He said current discussions were instead focused on possible improvements surrounding the existing Song Kheng Hai Hawker Centre, including the rooftop area, while ensuring community engagement remained part of any future plans.
“Anything that we’re going to implement, we’ll make sure that the neighbourhood will be involved as a community engagement,” he said.
Wee added that MBKS hoped the regeneration initiative would eventually create a balanced “win-win situation” where modern city growth could coexist with Padungan’s long-standing heritage and community character.
