THE Penang government will be filing an appeal with the Court of Appeal against a High Court decision on the Victoria Street godown project.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state had lost the court case involving a land dispute between the state and the former landowner of the two dilapidated warehouses along Victoria Street.
It was reported that the state had acquired the two warehouses through the Land Acquisition Act with the intention of setting up a heritage learning centre.
The former landowner went to court to challenge the state’s authority to acquire the godowns, specifying that education was under the Federal purview.
Chow said the state had no choice but to abide by the court’s decision.
He said the contract to restore and upgrade the godowns has also been terminated.
“Both the project manager Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and project contractor have agreed to end the RM10.3 million contract. The plots have been returned to the former landowner,” he told a press conference today.
Chow said that the state had paid for the work done so far.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud