Stiffer penalties proposed for damaging national monuments
But some think the proposed changes penalise private owners twice over
Private individuals or companies who own a little bit of Singapore history could soon have to take even more care to look after it properly.
Major amendments to the Preservation of Monuments Act are proposed by the Preservation of Monuments Board to strengthen its powers against errant building owners.
At present, a person who damages a monument faces a maximum fine of $5,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both.
The proposal raises this penalty to a maximum fine of $200,000 or up to 12 months in prison, or both.
For continuing offences, a further fine not exceeding $100,000 a day can be imposed.
Besides, the court will have the power to order the offender to restore the national monument at his own expense and to the board’s specifications.
Singapore’s 55 national monuments include Raffles Hotel, the Armenian Church and the Nagore Durgha Shrine.
The owners and occupants of these national monuments will be duty-bound to ensure that the monuments are properly maintained.
If they do not comply with preservation notices sent by the board requiring maintenance works to be done, they can be fined up to $25,000.
The board will be able to send officers to enter a national monument at any time to carry out works and to get the owner to pay for the work.
The minister will be empowered to restrict activity on land surrounding national monuments to ensure the monuments are not endangered.
The board said that the existing Act is insufficient to protect monuments from errant owners who in some cases cause irreparable damage.
BT understands that the board was referring to unauthorised renovations made to the Tan Si Chong Su Temple at Magazine Road. The temple official responsible was fined $500 in 2003.
Kevin Tan, president of the Singapore Heritage Society, welcomed the stronger penalties for those who damage monuments, but said that there might be problems with the provisions which imposed obligations on their private owners.
‘Many people who own monuments do not ask for their buildings to become monuments, they just happen to be buildings that are deemed important and historical,’ he said.
Dr Tan said that the proposed changes penalised private owners twice over.
‘If you have your property designated as a national monument, it is as good as saying this property has become economically unviable,’ he said, as it loses any future redevelopment potential.
The board invites the public to share their views on the proposed changes. The consultation exercise is expected to be completed by early October.
More information can be obtained on its website at www.mica.gov.sg aboutus/pmb.html.
Source : Business Times - 5 Aug 2006
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