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The Business Times Singapore
August 5, 2006 Saturday
Stiffer penalties proposed for damaging national monuments;
But some think the proposed changes penalise private owners twice
over
by Wee Li-en
(SINGAPORE) 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
August 5, 2006 Saturday
Stiffer penalties proposed for damaging national monuments;
But some think the proposed changes penalise private owners twice
over
by Wee Li-en
(SINGAPORE) 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress