A man in his 60s lost control of his Mercedes-Benz and ended up crashing into a 100-year-old building in Penang.
According to China Press, the crash happened around 12:45AM today (August 1) while he was driving from Kampung Jawa toward Bagan Luar.
“We hope to preserve this 60-year-old shop”
The driver reportedly slammed into a decades-old goldsmith shop, sustaining injuries to his hands and legs. He was later taken to the hospital for treatment, and no other casualties were reported.
The impact caused significant damage to the shop as one of its entrances was destroyed, shattered glass covered the floor, and a large hole was left in the wall.
The front of the Mercedes was also badly damaged, with the bumper and side mirrors torn off and left scattered on the ground.
According to the manager (who is also the founder’s daughter-in-law), the gold shop has been around for 60 years. Fortunately, the display area and counters inside weren’t affected by the crash.
“We’re currently waiting for the official safety assessment and the landlord’s decision. Hopefully, we can preserve this 60-year-old shop. But if the structure is deemed unsafe for business, we’ll start looking at other options,” she said.
A structural safety inspection has been called for
Following the incident, Bagan Dalam assemblyman visited the site on Friday morning (August 1) and reached out to the Seberang Perai Mayor to request that city council departments clean up the area and carry out a structural safety inspection.
He pointed out that many of the pre-war buildings in the area were built using red bricks rather than modern cement, making them structurally fragile and a potential safety hazard.
He added that he had previously written to the city council, calling for a meeting with the owners of these heritage buildings to discuss safety precautions.
“The departments involved will include the Licensing Unit, Technical Unit, and Urban Planning Unit. The aim is to have in-depth discussions with shop owners about the structural safety of these pre-war buildings,” he said.
He also said that in light of this latest crash, he would push for the city council to fast-track the meeting.
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