GEORGE TOWN, Sept 28: Repairs to the damaged roof and ceiling of the house where the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee was born in Jalan P. Ramlee here will start today.
The roof and ceiling almost caved in due to water leakages.
The sad state of the house, whose roof was made of handwoven mengkuang leaves, got the attention of former Senate president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, who posted an update on his Facebook page after visiting the house last Sunday.
“I was really surprised to find that the roof and ceiling of our great artiste’s original house have almost collapsed due to a prolonged leak. It’s very sad, not to mention that this was the house of P. Ramlee, our national treasure. The spirit of Ramlee would cry seeing his heritage house in such a sorry state,” he said as he urged the relevant department overseeing such buildings to immediately carry out repair works.
P. Ramlee’s dilapidated house also did not escape the attention of Penang P. Ramlee Fan Club president Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff.
”I am upset over the state of the birthplace of the late P. Ramlee, which is now damaged. This should not have happened. This house is a national heritage; you cannot find it anywhere else,” he said.
A spokesperson for the National Archives said they got to know of the leakage and damaged roof and ceiling last week.
“The repair works to the roof and ceiling will be carried out by a contractor starting Thursday,” he said.
— BERNAMA