In defence of the opposition:

We as the opposition are unified by our hatred of BN. That was and currently still is the most important glue in our solidarity that will surely erode to parties that further reflect our individual interests once the hegemony of BN and UMNO is broken

For those snickering at Lim Guan Eng, this is unfair because Tanjung Tokong and Kampung Buah Pala did not arise until after he took office

About loss of heritage items or places: this blame should be with all of us for being too quiet too long, and becoming vocal when it doesn't matter anymore.

What can Lim realistically do in the frame of the rule of law that he upholds and the limited budget he has? Tear down the projects? Take the whole of Penang's limited coffers to compensate Kampung Buah Pala's developers?

It might already be too late to save Tanjung Tokong. What we can do is to save certain landmarks and redouble the effort to make sure other Tanjung Tokongs in Penang will have a better fate.

Tanjung Tokong, unlike Georgetown, does not have critical mass worth the effort to preserve. Residents have moved to other areas. Or now stay in low cost apartments. Or are now deemed squatters. Unlike the Georgetown terraces, what is there for us to save Tanjung Tokong for?

In the end, we need to be realistic. We can't possibly say the whole of Penang Island is a heritage site. I can say that Paya Terubong is the microcosm of Malaysia, with its low cost apartments housing Malays, Chinese, and Indians all in close proximities. Should that be a heritage site too because some have nice memories of it?