Next, an on-field observation of the current condition of the shophouses is conducted by recording the conditions through photographs. The condition is being rated at a scale from “5” to “1”, which indicate either the shophouses are being properly conserved, the front façade is being blocked, with unused upper floor, with decaying upper floor or being left vacant and abandoned to decay respectively. A summary of the conditions is shown in Figure 4.1.4. In reference to figure above, majority of the upper floors of the traditional shophouses are vacant, with the rating ranging between “3” to “1”. One of the examples with rating of “3” as shown in the figure above is “Cafe Yoon Wah” along Jalan Bijeh Timah. The cafe is properly maintained although the upper floor is unused. There are also a series of shophouses with unused and decaying upper floors, which with the rating of “2”. One of the examples that portraits sign of decay on the upper floor is “Café Burps and Giggles” along Jalan Sultan Yusof. Next, there is quite a number of unused shophouses that being left to decay, with the rating of “1” in the heritage zone. A few vacant shophouses along Jalan Tun Sambanthan show a sign of decay as shown in the figure above. Fortunately, not all traditional shophouses show sign of decay. There are some of the shophouses are properly conserved, with the rating of “4” to “5”. The ones that get a lower rating of “4” is due to the blocked front façade by the advertisement or signboard. Based on the figure above, “Restaurant Sun Yoon Wah” along Jalan Bijeh Timah is one of the examples. Last but not least, the ones that are properly conserved and protected, with the rating of “5” are shophouses listed as “Category I”. For example, “Chung Thye Phin Building” along Jalan Tun Sambanthan, which is a “Category I” building is being properly conserved and retained as shown in the figure above.
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