Penang Watch

It is a good news that Penang and Melaka finally get the World Heritage City status from UNESCO-but there is only a small window of opportunity for Malaysia to keep the status if we don't live up to the stringent requirements of the prized status shared by only a few hundred other sites around the world. So Malaysia need to work hard in the next 3-5 years to fulfil the world class city conditions or we may end up in similar situation as a China city which lost its World Heritage City status only after a few years of attaining it.

The above warning is pertinent to be given utmost attention because we are very short in fulfilling the conditions of the WHC as specified by UNESCO-which include: legal protection for the WHC (Melak has state legal protection, but Penang doesn't; Federal heritage law don't give enough protection as yet ); setting up of a department to oversee the heritage protections (how well can Federal dept work with state government under different parties?), do appropriate town planning to incorporate WHC (Where is our Local Plan to ensure the permenance of the heritage zones? Heritage areas like Weld Quay Clans Jetties only survive on yearly TOL!),sprucing the city to cater for the WHC status eg housing, transports, environment etc. ( Too much shortcoming here to enumerate!).

It may seems that we do not qualify yet for the WHC status. But since UNESCO is generous enough to grant that status to Penang & Melaka it means that we need to work very hard or risk losing the status in a few years to come! It is not difficult for outside observers to see if we had put in sufficient work in this regards.

One very critical area is residents participation. We are caught by surprise on the WHC status because the residents are hardly kept informed/involved in the application process. There should be a consultation/participatory group to work on the WHC status from now on.

We note that previous applications were `rejected' due to numerous inadequacies of the application forms/information. This reflect the lack of seriousness in the heritage application. We don't afford such lapse from now on.

WHC status will also affect a number of mega projects eg Monorail in George Town. A few mega projects eg Times Square boasted the use of modern Monorail to address traffic problems. If we are serious about WHC we need to revert to buses and trams rather than use monorails which will be jarring for a WHC city scape.

Ong BK

 Georgetown heritage listing may improve bipartisan ties
[Shafie announcing that Malacca and Georgetown have been accorded World Heritage Site status.]

Shafie announcing that Malacca and Georgetown have been accorded World Heritage Site status.
By Shannon Teoh  www.themalaysianinsider.com

PARLIAMENT, July 8 — The listing of Georgetown as a World Heritage Site has led to hopes of improved ties between the DAP-led Penang government and the federal government.

"State authorities on the area of heritage have all worked closely with us. When I went to Geneva to propose the list, there was no consideration of whether the city is within opposition rule," said Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal after making the announcement at Parliament.

At an earlier press conference, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also expressed his gratitude to all parties who helped, including the ministry and the previous Gerakan-led administration.

"This is a result of the effort of all parties — including the ministry, NGOs, civil servants, the ex-government of Penang and also the people of the state. We can all take credit together and now is the time to join hands. We hope to put aside politics to further raise the name of Malaysia.

"The state government will work to ensure the preservation of Georgetown with the co-operation of not just the people but also the federal government as it is not an honour just for the people of Penang but all of Malaysia," Lim said.

[Wan Azizah said the PM should also be proud of Georgetown’s achievement.]

Wan Azizah said the PM should also be proud of Georgetown’s achievement.
Opposition leader and Permatang Pauh MP Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi is also from Penang and so should be jointly proud of this achievement.

"It's an opportunity to enhance relations (between the central and state governments) and add value to the recognition we have already achieved because the Pearl of the Orient has so much more to offer," she said.

Shafie agreed with the Opposition figures, stating that Malaysia had gained a form of recognition which many other countries were still lobbying for.

"The recognition from Unesco is due to co-operation from state and central governments who have ensured that certain zones have been preserved."

Tuesday July 8, 2008 MYT 3:50:25 PM(Star)
Govt to have foreign help in preserving world heritage sites
By NURBAITI HAMDAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will have foreign assistance in its efforts to preserve George Town and Malacca as World Heritage Sites.

According to Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, besides foreign help, there are also plans to cooperate with Penang and Malacca chief ministers to work on the preservation efforts.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) accorded the two cities the status Monday when the Paris-based World Heritage Council met in Quebec, Canada.

He said that the international recognition would boost the tourism industry and help the West know Malaysian culture better.

"In our quest to achieve modernity, we are still able to leave historical sites the way they were.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his deputy Teng Boon Soon showing the brochure on world heritage site produced by UNESCO at the lobby of the Parliament House

"This recognition can also dispel the notion that we (Malaysians) live on trees, or that our country isn't safe," he said Tuesday in a press conference after officiating the ministry's monthly assembly at Muzium Negara.

To a question, he said that the Government would do everything to ensure that George Town and Malacca would not lose the prestigious title.

George Town and Malacca were among the eight sites chosen by Unesco as the latest World Heritage Sites. The other sites are in Croatia, France, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Slovakia and Germany.