TO commemorate the 16th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage site, a total of 1,500 participants took part in the ‘George Town Day City Walk’ at Beach Street this morning.
As part of the George Town Heritage Celebrations (GTHC), the event aimed to foster an appreciation of the city’s rich heritage while exploring its historic streets.
The walk, organised by the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), attracted participants from 17 different countries.
At the event, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow expressed his hope that the George Town Heritage City Walk would inspire efforts to protect cultural landmarks, traditions, and way of life, so future generations can appreciate these streets just as we do today.
“As we walk through the streets of this historic city, you will notice that we are surrounded by the echoes of the past, the vibrant energy of the present, and the promises of the future.
“George Town is not just a place; it is a living and breathing testament to the harmonious coexistence of various cultures, traditions, and communities.
“Furthermore, the Penang2030 vision recognises the value of family and community in achieving a “Family-Focused, Green, and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.
“I hope this initiative will foster work-life balance among Penang’s working families, especially since Malaysia has recently been regarded as the second-worst country for work-life balance among 60 nations,” Chow said before taking part in the flagging-off ceremony.
Apart from that, Chow also stressed the importance of balancing food consumption with regular exercise, citing alarming statistics from the National Health Screening Initiative 2023.
“At the moment, our country is facing a rise in obesity rates among adults and children.
“According to the National Health Screening Initiative in 2023 by the Ministry of Health, more than half, or 53.5 per cent, of Malaysians are identified as overweight or obese, with 31.3 per cent overweight and 22.2 per cent obese.
“With these, it is expected that an annual increase among adult and children obesity will take place by 2035, with a 4.7 per cent and 5.3 per cent increase respectively,” he added.
The GTHC features a range of activities for the public starting from 5pm onwards.
To get updates on the programmes, check out GTHC’s official Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/GeorgeTownCelebrations/ or GTWHI’s website at https://gtwhi.com.my/gthc2024/ .
Also present at the walk were Deputy Finance Minister and MP Tanjong Lim Hui Ying, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, state Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A.Rajendran, Bagan MP Lim and Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng, GTWHI general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee, TLM Event managing director Jack Wong, several assemblymen and MBPP councillors.
Below are pictures taken at the event :-
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi