CARETAKER Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told a press conference today that the Penang government has proposed seven categories of heritage conservation projects to the Department of National Heritage to be carried out in the state.
He said this after RM50 million was initially allocated in the revised Budget 2023 to Penang and Melaka for the conservation and management of their Unesco World Heritage Sites.
George Town celebrates the 15th year of the Unesco World Heritage Site this year after gaining status in 2008.
“We have recently proposed the heritage conservation projects, amounting to about RM40 million, to the Department of National Heritage, and it is hoped that the department will consider our request and approve them using the RM50 million allocation.
“The projects include several categories (tangible and intangible heritage),” Chow said after his walkabout at the George Town Heritage Celebrations and Cultural Workshops in Armenian Street in George Town today.
There were many cultural workshops, such as batik colouring (Warisan Balik Pulau), a Chinese calligraphy show, and beading handiwork.
Chow said the event would have easily attracted more than 10,000 local and international visitors.
Among those present during the walkabout were State Secretary Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar, caretaker state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, caretaker state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, caretaker state Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng, former Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi and George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat