AFTER successfully promoting George Town as the Unesco World Heritage site, the Penang government is aiming at introducing the ‘hawker culture’ of Penang to the Unesco’s Representative Lists of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Penang Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the state’s hawker culture was different compared to Singapore.
“Our hawker culture is rather unique. We can still find hawker stalls by the roadside, with people patronising these stalls.
“We hope to attract more tourists to Penang, which is well-known as a food haven,” Yeoh said in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
Yeoh said the state hoped to cooperate with Singapore in this initiative.
“The state, through my office, has submitted an official letter to the Department of National Heritage and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to express our interest.
“We hope the authorities can group Malaysia and Singapore under one umbrella to introduce the ‘hawker culture’,” Yeoh said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud