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APTLY dubbed “Streets Come Alive — Unforgettable George Town”, the inner streets of George Town celebrated the anniversary of its World Heritage status with much gusto. July 7, 2010 marked the official start to “George Town Festival 2010”, a month-long celebration aimed at highlighting the universal values, culture and history that makes the city unique. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who officiated the event, commended state agencies, NGOs, professionals, stakeholders and Penangites on their efforts to make it an unforgettable occasion. Read here
The series of events held at the heritage enclave included a trishaw treasure hunt, shows by celebrity artists, art exhibitions, exploring the waters around the Weld Quay clan jetties on free motor boat rides, cultural shows, local food and craft demonstrations, musical performances by the Beijing Opera, etc.
Read below for more on the highlights of the day. Projects launched
The state also took the opportunity of the festival opening to launch several initiatives to further strengthen community participation in the heritage zone. - ‘Greening of Carnarvon Street’: This commenced with a tree-planting ceremony at Carnarvon Street. State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said a “green spine” along Carnarvon Street would give pedestrians a more comfortable walking experience from the border of the buffer zone to the core area of the World Heritage Site. Read here. The project is part of the state’s “Cleaner Greener Penang” initiative, whose objectives are, among others, to create awareness about shared public places and to create a positive working partnership between stakeholders. Read here
- Heritage fund: This is a state fund which corporations and individuals can donate to to help protect heritage sites. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state has turned to public-private partnerships to fund heritage projects like the George Town Festival and anniversary celebrations. The promotion of these sites can also be a source of revenue for the state. Read here. “We are still going through the mechanics of setting up the fund. Anyone who wishes to contribute can start doing so to enable the state to conduct heritage conservation projects...There is no point in having a lot of money in the fund without activities and programmes.” Read here
Future plans
The state government had also previously set up George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), whose main objective is to manage the site by working with all the stakeholders. Read here. Among its ongoing efforts is a heritage clinic to offer conservation tips and advice to owners of heritage buildings. It will also complete a model of the heritage zone and put it on public display by the end of the year. GTWHI will also publish brochures and a guidebook for shophouses by year-end. “The state government is working closely with Universiti Sains Malaysia, the council, Penang Geographic Information System and the State Economic Planning Unit to create a geographic information system and a prototype of this system is expected to be ready by September,” said CM Lim. Read here
Penang also plans to share its experience with Adelaide, its Australian sister city, on how George Town acquired its Unesco World Heritage Site listing.“We want to rekindle our relationship with our sister city. Francis Light founded Penang while his son William arrived in Adelaide...There are many things we have in common and I would like to renew those links,” stated CM Lim during a visit Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison. Read here Other news - Penang boasts 20,000 job vacancies: In a bid to attract more human resources and capital, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today that there were currently 20,000 job vacancies in the state waiting to be filled as the electronics sector has swung back strongly. Read here
- Penang Port has to get permit to reclaim sea: The Penang government will send an official letter to Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) to inform them that they need to apply for a permit to conduct reclamation works covering some 400ha in the sea. Read here
- RM1mil facelift for Chowrasta: Penang’s Chowrasta Market, which is well known for its secondhand bookstores, preserved fruits and titbit stalls, will undergo a RM1mil facelift next year. Read here
- Call to put Penang on the map: Several major developers have called for greater efforts to promote the Penang brand overseas, especially to prospective investors in China. Read here
- Potential RM1.5b investment from Mideast: Middle Eastern investors may invest some RM1.5 billion in a petroleum tank farm and halal industrial park in the Penang Port. Read here
- Advertisers sought for takeaway food boxes: A Penang state executive councillor is trying to get companies to advertise on biodegradable lunch boxes so that hawkers could buy them at a cheaper price. Read here
For more news on Penang from July 5 to 11, 2010 , please click here
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