EFFORTS to maintain the status of George Town as a Unesco World Heritage Site remains an ongoing agenda of the Penang government.

State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said to this end, the state government had organised a town hall session involving stakeholders from the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site this morning.

“The town hall session is to raise awareness among all parties about the importance of heritage and outstanding universal value (OUV) in retaining the status.

“In addition, the state government and Penang Island City Council is always ready to listen to the voices of the people and cooperate with all stakeholders,” he said in George Town today.

He also said that on July 7, 2008, George Town and Malacca were among the historic cities recognised as Unesco World Heritage Sites based on OUV.

The site covers a core area of ​​109.38 hectares (ha) and a buffer zone of 150.04 ha, which involves 5,013 historic heritage sites.

“Through the state government’s efforts, several documents such as the Penang Heritage Enactment 2011, the Penang Heritage Regulations 2016 and the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan have been gazetted in an effort to preserve heritage buildings,” he added.

Jagdeep said to date, the city’s council had issued 48 notices under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 to building owners regarding compliance in preserving heritage sites in the state. – Bernama, April 15, 2023.