As I have been promoted to President of Municipal Council of Seberang Prai, I would like to take this opportunity to thank YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang for giving me his fullest support throughout this one year and three months service as General Manager of GTWHI, thanks to all my staffs of GTWHI for working closely with me, State Government Departments and Agencies, Local Authority, GTWHI committee members and all my friends for their help and support. Together, let’s continue our good spirit and passion in conserving, protecting, managing and promoting George Town World Heritage Site.

Thank you.

Melaka and George Town were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on the 7th July 2008. They represent the first Malaysia Cultural Heritage Site. George Town fulfills the criteria (ii), (iii), and (iv) of the UNESCO Operational Guidelines 2005.

The Criteria (ii) of the UNESCO requires the Site to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. In this case, George Town represents exceptional examples of multi-cultural trading towns in East and Southeast Asia, forged from the mercantile and civilization exchanges of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultures.

The Criteria (iii) of the UNESCO requires the Site to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. We proved that George Town is a living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, where the greatest religions, and cultures met. The coexistence of distinct faiths – both tangible and intangible – in particular the different religious buildings, is a testament to the religious pluralism of Asia.

The Criteria (iv) of the UNESCO requires the Site to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape which illustrates a significant stage(s) in human history. George Town reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Malay Archipelago and from India and China with those of Europe to create a unique architecture, culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in the East and South East Asia. In particular a range and exceptional architecture of shophouses and townhouses.

The George Town World Heritage Incorporated was established by the Penang State Government on 21st April 2010. GTWHI is headed by a General Manager with a very challenging role to manage the George Town World Heritage Site (GTWHS). Its main function is to preserve, conserve, promote and enhance the Outstanding Universal Values (OUV) based on the three criterias above . George Town World Heritage Incorporated liase with the local authorities, local communities, other stakeholders on matters pertaining to the Site which includes branding, promotion, education & awareness, research & development and provide links with the Federal, State , Local Authorities, as well as international organisations and other agencies for the betterment of the Site.

We need to create awareness about the importance of promoting art and conserving heritage in order to understand our cultural background and environment. This website provides a link for all the stakeholders to share, express opinions and suggestions to us for the betterment of our George Town World Heritage Site.