July 7th Declared as Public Holiday in Penang

MFA | July 7, 2009 | 0 Comments

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government will declare July 7 as a state public holiday beginning next year in commemoration of the date George Town received the Unesco World Heritage Site status.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced this Tuesday when launching the month-long anniversary celebrations at the century-old Town Hall here.

“George Town and Malacca’s joint listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site not only brings honour to the state but also makes our city the heritage of all mankind.

“In the state’s commitment to preserve the listing, I have taken the suggestion of some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and will declare July 7 as the George Town Unesco World Heritage Day as a public holiday to create awareness and education on heritage issues,” Lim said.

He added that the theme of this year’s anniversary celebrations was One Heritage to symbolise the importance of collective awareness to preserve, protect and promote George Town’s heritage.

On a related matter, Lim appealed to the Federal Government to release the state’s share of the RM50mil allocated to the Malacca and George Town in Budget 2009 for conservation work.

“Our plan for the types of conservation work to be undertaken has already been submitted by the Penang Municipal Council to the National Heritage Department in April.

“We hope the Federal Government will assure us of the RM25mil allocation that was promised,” he said.

Lim later launched the commemorative George Town Heritage Passport that features 26 significant heritage sites in the city.

The Penang Heritage Trust council member Timothy Tye said the dark brown souvenir booklet could be purchased at RM8 at the PHT office on Church Street.

He said during the state’s grand anniversary celebrations on July 25, passport holders could visit 12 of the sites in the passport to rubber stamp the booklet in unique stamps.

He said the stamps for the remaining sites could be obtained at the PHT office.

The participating sites are the Syed Alatas Mansion, Sun Yat Sen’s Penang Base, Meng Eng Soo Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Goddess of Mercy Temple, St George’s Church, Arulmigu Mahamariamman Temple, Teochew Ancestral Temple, Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, Cheah Kongsi, Acheen Street Mosque and Khoo Kongsi.