Malacca and Georgetown in Malaysia listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

Malacca, Penang cheer listing on world heritage site

KUALA LUMPUR: The citizens of Malacca and Penang rejoiced as they celebrate the inscription of their state capitals as World Heritage Sites.

Besides an increase awareness and commitment towards heritage conservation, George Town and Malacca should also see a boost in tourism from the new recognition.

MALACCA

1. St Paul's Church located on top of St Paul's Hill.
2. Various tourist spots can be found in the City Centre.
3. A row of old shophouses along the river in Malacca.

The World Heritage Site covers:

> St Paul’s Hill civic zone with St Paul’s Church, Porta de Santiago (A Famosa) fortress and Stadhuys complex,

> Residential and commercial areas of Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk) and adjacent streets, including Harmony Street, and

> The Malacca River.

GEORGE TOWN

1. The Kapitan Keling Mosque.
2. The brightly lit Town Hall building at the Esplanade.
3. The Khoo Kongsi at Cannon Square.

The site here covers:

> Waterfront district including the Esplanade and harbour area, Fort Cornwallis, Weld Quay and Beach Street,

> Historical commercial centre, including the “ethnic streets” like Bishop Street and Church Street (Eurasions), China Street (Chinese, and Market and Chulia Streets (Indians), and Little India,

> The guilds and trades precinct including Chulia, Muntri, Leith and adjacent streets,

> Mosque and wakaf enclave of Acheen Street and Kapitan Keling mosques

> Chinese clans enclave with the Khoo, Cheah, Tan, Lim, Yap and Yeoh clan or kongsi houses.

1988 – Malaysia ratifies the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972.

1997 – Then Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry begins World Heritage Site initiative to get Malacca and George Town nominated as World Heritage Sites.

1998 – George Town and Malacca nominated into a waiting list by Unesco’s World Heritage Centre under two separate nomination dossiers.

2000 – Taman Negara Mulu and Taman Negara Kinabalu listed under World Heritage Sites under the natural heritage category.

2004 – Completed dossiers submitted to World Heritage Centre but rejected as they did not fulfil the format and were deemed incomplete.

2005 – The ministry improves on the dossier to suit requirements by agreeing to both applications under “serial nomination”, where both sites would be granted a joint World Heritage Site title.

2007 – Revised nomination dossiers officially submitted to World Heritage Centre in January. Unesco World Heritage Centre certifies submission as complete in March.

July 2008 – George Town and Malacca listed as World Heritage Sites.

Source: http://thestar.com.my
Accessed date: 09 July 2008

Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia) have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. With its government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications, Melaka demonstrates the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century. The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

Source: http://portal.unesco.org/
Accessed date: 14/07/08