Malaysia heritage site conundrum
Unesco listing threatens very culture it aims to protect in George Town.
Published On 26 Jul 2010
The United Nations cultural and education agency, Unesco, is to hold a meeting in Brasilia on Sunday to consider new properties for its list of World Heritage sites.
Two years ago, the status was given to Malaysia’s colonial city of George Town, on the northern island of Penang.
The listing has spurred a conservation movement and a property boom, raising George Town’s profile but possibly changing the very culture Unesco wants to protect.
Gerald Tan reports.