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NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN WORLD HERITAGE ZONES
Unesco dossier confirms height
cap of 18 metres
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: A nomination dossier
approved by Unesco in granting World
Heritage Listing to George Town and
Malacca has confirmed the international
body’s endorsement for new development
projects in George Town to be capped at 18
metres.
According to the dossier – a copy of
which has been obtained by theSun – new
developments within both the core and buffer
zones “is allowed up to a maximum of 18
metres measured from the ground level up to
the roof eaves.”
The dossier, however, makes no mention
about status of projects that exceed the limit
but were approved by the Penang Island
Municipal Council (MPPP) before the Unesco
listing was awarded.
Unesco’s regional adviser to Asia-Pacific,
Richard Engelhardt, had last week warned
that Penang’s heritage status may be affected
due to four high-rise projects approved in the
conservation area.
He said the sincerity of an authority
would be put into question if inappropriate
structures were passed after application for
heritage status had been submitted.
Former state executive councillor Teng
Chang Yeow claimed on Saturday that two of
the projects, both along Weld Quay, had been
approved in accordance with guidelines.
He said the State Planning Committee
(SPC) had in early 2007 amended a five-
storey limit for new development in the inner
city, to allow some high-rise projects to be
built “with conditions”.
Teng added that Unesco was made aware
of the projects through a supplementary
document before the listing was given.
However, neither the dossier nor an
TOO HIGH... A
51-metre hotel
building being
developed along
Weld Quay in
Unesco’s heritage
zone.
evaluation report by the International Council
on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) make
any mention of such a “supplementary
document”. (Unesco’s decision to list George
Town and Malacca was based largely on the
ICOMOS evaluation.)
The height restrictions in George Town’s
heritage zone are specified in the Guidelines
for Conservation Areas and Heritage
Buildings. Gazetted on Aug 23, 2007, these
guidelines were placed as a key document in
the dossier for Unesco to approve.
The guidelines also stipulate that the
maximum height of new developments
“located within the ensemble of heritage
buildings or adjoining to important or highly
significant buildings” shall not exceed that of
the adjoining heritage buildings.
ICOMOS in its evaluation refers to the
guidelines as a “relevant legal instrument” for
heritage conservation in George Town.
Interestingly, the dossier also comprises a
Heritage Management Plan (HMP) approved
by the SPC on Feb 12, 2008, which mentions
the existence of planning permissions and
building plans approved prior to 2007.
“Issues arise from these new development
projects which have yet to be built but
are now not in consonance with the new
Guidelines for Conservation Areas and
Heritage Buildings approved by the State
Planning Committee in August 2007,” the
HMP says.
Both the dossier and the ICOMOS
evaluation also air concerns about the
negative impact of tourism in George Town.
Tourist arrivals in Penang totalled three
million in 2006, and is forecast to increase
with the Unesco listing.
“Control of tourism pressures must be one
of the goals of the management plan,” the
ICOMOS evaluation says.
“ICOMOS considers that the increase in
visitors to the nominated properties could
potentially jeopardise their values, integrity
and authenticity and recommends that the
management plan include measures for
sustainable tourism development,” it adds.
| WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26 2008
‘Study impact
of projects at
Penang
heritage sites’
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Unity, Culture, Arts and
Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal yes-
terday said the Penang government has been
told to conduct an impact study on develop-
ments in heritage sites to ensure they will not
affect the World Heritage status awarded by
the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Following a “warning” by Unesco that
Penang could lose its newly-acquired status
because four high-rise hotels were being built
in the heritage zone, Shafie said he had met
with the state government on the matter on
Monday.
He said the state will work with the min-
istry as well as Unesco representatives and
the developers to determine the impact of
the developments in a month.
“The recognition for the two states includ-
ing Malacca as World Heritage Sites was not
done separately but because of the historical
Straits of Malacca shared by the two states.
“So we must ensure that there will be
no disqualification because if Penang loses
its status, Malacca will also lose its too,” he
told a press conference at parliament lobby
yesterday.
However, Shafie said the impact study
does not mean that there should be no de-
velopment in that area as informed by Unesco
as renovation and preservation work can still
be carried out.
“I have told Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng
that we must maintain and ensure that (the
World Heritage title stays) as it is not only
good for the state but the nation as well. So
we must work closely together,” he added.
Asked if the development projects will be
stopped, Shafie said he did not want to jump
to any conclusion as there are many options
but it may be the last resort.
“We need the cooperation of all develop-
ers. I advise the state government officers to
talk to the developers and I think we can work
it out,” he said.
briefs
Groups deny link with Umno
PETALING JAYA: An umbrella body of Malay
and Muslim non-governmental organisations
(Pewaris) yesterday disputed the allegations by
certain quarters including Penang Chief Minister
Lim Guan Eng that they are linked to Umno.
Rahimuddin Md Harun of the Pewaris secre-
tariat said in a statement that Pewaris represents
the voice of the silent majority of Muslims who
have been patient for a long time and now want
to speak up to defend the religion.
“There is no reason for Pewaris to take instruc-
tions from Umno because Umno is weak and
down with various chronic diseases,” he said.
“Pewaris’s final call is for Umno, PAS or PKR and
all government staff to continue championing
their ideologies.
“But when it comes to religion, all must
unite,” Rahimuddin said.
Charge on loan deferred
KUALA LUMPUR: The 1% charge on the Na-
tional Higher Education Fund Corporation’s
(NHEF) study loan, which was to be imposed
from June this year, has been deferred to
January next year, Higher Education Minister
Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.
“The deferment is necessary as the NHEF
is still sorting out several matters, including
documentation,” he said.
In August, the government announced a
charge reduction to 1% from 3% for those
taking undergraduate studies and a 5%
charge for post-graduate studies, effective
June.
Mohamed Khalid was speaking to report-
ers after witnessing the signing of a memo-
randum of understanding between the NHEF
and Maybank as the agent for the national
education fund scheme yesterday.