George Town residents struggle to redefine Malaysian heritage
By Rachel Harvey BBC Southeast Asia Correspondent
Three years after being granted Unesco World Heritage status, George Town finds itself at the heart of a debate over the very meaning of heritage itself.
Strategically placed between Asia and Europe, Penang Island was once dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.
Its main port, George Town, became a magnet for traders and settlers from east and west.
Chinese, Indians and Europeans joined local Malays to create a powerful mix of cultures hailed by the United Nations cultural organisation, Unesco, as without parallel in Southeast Asia.
Unesco granted the historic heart of George Town World Heritage status three years ago, giving a boost to efforts to preserve the area’s rich diversity.
Beautiful colonial buildings have been restored, their white frontages gleaming in the tropical heat.
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Posted by admin on September 3, 2011 under Travelogue.
