The Malaysian Insider

See also Georgetown heritage listing may improve bipartisan ties

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Malaysia's two oldest cities — Georgetown and Malacca — have finally been listed as World Heritage Sites after 7 years of campaigning at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which gave the status yesterday.

Its Paris-based World Heritage Council met in Quebec, Canada and confirmed the listings which will see historical and cultural properties in both cities to be listed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng welcomed the announcement, telling The Malaysian Insider: "This is great news for Georgetown. We have to maintain our heritage and history and the state government intends to just that."

Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the success in the bid is a boost to multiculturalism and tourism for Malaysia.

In Georgetown, the core areas encompass the historical sites of Georgetown, including the Lebuh Acheh historical enclave and sites such as the Lebuh Acheh Malay Mosque, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Kling Mosque, the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Khoo Kongsi, St George's Church, Assumption Church, St Xavier's Institution, Convent Light Street, Little India, the museum and court building, the commercial area of Beach Street, Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade, City Hall, the clan jetties and the port areas.

In Malacca, which was founded in the 1400s, historical sites near the St Paul's Hill, the 17th-century Dutch Stadhuys buildings, Jonker Street with its Dutch-era buildings, Jalan Tukang Besi, Kampung Morten and Malacca River have been recognised as part of the World Heritage Site.