Penang gazettes Fort Cornwallis, asam laksa among 50 heritage items

 

The state government says the long-delayed gazettement exercise under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011 marks a major step in preserving Penang’s multicultural identity and cultural legacy. – AI-generated pic (For illustration purposes)

GEORGE TOWN: Fort Cornwallis, asam laksa and char kway teow are among 50 cultural heritage items recently gazetted in a landmark move to institutionalise the protection of Penang's rich multicultural legacy. 

In the latest round of gazettements on May 7, Penang recognised 15 heritage sites, the Nillaikalakki Silambam martial art and 18 heritage food items under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011. 

Among the prominent landmarks gazetted were Fort Cornwallis, Penang Free School, the Penang High Court, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Acheen Street Malay Mosque, Khoo Kongsi, the Penang State Museum Board building and St George's Church. 

Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the latest recognitions marked a major milestone in the state's cultural preservation efforts. 

"Although the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011 was passed as early as 2011, no official state-level cultural heritage gazettement had been carried out under the enactment over the past 15 years. 

"As such, the Penang government took proactive and important steps this year to translate the legal provisions into concrete action," he said today. 

The May 2026 gazettement also gave heritage recognition to many of Penang's best-known dishes and street food staples, including asam laksa, char kway teow, cendol, teh tarik, air batu campur, roti canai, putu mayam, muruku, mi goreng mamak, martabak and kari kapitan. 

Earlier, on Jan 22, the state gazetted several intangible cultural heritage elements, including nasi kandar culture, kopitiam culture, the Thaipusam and Chingay processions, the St Anne's Feast in Bukit Mertajam and the Penang Tanjong dialect. 

Traditional food items such as nasi kandar, pasembor, oh chien, Hokkien mee, mi udang and roti Benggali were also gazetted in January. 

Wong said the gazettement exercise went beyond administrative procedure and reflected the state's commitment to preserving Penang's historical memory, cultural diversity, artistic heritage and social identity. 

He said the recognition of heritage across various ethnic communities also reflected Penang's long-standing culture of openness and coexistence. 

"Heritage is not merely a repository of local memories, but also an important bridge in strengthening national unity. 

"When the histories, beliefs, celebrations, languages, food culture and built heritage of various communities are recognised and protected institutionally, society can deepen mutual understanding and strengthen unity through cultural appreciation," he added. 

Wong said all heritage items gazetted at the state level could potentially be proposed for recognition under the National Heritage Act 2005 and eventually nominated for UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

He said the initiative would further strengthen Penang's standing as an international cultural heritage tourism destination while supporting growth in tourism, education, research and the creative economy.

-nst online.