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.
