INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the people of Penang, I would like to extend my appreciation to UNESCO and Think City for organizing this important international conference here in George Town. We are fortunate to live in a city that is full of history, with a diverse mix of different cultures living side by side, and generally the protection of this shared heritage is something that is close to our hearts.
GEORGE TOWN as a UNESCO WHS
On 7th July 2008, George Town’s rich living heritage and cultural diversity was formally recognized when the World Heritage Committee in Quebec, Canada officially inscribed the city as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the first time that cultural heritage sites in Malaysia have been inscribed into UNESCO’s prestigious listing.
The influences of Asia and Europe have imprinted on our city with a unique and multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. Our former function as trading ports linking East and West, coupled with a unique architecture, culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF GEORGE TOWN AS A WHS
The listing by UNESCO added to Penang’s international status and the brand offers many advantages in terms of cultural heritage tourism development and destination marketing. Indeed, the WHS brand indicates intrinsic value that should be preserved and thus implicitly suggest special values, exceptionalism and distinction.
Despite the global recognition and income increase, there are also risks that other UNESCO World Heritage Sites with the best legal protection face. Accelerated gentrification, the rise of culture as a commodity, and the loss of intangible heritage are serious challenges which threaten to undermine the Outstanding Universal Values of the city.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNESCO CONFERENCE
While the island has managed to embrace modernity retaining its charms and traditions due to the protections put in place, we have to remain vigilant from the threats mentioned. Perhaps the biggest threat to George Town’s cultural heritage is the rapid rate of change that does not allow its communities to adapt and remain part of the historic city. Like in other UNESCO sites, the renewed interest the city has brought greater numbers of tourists, which in turn brings new business opportunities manifested in new boutique hotels and souvenir shops.
As a responsible government, we are consistently working very hard to understand the complexity of the challenges associated with the management of a UNESCO WHS. Together with Think City and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, we have developed a Public Realm Guide including a list of projects that will demonstrate the alignment of conservation with development.
Across the Asia-Pacific region, cultural heritage continues to be overlooked in preparing for and recovering from disasters and armed conflict. Despite the relative geographic safety of Penang, it is not different from our neighbours, we also remain vulnerable and at risk: we have much to learn and prepare in the advent of any disaster. Without adequate policies, protocols and resources in planning or responding to disasters and armed conflict, sites are subject to direct damage, looting and illicit trafficking.
Disaster management is all about crisis management. Not only must we be prepared but we must be equipped with all the tools as well as right training for emergency and rescue personnel.
Disaster management does not avert or eliminate the threats, instead it focuses on creating plans to decrease the impact of disasters. Emergency management consists of five phases: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
I feel that mitigation and preparedness are amongst the most important elements. Preparedness focuses on preparing equipment and procedures for use when a disaster occurs. This equipment and these procedures can be used to reduce vulnerability to disaster, to mitigate the impacts of a disaster or to respond more efficiency in an emergency.
There is a need to ensure that appropriate measures for preparing for, responding to and recovering from disaster and armed conflict situations are reflected in cultural heritage properties and practices. We need to harmonize our actions from the local to the state to the national level and even further to the region and international level to reduce risks to our gift to the world – our cultural heritage sites
CONCLUSION
On that note, for more adaptable, sustainable and resilient cultural heritage sites in the Asia Pacific and across the globe, I wish you all a successful and productive conference.