THE Penang government, through George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI), is set to mark the 18th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site this year with curated programmes focusing on the theme “Kongsi Cerita”.
The celebration will begin with a Street Festival on July 4, followed by a 5km family-friendly George Town Heritage Walk at Esplanade on July 5 (Sunday), and the Historic Building Open House from July 5 (Sunday) to July 7 (Tuesday).
“Kongsi Cerita” (Story Sharing) came to the mind of GTWHI general manager, Dr Ang Ming Chee, as she reflected on life and searched for ways to live more meaningfully when she began 2026 in a sick bed.
She said that as the site manager of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site, GTWHI has been given a mandate by the state government to organise heritage celebrations in conjunction with its anniversary on July 7, which is an official public holiday in Penang.
“We want the people of Penang and visitors to come and enjoy the city, create memories, fall in love with George Town again, and share their stories,” Dr Ang, the executive producer for this year’s celebration, told Buletin Mutiara in an interview.
“While our target audience is Penangites, our priority is children. We want the younger generation, who may not have had the opportunity to grow up in George Town, to come back to the town with their families and create new memories.
“That is why this year’s theme is called ‘Kongsi Cerita’. It encourages people to share their stories with different individuals and across generations.”
For this reason, Dr Ang said GTWHI has circulated information about the programme through all the schools in Penang.
GTWHI expects at least 50,000 visitors over the four-day celebration, with a target of 80% of them locals between the ages of eight and 38, and also many foreign tourists.
“George Town is not just murals, cafés or char koay teow. It is made up of stories embedded in its streets, culture, and people. Through a more meaningful cultural experience, we hope more people will rediscover its charm and fall in love with George Town,” she said.
She is also pleased with the strong collaboration of 62 communities and partners, comprising more than 800 dedicated individuals who have worked alongside GTWHI since January this year.
In addition, 19 full-time staff, 60 project staff, 331 volunteers, and more than 200 contractors and subcontractors are involved to ensure the smooth running of the celebrations.
“The special part about this is that it is hosted by local communities, for local communities. We simply mobilise and empower our partners. Whether clan associations, religious institutions, cultural organisations or linguistic groups, they all contribute to the outstanding universal value of the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. They are, in fact, our custodians,” she said.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in as many workshops as possible to gain a better understanding of Malaysian and Penang identity. Dr Ang said that although religions and cultures may differ, it is important to understand and respect one another.
For the Street Festival, visitors can enjoy collecting stamps from six information counters to complete a full artwork. The layered stamping concept, created by Loka Made, is relatively new in Malaysia but is not new to the world.
The info counters are located at GTWHI, Jalan Kampung Kolam, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Cheah Kongsi, Lebuh Armenian and Loka Made.
GTWHI’s Department of Cultural Heritage Research and Development manager, Ng Boon Nee, who is assisting Dr Ang as producer, said visitors can obtain the latest programme details from the GTWHI website at gtwhi.com.my or its Facebook page.
Conversely, she said visitors can also purchase the Historic Building Open House leaflet (RM2 each) and the Kongsi Cerita booklet (RM5 each) as collectable items. The colourful booklet, featuring rich content, follows a fictional character, Sara, as she guides readers through the streets of George Town while uncovering its many traditions. A total of 2,000 limited-edition booklets are available for sale.
The Historic Building Open House features 12 heritage buildings, including George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Arulmigu Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Kwangtung & Teochew Association, Loo Pun Hong, Makam Dato Koyah, Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, Nam Hooi Wooi Koon, Soon Tuck Koon, Sun Wui Wui Koon, St George’s Church, Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple, and Thean Hou Temple (Penang Hainan Association). Each site has its own special story to tell. Opening hours vary by location and date.
After receiving a stamp from each building, booklet holders are entitled to a final stamp from GTWHI as a seal completing their journey of stories for keepsakes.
The George Town Heritage Walk at Esplanade on July 5 (Sunday) will take place at 7am, covering 5km and passing several of these heritage buildings. Response to the walk has been overwhelming, and registration has now closed.
GTWHI encourages carpooling and the use of nearby parking facilities, such as Prangin Mall and Komtar, to ease congestion, as George Town opens its streets once more for people to create, share, and relive their “Kongsi Cerita” moments across generations.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis