JULY 7, 2008 will remain as one of the most memorable days in the history books of Penang.
It was the year when George Town was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site for its rich cultural diversity and unconventional yet charming urban formation.
Living with a principle that whatever is achieved must be maintained or improved for the better, state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo, who helms the Town and Country Planning portfolio, assured the people of Penang that the state would continue with its efforts to safeguard George Town as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
This, he said, would be done when the state government, through its PLAN Malaysia department, works closely to further improve the planning for new and iconic buildings in Penang.
“The state government had previously worked hand-in-hand with various agencies to make George Town as a preferred destination and an iconic location in the state.
“For example, we are even here today, standing in front of an iconic building (City Hall, Esplanade), which is surrounded by many amenities and facilities that have been upgraded and are still being upgraded.
“These are all done for the people,” Jagdeep said during the press conference in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the World Town Planning Day at City Hall, Esplanade today.
Jagdeep also added that so far, the state government had already gazetted the Penang Structure Plan 2030 and other Special Area Plans (SAPs) for Penang Botanic Gardens and Penang Hill.
Meanwhile, state-level PLAN Malaysia deputy director I Mohd Bashir Sulaiman thanked Jagdeep and other relevant individuals and agencies for supporting the initiatives taken up by his department.
“Moving forward in the next 100 years, we hope to plan and shape Penang with buildings and developments that will further define its authenticity.
“With the support of the state government, we will definitely be able to do this,” he said.
Among those present were Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and Penang State Secretariat office head of local government division Nur Aishah Md Norodin.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan