GEORGE TOWN: The streets of George Town came alive early in the morning as crowds gathered for a heritage walk that traced Penang’s rich and storied past through its shophouses, religious sites, and cultural landmarks.
At least 2,000 people, comprising locals, history buffs, foreigners, and members of community groups, turned up at Beach Street yesterday to take part in the George Town Heritage Walk, which was held to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the city’s designation as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The annual event has become a fixture in the city calendar, aimed at raising awareness about George Town’s historical significance and the ongoing efforts to preserve its unique multicultural heritage.
Among the participants were civil servant Nurul Syafezah Zakariah and her friend Siti Nabilah Abdul Rahman, both 23.
“I have been hearing about the event, but never participated.
“This year, I wanted to give it a try,” said Nurul Syafezah.
Besides enjoying a healthy walk, she said the event also gave her a chance to explore heritage sites and learn more about them.
Siti Nabilah, who works as an airline ticketing officer, said the walk served as a meaningful reminder that heritage is not just about buildings, but also about the stories, people, and culture that bring a city to life.
“It’s easy to take it all for granted, but walking past the clan houses, temples, and old merchant buildings with people from all over the world reminded me about how special this city is,” she said.
British citizen Marie Worrall, 33, a history teacher at an international school, was curious to learn more about the heritage buildings in George Town.
“It’s just absolutely gorgeous to come here early in the morning when the weather is cool and the streets are a little clearer, and taking time to look at the buildings,” she said.
Worrall, who has been in Penang for over a year now, said she is still getting to know the city and learning something new every day.
Her friend Yaseen Akhtar, 34, also a teacher, said he loves everything about the city, especially its history and architecture dating back to the 1800s and 1900s.
Lt-Kdr Fadhil Samsuddin, 38, of the Royal Malaysian Navy, was with his wife and three children at the walk.
The cheery family mingled with other participants, reflecting the strong community spirit fostered by the event.
“I feel the event is good for the community, as it is not only healthy but raises awareness about heritage preservation too,” Lt-Kdr Fadhil said.
The 5km walk drew participants from Malaysia and 18 other countries.
Penang celebrates Heritage Day on July 7 annually to mark George Town’s induction as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008.
The celebrations often includes events such as open houses in heritage buildings, cultural performances, and heritage walks.
Present at the event were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Tanjung MP Lim Hui Ying, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, and Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk A. Rajendran.
“We are now entering the 17th year of this prestigious status, which comes with a great responsibility, not just for government bodies, but for everyone, including residents, business owners, community organisations, NGOs, and developers,” the Chief Minister said.
Chow said it was important to preserve the city’s cultural values, architectural heritage and intangible assets such as language, traditions, customs, food, beverages, and performances.
He also said that the state must ensure that development in the heritage zone is regulated and complies with the conservation guidelines that have been set.
Besides raising public awareness, he said the state also allocated funding to support the restoration of heritage buildings, including those classified under Category 1 and 2.
“These efforts contribute to the achievements we’ve seen over the past 17 years since George Town was recognised as a World Heritage Site,” he said
However, he said the journey is far from over.
The recognition is a daily commitment and not something that is only cherished once a year, Chow added.
