Melaka and George Town Listed as UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites

Has there been enough news on the great welcome for the historic cities Melaka (Malacca) and George Town being jointly inscribed as UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites? Ya I think whoever that read yesterday’s and today’s Malaysian papers will not miss out this news, as it has been covered quite extensively.

Melaka and George Town are jointly inscribed as historic cities of the Straits of Malacca, enjoying the fame of being the first cultural World Heritage Site in Malaysia. Even though these 2 historic cities are about 500km apart by driving distance, but being the earliest most-developed trading ports during foreign colonization age, they jointly mark the most important historical timeline of Malaysia.

Out of the 10 selection criteria of World Heritage Site, Melaka and George Town meet the following:

• to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
• to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
• to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

Congratulation to all government and non-government organizations who have contributed to bring this wish into a reality. It has been a hard effort of 7 years, since 2001, before these sibling cities are successfully recognized by UNESCO for its heritage values.

In Melaka, the historical sites near the St Paul’s Hill, the 17th century Dutch Stadhuys buildings, Jonker Street with its Dutch-era buildings, Jalan Tukang Besi, Kampung Morten and Malacca River have been recognized as part of the world heritage sites.

I hope Melaka tourism promotion body will make full use of this recognition to uplift Melaka tourism sector to another glorious state, not by over commercializing the tourism opportunity, but further preserve and promote the heritage values of the Old Melaka. At the rate that the Old Melaka is converted into commercial outlets, I hope the unique building and architectural elements can be preserved. It’s quite sad to see the embossed words on building pillars, which was very common in olden days to serve as signage, being covered with modern signage boards as replacement.

Do you know that wall anchor is a unique feature which can only be found on old Dutch building?

Related External Links

• The Star: Joy as Malacca, George Town become cultural world heritage sites
• The Star: Unesco accepts George Town and Malacca as World Heritage Sites
• Melaka Chief Minister: UNESCO Iktiraf Melaka Bandaraya Warisan Dunia

3 comments July 9th, 2008