GEORGE TOWN (June 26, 2009) : The controversy over the World Heritage Site status of Malacca and George Town by Unesco -- after four high-rise building projects were planned in George Town’s conservation zone -- is likely to end with all developers required by the state government to scale down or amend their plans in compliance with the world body’s recommendations.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng reported the Penang government’s decision in a letter submitted to the Unesco's World Heritage Committee (WHC) on June 4.

"We wish to provide assurances in no uncertain terms that the Penang Government is committed to preserving, protecting and promoting heritage in George Town," he said in his letter to Giovanni Boccardi, Chief of Unit of WHC’s Asia and Pacific Section.

The WHC is scheduled to review the joint-listing of Malacca and George Town during its 33rd session, now in progress till June 30 in Seville, Spain.

Lim expressed hope that the commitment and compliance measures would assist to keep George Town’s status as a Unesco World Heritage Site. His letter was made available to the press today (26 June 2009).

The controversy blew up when theSun reported Richard Engelhardt, the Unesco regional advisor for Asia-Pacific, issuing a warning on Nov 18 last year that the high-rise projects – all hotels - could affect George Town’s Unesco status.

Engelhardt had then said the WHC was likely to take the plans - approved by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) - into account when it reviewed George Town ’s status.

theSun later found that the nomination dossier approved by Unesco in granting the world heritage listing confirmed the international body’s endorsement for new buildings in George Town to be capped at 18 metres.

On May 19 this year, Boccardi issued a report dubbed ‘Unesco Mission - Reactive Monitoring to George Town, Penang’ with findings and recommendations, following an inspection visit in April.

The inspection was conducted together with David Logan of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

The state decided to adopt the required heritage compliance measures after perusing the mission report, Lim said.

In his letter to Boccardi, Lim reported:

> Asian Global Business Sdn Bhd (which was planning a 51m hotel) will reduce the overall proposed height to 18m. It will also re-study the whole proposal in terms of scale, mass and volume to reduce the overall visual impact of its new buildings towards the existing heritage building, especially a clock tower. The project is located at the Weld Quay waterfront in the heritage site’s core zone.

> Boustead Holdings Bhd had been instructed to reduce its 51m building to 18m. The project is also located on the Weld Quay waterfront in the core zone.

> The E&O Sdn Bhd's 84m building would now be trimmed from 17 floors to 15 floors, and provide 5m setback from Farquhar Street after the hotel podium block. The project is located in the buffer zone.

> Bintang Holdings Sdn Bhd, which has planned a 84m building, will amend the overall facade design to harmonise with the surrounding existing heritage buildings. The project is located at the edge of the buffer zone.

Lim also informed Boccardi of other related developments, including:

> The introduction of a Heritage Impact Assessment to be submitted to MPPP for review of any new development proposals within the world heritage site should any heritage guidelines be contravened;

> A plan to declare July 7 as a "George Town Unesco World Heritage Day" and public holiday, to create awareness and education on heritage issues;

> Approval by the State Planning Committee (SPC) on May 21 for the formation of a Technical Review Panel to review and assess any new proposed developments within the World Heritage Site;

> Abolition of a proviso that allows new development projects within the heritage site for buildings of more than 18m in height if the proposed site exceeds more than 50,000 square feet, by the SPC on May 21;

> Approval by the State Assembly in its last sitting of a special state enactment, Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), to govern and manage the world heritage site.