GEORGE TOWN (June 29, 2009) : Unesco will not de-list or downgrade the status of Malacca and George Town from its World Heritage List, ending a protracted controversy over four high-rise buildings approved by the Penang government in George Town’s heritage zone.

A source told theSun today the world body made the decision not to place the two cities, which are jointly listed, into its List of World Heritage in Danger, during a review on Sunday in Seville, Spain.

The review was held during a meeting of Unesco’s World Heritage Committee (WHC), which is holding its 33rd annual session from Thursday to today.

Unesco’s decision comes on the heels of a series of letters sent by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to the WHC, outlining the state’s measures for heritage conservation and preservation.

In his letter to WHC director Francesco Bandarin on June 8, Lim said the state has compelled the developers of the four projects to strictly comply with guidelines and requirements set by Unesco and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos).

He said the state was "prepared to face financial consequences from the four developers in doing so".

It is understood that during the review, the WHC directed the state government to stick to the measures it had outlined and as required by the world body.

Lim made available his letters to the WHC to the media during a press conference in his office today.

He said the height of two of the buildings (both planned for 51m) in George Town’s core zone are now required to be reduced to 18m. The two projects, by Asian Global Business Sdn Bhd and Boustead Holdings Bhd, are located at the Weld Quay waterfront.

The other two projects, both planned for 84m, by Bintang Holdings Sdn Bhd and E&O Sdn Bhd, will be modified to have their impacts reduced. Both are located in the buffer zone.

Lim sent appended information to Bandarin on June 18 outlining new steps taken by the State Planning Committee for heritage protection during the SPC meeting on that very day.

theSun reported that Richard Engelhardt, the Unesco regional adviser for Asia-Pacific, issued a warning on Nov 18 last year that the high-rise projects – all hotels -- could affect George Town’s Unesco status.

Engelhardt had said the WHC would likely to take the plan, approved by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP), into account when it reviewed the status of Malacca and George Town.

On May 19, Giovanni Boccardi, chief of unit of WHC’s Asia and Pacific Section, issued a report, titled "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 Icomos.

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

The other new state decisions relayed to the WHC include:

» Introduction of 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;

» 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 sq ft, by the SPC on May 21; and

» Approval by the State Assembly at its last meeting of a special state enactment, Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), to govern and manage the World Heritage Site.

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