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Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca
Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia)
have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and
West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed
the towns with a specific multi-cultural heritage that is both tangible and
intangible. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town
represents the British era from the end of the 18th century. The two towns
constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel
anywhere in East and Southeast Asia". (UNITED NATIONS, UNESCO JULY 7 2008)
After 11 years of untiring, relentless efforts, the PHT cannot even begin to
describe its shock, joy and euphoria at the successful UNESCO World Heritage
Site listing of George Town and Malacca. George Town is now a site considered
'to be of outstanding value to humanity with cultural significance which is so
exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and be of common importance for
present and future generations of all humanity'. The three Universals Values
under which the two cities were submitted revolved around the multicultural
heritage, the Straits Settlements shop-house architecture and the religious
buildings. Our cultural heritage embraces both tangible as well as intangible
heritage and all steps should now be taken to protect both.
Even within the ranks of the converted such as PHT members there will be issues
raised, such as, 'What are the advantages of being a World Heritage Site?'
Besides the obvious such as prestige and having 'an edge above the rest' and
increased tourist arrivals (itself a twin-edged sword), in brief these may be
summed up as:
1. Scarcity Value - land values have increased (World Heritage Sites have higher
value than surrounding properties)
2. New economic opportunities for Local Community
3.Higher visitor arrivals and, hopefully, better quality visitor arrivals
4. Implementation of Improved Management Plan
5. More sources of Funding - Federal and International
6.More studies and research, greater focus - Leading to improved documentation
7. Relocation from surrounding areas - World Heritage Sites tend to attract the
best to live, work, invest
8. Investment in Local Artisans and Craftsmen - subsidies, training,
identification of new commercial opportunities
Important issues such as Authenticity, Integrity and the Role of the
Community have to be seriously addressed because once a site is inscribed; the
country has to take steps such as legal provisions and a management system to
ensure proper protection of the site from threats. Besides the obvious ones such
as development pressure, threats will arise in many forms, even from tourist
arrivals, if mismanaged. While cultural heritage tourism is the largest area of
expansion in tourism today and World Heritage Sites experience massive increases
in tourist arrivals, the World Heritage City of George Town will have to cope
with issues of carrying capacity, management, infrastructure , overload and
volume.
So what does PHT see as the immediate problems facing the WHS today?
 The
Management Plan has not been effectively put into operation
No
cultural mapping has been undertaken
There is
a low understanding and politicizing of cultural diversity and traditions
There is
no up-to-date survey data
There is
no political will to implement and enforce guidelines and regulations
There is
no over-arching policy regarding sales, evictions and gentrification and
therefore no over-arching policy with regard to loss of inner city traditional
communities
Conservation work has loose documentation and even looser control by authorities
There is
a tendency to take 'short cuts'
There is
poor understanding of heritage values by contractors and designers
There is
a tendency to over-design, sanitize and to use generic ideas, regardless of
context
Support Zones, i.e., areas outside the core and buffer zones with buildings and
communities considered critical to the Penang story, have not been carefully
documented and listed. In working to create the context for a well managed
heritage site that will bring about economic benefit and wellbeing for the local
community, the soundest and most sustainable economic strategy would be to adopt
the strict conservation and heritage development of the CORE, BUFFER and SUPPORT
zones.
This should NOT be done primarily for tourism, where the danger of creating
'theme-parks' exists, but for the communities within the site, where facilities
are up-graded and the site is well managed. Tourism then becomes a bonus
by-product where visitors are invited to 'share' the site and the local
communities enjoy improved facilities.
Source: http://www.pht.org.my/newsletter-94-melaka-george-town.htm
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