Penang's Unesco listing a powerful heritage to develop the state

GEORGE TOWN: Penang's status as a Unesco World Heritage site is a powerful tool to further develop the state.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said such principles are at the heart of the state government's plan to achieve its 2030 agenda for the sustainable development of the state.
"We are also aware of the need for sustainable tourism, community empowerment and an efficient management system to conserve and protect the site.
"Penang is therefore committed to go beyond the site's physical attributes and to include the environment and community interaction.
"We have applied the Unesco Historic Urban Landscape approach in integrating the goals of urban heritage conservation as well as social and economic development," he said in a statement to mark George Town's 10th anniversary as a Unesco heritage site.
Within the 259-hectare George Town Unesco World Heritage Site, there exists 3,853 heritage buildings and 1,160 modern structures.
"As the challenges to preserving our heritage become more complex where disasters and effects of climate change threaten our multicultural heritage and the living environment, we must renew and enhance our efforts to protect our site," he said.
Earlier, when officiating at a Parkinson Disease update course at the Penang Hospital, Chow said that the proposed "I Love Penang" smart card needs further evaluation before it can be implemented.
"As there are challenges and changes to the current economic outlook, a further study is needed to ensure the proposed smart card for Penang can be a good effective policy to encourage sound services to people in the state."
The smart card was unveiled as part of this year's state budget by former chief minister Lim Guan Eng.
Among the benefits that the now Finance Minister had listed was a 'Healthy Penang Programme', with RM300 credited into the card annually for each household with an income of RM5,000 and below, capped at RM50 per clinic visit.
Another RM150 would be credited to the card for individuals earning less than RM2,500, capped at RM50 per clinic visit.
The smart card incorporates big data analytics in making evidence-based policies and public service deliveries.