Rais to Penang: Spend more before asking for funds
Susan LoonePublished: Nov 20, 2010 6:00 AM | Updated: Nov 20, 2010 9:55 AM
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has hit out at Penang for not contributing enough to its own heritage conservation projects.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim has hit out at Penang for not contributing enough to its own heritage conservation projects.
Rais (in black), who is on a one day visit to several heritage sites in Penang today, said the state should not be too eager to ask for federal government funds before making an effort itself to promote and conserve its heritage sites.
However, the minister declined to comment when asked how much the federal government’s contribution to the state’s heritage projects was, saying, “I will not answer until I have seen what Penang has to contribute (to its own heritage).”
“There is no point asking how much we can contribute. Penang must also state how much they can contribute,” he told reporters when met at the World Heritage Office in Carnavon Street today, where the minister had dropped by to view ongoing renovation works.
Rais suggested that Penang was not doing as much for tourism and heritage compared to Malacca, another Unesco Heritage city in the south.
He added that whether Penang was similar in its efforts to Malacca in promoting its heritage was “up to the rakyat to judge”.
He was echoing Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen’s recent criticism of Penang, when she said the state that has recently celebrated its two-year anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage site was lagging behind Malacca in attracting tourists.
You help us, we help you
Rais then blamed Penang’s lacklustre performance in tourism to the Pakatan-led state government’s lukewarm relationship with the BN-led federal government.
“For us, if the state government shows more interest and spends their money for arts and culture, we would appreciate it very much,” said Rais.
“I admit Penang is behind Malacca in cooperating with the federal government in this area. However, this does not mean that Penang will continue to be left behind,” he added.
Rais urged the state under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to cooperate with the federal government in the tourism and heritage sector.
“The question of heritage is not a political question, it is about the nation.
“In the tourism sector, we have witnessed (a lacklustre show) but in heritage, Penang is one of the international sites, and if there is more cooperation with the federal government, it would be appreciated,” he added.
However, Rais said he does not dismiss the state’s assistance in the area, as the Georgetown Heritage Office (left) while it is under renovation is currently working from an office space in the Penang Municipal Council building.
The federal government has contributed about RM3million to several conservation projects in Penang, including the St George’s Church in Farquhar Street (RM1.8 million); the World Heritage Office in Carnavon Street (RM300,000) and the Chrysanthemum building in Hutton Lane (RM700,000).
Rais (in black), who is on a one day visit to several heritage sites in Penang today, said the state should not be too eager to ask for federal government funds before making an effort itself to promote and conserve its heritage sites.However, the minister declined to comment when asked how much the federal government’s contribution to the state’s heritage projects was, saying, “I will not answer until I have seen what Penang has to contribute (to its own heritage).”
“There is no point asking how much we can contribute. Penang must also state how much they can contribute,” he told reporters when met at the World Heritage Office in Carnavon Street today, where the minister had dropped by to view ongoing renovation works.
Rais suggested that Penang was not doing as much for tourism and heritage compared to Malacca, another Unesco Heritage city in the south.
He added that whether Penang was similar in its efforts to Malacca in promoting its heritage was “up to the rakyat to judge”.
He was echoing Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen’s recent criticism of Penang, when she said the state that has recently celebrated its two-year anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage site was lagging behind Malacca in attracting tourists.
You help us, we help you
Rais then blamed Penang’s lacklustre performance in tourism to the Pakatan-led state government’s lukewarm relationship with the BN-led federal government.
“For us, if the state government shows more interest and spends their money for arts and culture, we would appreciate it very much,” said Rais.“I admit Penang is behind Malacca in cooperating with the federal government in this area. However, this does not mean that Penang will continue to be left behind,” he added.
Rais urged the state under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to cooperate with the federal government in the tourism and heritage sector.
“The question of heritage is not a political question, it is about the nation.
“In the tourism sector, we have witnessed (a lacklustre show) but in heritage, Penang is one of the international sites, and if there is more cooperation with the federal government, it would be appreciated,” he added.
However, Rais said he does not dismiss the state’s assistance in the area, as the Georgetown Heritage Office (left) while it is under renovation is currently working from an office space in the Penang Municipal Council building.The federal government has contributed about RM3million to several conservation projects in Penang, including the St George’s Church in Farquhar Street (RM1.8 million); the World Heritage Office in Carnavon Street (RM300,000) and the Chrysanthemum building in Hutton Lane (RM700,000).
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