Look at the positive side of heritage status

I READ with interest and a feeling of nostalgia the letter “Yearning for the old George Town” ( The Star, Aug 14). Unlike the writer, I’m not a Penangite but I have been a regular visitor to the island since the late 70s.

I truly loved the George Town of old and still love the way it is today, although mass tourism which is partly due to its World Heritage Status (WHS) is hastening the loss of the city’s authentic character.

But we cannot get away from the fact that for every action there is a reaction. In the case of Penang, the “Pearl of the Orient” is now glistening bright on the world tourism map but on ground level, the local populace are being put out of place and, worse, “robbed” of their traditional livelihood.

No doubt we can protect and preserve heritage structures like buildings and monuments through the WHS listing. But in cities, the lives and culture of the residents may be disrupted. That’s exactly what’s happening in George Town.

I have noticed that establishments, from hotels to watering holes, are trying to create the best themes and characters to reflect the state of old Penang. These, however, are simply for the tourists’ consumption and are by no means reflective of the good old days.

But I would like to look at the positive side and hope the locals will also prosper with the energy brought by the WHS in terms of pride in being internationally recognised and the windfall of job opportunities and tourist dollars.

I also hope that the authenticity of some things can be protected and preserved, like Chew Jetty for example, where residents can still have pride and a sense of belonging in their old quarter, and privacy from the curious eyes of visitors.

Hopefully too, the comfort of long-time residents will not be disrupted by wealthy outsiders.

ZARI MALAYSIANA Petaling Jaya