Reconsider Unesco listing for Pulau Jerejak, Penang govt urged

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has been urged to review its decision not to make Pulau Jerejak a Unesco World Heritage site.

Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, who made the call, said it would be a waste due to its historical and heritage value.

He said the nomination was under the purview of the National Heritage Department.

“However, we need the consent of the state. We issued a letter on Oct 19 on this matter,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Muhammad Bakhtiar added that the ministry was not against development on Pulau Jerejak, but it must be carried out in a way that did not affect its heritage value.

On Wednesday, the state government announced during the state assembly that it had no plans to make Pulau Jerejak a Unesco World Heritage site.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said a mixed development project to include a theme park had been planned for the island.

He added that declaring the island as a World Heritage site did not arise as an application was only received this year.

He said Tropical Island Resort Sdn Bhd would be developing the southern part of the island.

Chow also said the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the development was approved this year.

Since the development was within the 76m-altitude restriction, he said, a detailed geographical study was not needed and approval for the development was given on July 20 this year.

Chow assured that the development would not encroach into the island’s forest reserve, which was expected to be gazetted soon.