CULTURAL FEST LAUNCH TO CELEBRATE GEORGETOWN AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE

PENANG (Malaysia), Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The state government launched its
first inaugural Penang Cultural Fest 2008 (PCF) in this northern state Thursday
to celebrate the city of Georgetown as a world heritage site by United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the fest was aimed at highlighting
Georgetown's unique heritage and helping to strengthen cultural
vibrancy.

"I hope we can put our differences aside as Georgetown was nominated based
on its built heritage and multicultural identity, to celebrate our hard-won
World Heritage Site status," he said here Thursday.

He said there should be cultural vibrancy to maintain the World Heritage
Site status.

In conjuction with the PCF, state of Penang Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas and
wife Majimor Shariff launched two books and a web portal to mark the Penang
Heritage Landmark.

One of the books, titled 'The Eastern and Oriental Hotel-Pearl of Penang'
authored by Ilsa Sharp, presents a captivating historical account of the hotel
while the other, 'Photographing Malaysia: The Tan Thye Siew and Jimmy
Tan Collection', features more than 200 photographs of Georgetown and other
Malaysian cities.

The web portal I-Georgetown was launched as an information platform to
promote all aspects of Georgetown as a world heritage site.

Meanwhile, event organiser Dr Neil Khor said the people of Penang would
enjoy a wide range of activities involving cultural performances, food hunt
and food exhibition, a jazz festival, musical night at Fort Cornwallis and a
street opera at Little Penang street market in the next few days.
-- BERNAMA