[Malaysia as a whole
will lose its Unesco heritage status if Kampung Chetti in Malacca is developed.]
PETALING
JAYA:
Malaysia risks losing its world heritage status by allowing a development
project to take place at the Unesco heritage site in Kampung Chetti, Malacca,
said an Indian writers group.
Kavyan Writers Group
president Uthaya Sankar SB said Unesco’s world heritage status was awarded to
Malaysia as a whole and not to individual sites in Penang or Malacca.
“Hence the development
project will result in Malaysia losing its world heritage status.
“Construction of buildings
more than four storeys are not allowed at heritage sites by Unesco,” said
Uthaya Sankar SB in a press statement. [COMPLETE PRESS STATEMENT]
On Dec 17, 2013, there were
reports that the Malacca state government had approved construction of two
22-storey condominium blocks, a 12-storey hotel and six of levels parking space
on a plot of land in Kampung Chetti. [READ HERE]
The project was stopped by
the former Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam last year but has been revived and
given the green light by the current state administration after the 13th
general election in May.
Deputy Minister in Prime
Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy has objected against the project.
Kampung Chetti has existed
since 1414 and both the state and federal governments have given the village,
national heritage status. In addition, the village is also a Unesco World
Heritage site.
Uthaya said Malaysia would be
portrayed negatively in the international community if it lost the world
heritage status and that would affect tourism in the Visit Malaysia Year 2014
campaign.
He had also called upon the
DAP-led Penang government to state its stand since the island’s world heritage
status would be affected.
“Unesco has the right to
rescind the world heritage status enjoyed by Georgetown if Kampung Chetti in
Malacca is developed,” he said, adding that Penang is maintaining its heritage
sites.
He also called upon the
federal and state governments to issue a written guarantee to protect the national
cultural site.
(K Pragalath, Free Malaysia Today, 31 December 2013.
Tamil version published in Tamil Nesan, 1 January 2014. Related topic: Kampung Chetti Begs to be Saved. Get
more information at Solidariti Kampung Chetti.)
