GEORGE TOWN: A federal allocation promised to Penang after its successful listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site has been given to Khazanah Nasional. “Ideally, the money should have been channelled to us because we are the custodians of the state,” Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

He said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Nor Yakcop had told him and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Thursday that the money had been given to Khazanah, a Federal Government investment arm.

“Since the money has already been given to Khazanah, I hope the Federal Government will consider giving the state government RM25mil for our conservation projects,” he said, adding that Khazanah should involve the state in its plans to utilise the allocation.

“We have made a few suggestions and Khazanah is currently working with the Penang Municipal Council to come up with a heritage building inventory and ways to revitalise the area,” he told reporters after presenting Hari Raya hampers to underprivileged residents of Taman Manggis here yesterday.

In November last year, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri (now Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that RM50mil would be allocated to the two Unesco sites — Penang and Malacca — for conservation purposes.

However, Information, Communica-tions and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said recently that such an allocation did not exist and the money promised was a “misconception”.

The Star·Sunday September 20, 2009
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/20/nation/4753884&sec=nation