TWO dozen delegates from the Badan Pelestarian Pusaka Indonesia (Indonesian National Heritage Trust) on a capacity-building trip to Penang spent almost three days taking in the historical sights of George Town.

Comprising architects, planners, urban designers, archaeologists, heritage property owners, lecturers, government officers and journalists, their visit was in part, to learn about the city?s success in preserving its historical structures and living heritage within.

Not long after touching down at the airport on Friday, they were whisked to the Penaga Hotel ? converted from a cluster of 15 pre-war terrace and shophouses along Hutton Lane, Transfer Road and Clarke Street ? for the first stop of their tour.

They next visited the premises of their host for the day, the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) for a brief talk by PHT honorary secretary Clement Liang, before heading to Logan?s Memorial in front of the court complex.

The entourage then visited the Street of Harmony (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), taking in the sights of the St George?s Church, Kuan Yin Temple, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Ka-pitan Keling Mosque and the Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, as well as the various shop-lined side roads in between.

Writer-cum-PR officer Nirmala Ratimanjari found it remarkable that one can just walk around the city and find historical buildings that are still being inhabited, something seldom found in other heritage sites.

?We have a lot of historical buildings too but most of them are neglected,? she said, expressing her hope that their local governments would step up efforts in preserving them.

Having been in George Town once prior to the Unesco World Heritage listing, she notices a difference, adding, ?Things are quite exotic now, it?s old, but definitely not old and boring!?

Architect Arya Abieta said many locations in Indonesia faced the same dilemma of how to protect their historical structures and preserve their living heritage.

Citing Jakarta as an example, he said that the population drops from around 15 million during the day to just nine to 10 million at night.

?It becomes a ghost town after office hours because nobody wants to live there. Here it?s different and we?re quite surprised.

?It?s interesting to understand how a city can become a Unesco Heritage Site and have people living within it. This visit has given a lot of ideas that I will take back home and discuss with the relevant bodies.

?We?ll try to find ways to encourage people to live in and maintain our heritage buildings. Something needs to be done about our historical areas,? Abieta said.

PHT president Khoo Salma Nasution believes the Street of Harmony is a very good destination for any first-time visitor to Penang, as it exemplifies the city?s unique ethnic diversity.

As the majority of Indonesians visitors are in Penang for medical tourism, Khoo believes that efforts should also be made to promote local heritage and cultural attractions and show that Penang has much more to offer.

?When it comes to promoting George Town, it shouldn?t only be to Westerners. We should also think of our Asean neighbours,? she added.

On Friday night, the group was hosted to a dinner at the Dapur Restaurant in Logan?s Building, Beach Street, by George Town World Heritage Inc.

They attended a heritage forum and workshop the next day, and had more sightseeing in George Town on Sunday before leaving for home.

SOURCE: The Star