PKR MP smells a ‘heritage’ rat in Rais
By Muda Mohd Noor, Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: A Penang PKR MP is stumped by the federal government’s reasoning not to channel the RM20 million allocation from the Heritage Fund to the island state, which has been internationally acknowledged by Unesco as a heritage site.
Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusof said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim’s statement denying Penang its rightful funding “clearly smelt of political meddling.”
“If this is how the minister who is charge of heritage is thinking, then our national heritage agenda is in trouble,” he added.
He said Rais’ interpretation of heritage was was no way near to meeting the standards set by the UN body.
RM30 million for Malacca
On Thursday, Rais said Penang did not qualify for allocations under the Heritage Fund because the state had not implemented a heritage project.
He also denied that the decision was politically motivated.
It is understood that the federal government had agreed to channel RM30 million in funds to Malacca, another Unesco World Heritage City site, for its heritage projects.
While Malacca is under the control of Barisan Nasional, Penang, however, fell into the hands of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general election.
