BALIK PULAU: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is concerned that large-scale development will hinder efforts to apply for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) world heritage site status for Pulau Jerejak.
Deputy Minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said an official letter on the matter would be sent to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow next week.
“The National Heritage Department is applying for Unesco world heritage site status for Pulau Jerejak in Penang and the Sungai Buloh National Leprosy Control Centre in Selangor,” he said at a gotong-royong with Taman Pokok Kenanga residents in Sungai Titi Teras, here, today.
“The latter appears to be the first leprosy colony isolation centre in the world.
“However, we were informed about the large-scale development planned for Pantai Jerejak, which includes a bridge across the straits, connecting the coast to the area.”
The 227.4ha Sungai Buloh National Leprosy Control Centre was opened in 1926 because there was no cure for the disease at the time.
On another issue, Bakhtiar said the ministry had yet to receive feedback on the Penang government’s proposal to gazette Bukit Bendera as an Unesco biosphere reserve heritage site.
“We are unsure about the proposal, but most likely we will support it if we get a response on the proposal from the state government,” said the Balik Pulau member of parliament.
“We will send a special team to assist if the state government is committed to the effort.”
Malaysia has two biosphere reserves – Tasik Chini and the Crocker Range.