Penang’s reaffirms commitment to preserving heritage sites across the state

PRESERVATION and conservation of heritage landmarks should not be confined to UNESCO World Heritage Site enclaves, but should extend across the entire state where possible.

Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo said that heritage can be protected throughout the state, as it represents the state's diverse history and culture.

Jagdeep said this after visiting the second phase of restoration works at the historic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pagar Tras, Bukit Mertajam.

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pagar Tras, located along Jalan Sungai Lembu near Bukit Mertajam, Penang, holds immense historical and cultural value as a rare monument of 19th-century missionary work and Chinese migrant history.

Bukit Mertajam is also home to St Anne Cathedral, which hosts the popular annual St Anne pilgrimage festival.

Often nicknamed the "Notre Dame in the Jungle," the church currently stands as a majestic, roofless brick ruin that is actively being preserved by the Catholic Diocese of Penang.

Jagdeep reaffirmed Penang’s commitment to preserving heritage sites across the state, stressing that the state’s historical legacy extended far beyond George Town, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

He said the Pagar Tras church was a testament to the rich heritage found throughout Penang and deserved to be preserved for future generations.

“Heritage is something that, for us as the Penang government, is important not just on the island but also on the mainland.

Although we were inscribed as a George Town World Heritage Site, we can see heritage everywhere in Penang,” he said.

The restoration of the church was also in line with the state’s efforts to strengthen its tourism sector, which is Penang’s second-largest economic sector after manufacturing.

Jagdeep therefore hopes that the church would become another tourism landmark on the mainland and, potentially, a pilgrimage site for the Catholic community.

Penang also pledged RM1 million towards the restoration project, although the overall cost was expected to be significantly higher due to the scale and historical importance of the structure.

Drawing on George Town’s experience in preserving its historic buildings, Jagdeep said the state government would maintain stringent standards throughout the restoration process.

 He added that the local councils on both the island and mainland would ensure that all restoration works complied with the necessary technical requirements for heritage conservation.

“With the next phase of restoration on the horizon, the Pagar Tras church is poised to regain its place as an important historical landmark, while preserving the stories, faith and traditions that have shaped its legacy,” he said.

Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang Cardinal Datuk Seri Sebastian Francis said the Diocese of Penang was pleased to move forward with the next phase following preparatory meetings with the state and its Catholic Heritage Conservation Committee.

He said the conservation initiative, themed ‘On 100 Year Trail – Pagar Tras’, was launched in 2021 through a partnership between the Diocese of Penang and the state government’s Tourism and Creative Economy Committee.

“The project aims to preserve the church’s remaining ruins and transform the historic site into a prominent tourist attraction, particularly for mainland Penang.

“The first phase of the project has been completed. It included a soil analysis and the preservation of the church’s remaining walls, which were reinforced with steel girders,” he said during a site visit.

Present were France Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Marc Abensour and Think City managing director Datuk Hamdan Abdul Majeed, as well as Penang Heritage Council president Clement Liang.

To support the restoration, the Diocese plans to enhance the site with landscaping, proper parking facilities and informative display panels to help visitors appreciate its rich history.

In addition, a dedicated viewing room at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kulim will be established to showcase artefacts salvaged and preserved from the heritage church.

 Among the items visitors can look forward to seeing are the church’s original stained-glass windows, religious statues, wooden carvings depicting the Stations of the Cross, sacred vessels, relics, three original bronze bells, old registers and a unique wooden clergy chair assembled without nails.

Sebastian also expressed his appreciation to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Think City and the Diocese of Penang for their collaboration in organising workshops to document the oral history of Pagar Tras.

He congratulated the partners on the publication of History and Heritage of Pagar Tras, which documents the site’s historical significance and preserves the stories of those who contributed to its legacy.

 “Let us honour the legacy of those who came before us by preserving the stories they shared, safeguarding the structures they built, and passing on this treasured heritage to future generations," said Sebastian. - October 4, 2026.