Penang Hokkien, dondang sayang, hill railway listed as state heritage

The Penang Hokkien dialect, the Phor Thor festival, dondang sayang, the Penang Hill railway, two temples and two cemeteries are among items which have been gazetted for preservation under the state heritage enactment.

Seven items have been declared as intangible cultural heritage. These are: the Penang Hokkien dialect, the Teong Guan Phor Thor festival, boria, ghazal parti, Penang bangsawan, silat pelaga, siku 12, and Penang dondang sayang.

In addition, seven heritage sites have been gazetted for preservation. They are: the Loo Pun Hong temple in Love Lane, which is the oldest Cantonese carpentry guild and temple in Southeast Asia; the Penang Hill funicular railway tracks and Upper Station and Lower Station; the Dato Koyah mausoleum; Thai Pak Koong Temple (Ng Suk) on King Street; the Fooi Chew Association building; and the Kwangtung and Tengchow No 1 cemetery in Mount Erskine.

State executive councillor Wong Hon Wai said today the declaration under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011 was part of efforts to preserve and conserve the state’s heritage for future generations to appreciate.

He said 35 intangible cultural heritage items had been declared state heritage last September, comprising 28 types of heritage food, one literary language, three cultural customs, two beliefs and one martial art. In addition, 15 heritage sites had been designated.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow described Penang as a unique “living museum” showcasing architecture, traditional villages, religious sites and cultural landscapes, as well as languages, food, performing arts and customs that shape the state’s character and identity.

He said today’s recognition also demonstrated that heritage conservation efforts were not limited to historic buildings and sites, but also encompassed intangible heritage that formed the soul of the community.

“We also want to add value to our heritage through festivals, heritage walks, gastronomy, digitalisation and creative economy activities, which will not only enrich the tourist experience but also create opportunities for young people, arts practitioners and local entrepreneurs,” he said.

Chow said tourism continued to show positive momentum in Penang, with almost a million international hotel guests recorded in the first quarter of this year, while 2.65 million international passenger movements took place at the airport from January to July, an increase of 11% compared with the same period last year.

Penang also recorded 285,400 medical tourists in the first half of 2026, generating RM602 million in revenue, he said.

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