Posted on 6 July 2015 - 07:02pm
Last updated on 6 July 2015 - 08:04pm
GEORGE TOWN: An umbrella body for Malay NGOs has urged the state government to revert the name of George Town to Tanjong Penaga which was used before the arrival of the British.
Wadah Pencergasam Ummah activist Mohd Zahry Shaikh Abdul Rahman said this would better reflect the heritage of Penang.
He said the name was used by Malay settlements on the island before the arrival of Captain Francis Light who made the place a British trading post.
Mohd Zahry said local history should have more prominence over colonial history, especially that George Town is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"History should be truth-based and not Western-based," he said in a press conference today.
His suggestion was echoed by Muafakat Warisan Melayu dan Islam Pulau Pinang chairman Mohd Salleh Yahaya who said post-colonial government name changes were not uncommon.
He cited Madras in India which was changed to Chennai, Batavia to Jakarta in Indonesia and Teluk Anson to Teluk Intan in Perak, Malaysia, as examples.
In response, Wong Hong Wai, the political secretary to the Chief Minister, said the name was given recognition with the Tanjong parliamentary constituency being drawn for the area.
"Due recognition has been given whenever the people elect the MP for Tanjong," he said when met later.
George Town was declared a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, together with the state of Malacca.
The Penang government has since declared the date an annual public holiday and holds various programs to commemorate the occasion.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1481728---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As reported in Malaysia-Chronicle
Tuesday, 07 July 2015 06:06
GEORGE TOWN - An umbrella body for Malay NGOs has urged the state government to revert the name of George Town to Tanjong Penaga which was used before the arrival of the British.
Wadah Pencergasam Ummah activist Mohd Zahry Shaikh Abdul Rahman said this would better reflect the heritage of Penang.
He said the name was used by Malay settlements on the island before the arrival of Captain Francis Light who made the place a British trading post.
Mohd Zahry said local history should have more prominence over colonial history, especially that George Town is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"History should be truth-based and not Western-based," he said in a press conference today.
His suggestion was echoed by Muafakat Warisan Melayu dan Islam Pulau Pinang chairman Mohd Salleh Yahaya who said post-colonial government name changes were not uncommon.
He cited Madras in India which was changed to Chennai, Batavia to Jakarta in Indonesia and Teluk Anson to Teluk Intan in Perak, Malaysia, as examples.
In response, Wong Hong Wai, the political secretary to the Chief Minister, said the name was given recognition with the Tanjong parliamentary constituency being drawn for the area.
"Due recognition has been given whenever the people elect the MP for Tanjong," he said when met later.
George Town was declared a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, together with the state of Malacca.
The Penang government has since declared the date an annual public holiday and holds various programs to commemorate the occasion. - Sundaily
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=547392:tanjong-penaga-not-george-town-malay-ngos-want-island-to-revert-to-original-name&Itemid=2#axzz3fP7MrM2P
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