Restored Fort Cornwallis south moat to open in July

The south moat of Fort Cornwallis in Penang is being restored. — Buletin Mutiara

RESTORATION of the Fort Cornwallis south moat, which is almost finished will be opened to the public on July 7, says Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

During his visit to the fort, he said the component was part of the broader project to restore the historic fort.

On the restoration of the west moat, Chow told Buletin Mutiara that it would be completed later and expected to open next year.

The RM20mil project is being implemented by the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC), a partnership between Penang Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) and Think City with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture as the technical adviser.

Half the budget was allocated for the excavation and restoration of the moats with the rest to be spent on the remaining work.

Think City managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said the fort’s restored storerooms would open as a museum by year-end.

“We are now planning the displays which will offer visitors insights into the fort’s colonial past,” he said.

On a related development, Chow said dining spot Astaka Kota Selera, one of the components under the Fort Cornwallis project, would be relocated temporarily to make way for a reconstruction project soon.

Accompanying Chow on his visit were Deputy Finance Minister and Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying, Penang Island mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, CMI general manager Datin Bharathi Suppiah, Think City International senior director Dr Matt Benson and technical director (conservation) Francesco Siravo along with Aga Khan Trust for Culture general manager Luis Monreal Agusti.