Penang as a case study Putting POLICY into PRACTICE 1
George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (alongside other global sites like Venice, Borobudur, Angkor Wat and Hoi An) Penang is Malaysia s culinary capital (world renowned food haven) Penang is the third most popular destination (13% of Malaysia s total foreign tourists) A Melting Pot of Food, Beaches, Heritage, Culture & Religion 2
37% 51% 92% 1911 1970 2013
Putting POLICY into PRACTICE
We came here for low cost labour we stayed for talent.
Trading (1786-1969) Port City Manufacturing (1970-2008) Industrial City Knowledge (2009 - ) Knowledge City Compact City Urban Sprawl???
Challenge for Penang: Losing its old world charm
Challenge for Penang: Traffic Congestion No. of private passenger cars per 1000 people (2010) Penang: 554 Malaysia: 322 Singapore: 100 Hong Kong: 59 *(source: 2013, Penang State of the Environment Scorecard)
1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 (oc) Challenge for Penang: Mean Temperature Rising 29.0 28.5 Mean Temperature in Bayan Lepas, Penang (1951-2009) 28.0 27.5 27.0 26.5 26.0 Year
Water consumption Challenge for Penang: Unsustainable Water and Solid Waste Trends Country / Region Average (LCD) Penang 291 Rest of Malaysia 188 South East Queensland 163 Singapore 154 Water consumption and Solid waste per capita is nearly twice higher then Singapore France 150 Germany 127 Estonia 100
Challenge for Penang: Bad street infrastructure Over-burdened drainage system leading to flash flood prone streets High street curbs are not pedestrian friendly 12
The outcome of all of these challenges Flight of talent from Penang. Declining growth of high-value tourism. Declining quality of life High opportunity cost: The decay of Penang s natural endowment is happening at a time when the liveability of cities has become a key factor in the competitive advantage of nations. 13
For Penang, this requires its cities, people and economy to develop together Agglomeration and increasing returns to scale CITIES Liveability ECONOMY PEOPLE Talent Liveable and efficient cities attracts and retain talent and this bring capital together to build the economy.
Positioning Penang GTTP Positioning Penang Strategy for reinventing the George Town Conurbation Key enabling factors and policy levers needed for Penang to avoid the Middle Income Trap Sustainable Penang Initiative 2 Community level; people s initiative Building consensus on a sustainable liveable Penang George Town Transformation Programme Micro level implementation; demonstrative & catalytic projects Transform George Town into a model 21 st century city and a sticky space to retain and attract talent Transforming Penang into an International City State, which is Location of choice for investors + Destination of choice for visitors + Habitat of choice for talent, desiring sustainable living Sticky Space 15
VISION: To become the most livable place in Malaysia and top 25 Most Liveable Places by 2030 Transform Penang as Malaysia s laboratory for urban solutions in the knowledge economy 17
Strategic Spatial Framework 20
Major upgrade to the urban infrastructure is on the way to strengthen the competitiveness of the region. (>RM20b)
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from Policy to Practice Urban regeneration in a World Heritage Site through a public grants programme
Re-imagining buildings for new uses
Conservation can be beautiful
Adaptive Re-Use: of waterfront properties 26
M e d i c i n a l H a l l : Retaining traditional trades in new context Yin Oi Tong, established in 1796 is the oldest Chinese Medical Hall in South East Asia
A New Role for Traditional Communities
Creativity & Innovation: Aspirational & Practical Solutions 29
Creativity & Innovation: Aspirational & Practical Solutions
The City for all its citizens
Improving urban mobility in Penang Successful implementation and cycling campaign in Penang, including night cycling in UNESCO World Heritage Site, Car-free Sundays every morning in George Town Free Central Area Transit (CAT) Shuttle Bus Service
Connecting with the Community Research Exhibition Book
Heritage in Penang (HIP)
Creativity needs solid foundations
New ways of advocacy
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Making everyone part of the George Town Festival
Building Partnerships: 40
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Public Engagement Activities
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Working Partners Malaysian Federal Government Agencies Khazanah Nasional Berhad Penang State Government Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang Aga Khan Trust for Culture World Bank Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Pulau Pinang
other efforts and partnerships have borne success, as well as created impact on the ground First 10m Semi Anechoic Chamber in Malaysia 49
Progress is recognised not only by the media but also the market. However the challenge lies in sustaining change and accelerating transformation ECA Ranks Penang as #8 most liveable city in Asia Yahoo! lists Penang among world s top 10 destination that you must visit It s about time Southeast Asia offered business an alternative to choking, congested capitals. But hope now flickers. George Town is stepping out of the shadows. 50 Monocle, Trade Secret Malaysia, April 2008
Working Partners Lessons from Penang Competition is between cities capital, technology and talent; only thing that is not tradeble its geography, identity and environment Liveability is key in the competition for talent and economic growth in the 21st century. However it has be to be a plan led approach as opposed to a market based solution Collaboration is key particularly in a multi-cultural multi-stakeholder environment Incentive programmes (grants) has a role in urban regeneration but requires hand holding and consultation from design to implementation
Working Partners This requires Institution tailored to the 21 st Century Spatial autonomy Local level accountability Innovative solutions Sustainability is in-built Not multicultural but intercultural Spatially blind policies particularly in relation to social infrastructure Incentive to enable urban regeneration; not only urban expansion Higher standards and better designs Trust, Partnership and Continuous Monitoring
Leverage on the past Enhance the present Shape the future
Providing urban policy thinking. Implementing innovative urban solutions. Driving urban regeneration.