Australian and Malaysian heritage organisations sign memorandum of understanding for cooperation in cultural heritage

Australian and Malaysian heritage organisations sign memorandum of understanding for cooperation in cultural heritage

AusHeritage, Australia’s International Heritage Industry Network, signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural heritage cooperation with two organisations in Penang. They are the heritage advocacy and awareness NGO the Penang Heritage Trust and the Malaysian Government's ThinkCity ideas and projects initiative. The signing was in the World Heritage-listed city of George Town, on Penang Island in Malaysia, today April 18, 2011. The agreements were signed by the Chairman of AusHeritage Mr Vinod Daniel, President of the Penang Heritage Trust Ms Khoo Salma Nasution, and the Director of ThinkCity Dato’ Dr Anwar Fazal and witnessed by the Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mr Craig Chittick. 

“AusHeritage is delighted with its close working relationship with both Penang Heritage Trust and ThinkCity and is currently undertaking an intensive heritage exchange program with Penang with over eleven senior heritage practitioners from Australia visiting Penang to deliver heritage lectures and co-leading workshops during the period January to June 2011," said Mr Vinod Daniel, Chair of AusHeritage.He added that he was delighted that AusHeritage is also working closely with the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur during this period and three practitioners including himself will be delivering workshops in Kuala Lumpur. 

“Frameworks such as this will further the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Australia as Professionals from AusHeritage, Australia's international network for heritage services, continue to work closely with Malaysian counterparts and institutions on several projects including workshops and training sessions," said Mr Craig Chittick, Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia. 

AusHeritage members have also worked with Malaysia in a number of other projects including preparation of the Conservation Studies for historic Suffolk House and for the Kapitan Keling Mosque both in George Town Penang, as well as the preliminary study / master plan for the Historic Core of George Town which contributed to its World Heritage listing. AusHeritage has also worked with Malaysia through the ASEAN-COCI dialogue partner cooperation on capacity building aspects for museum collections and on cultural mapping. AusHeritage and ASEAN-COCI have a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the field of protection, preservation, promotion and management of cultural heritage. 

Ms Khoo, President of the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) and Dato’ Dr Anwar Fazal expressed their delight both with the ongoing professional exchanges and also with the signing of the memorandum of understandings. 

The workshops are supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Malaysia Institute (AMI) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For further information, contact Mr Vinod Daniel, Chairman, AusHeritage on 61 411 021 600 or email [email protected]

AusHeritage (www.ausheritage.org.au) is Australia’s international network for cultural heritage. The organisation’s members include Australian universities, national collecting institutions, State galleries, libraries and museums, private architectural firms and private and government conservation services.