Fort Cornwallis in Malaysia reopens, marking a new chapter for George Town’s historic civic heart
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Under the eaves of architecture in George Town, Malaysia
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Historic George Town unveils reinstated south moat at Fort Cornwallis
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AKDN partners with the Malaysian government and other organisations in the areas of health, education, architecture, early childhood development and economic development. AKDN and Malaysia have also partnered on the Enabling Environment conference for Afghanistan and on capacity building in its health sector.
A notable focus has been the urban revitalisation and conservation of the UNESCO heritage site in George Town, Penang.
Since 2013, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has collaborated with Malaysian institutions to support heritage conservation and urban regeneration in George Town’s UNESCO-listed historic core. Working with the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC) and Think City, AKTC has contributed to strategic planning and implementation initiatives that enhance public spaces and safeguard cultural assets.
The partnership, extended until December 2025, remains a model for heritage-led urban regeneration, demonstrating how cultural investment fosters economic development and social cohesion.
A key achievement has been the rehabilitation of George Town’s historic seawall and expanded 570-metre public promenade, completed in 2022. The project received various awards that recognise its high-quality execution and contribution to public space enhancement.
Currently, works concentrate on the restoration and adaptive re-use of the 18th-century Fort Cornwallis and reinstatement of its moat, launched respectively in 2018 and 2023. The South Moat was opened in 2024, and the East Moat in 2025. Plans are under way to extend the moat to Fort Cornwallis’s north side.
These initiatives aim to provide state-of-the-art solutions to the rehabilitation of public open spaces and restoration and adaptive re-use of historic structures within the World Heritage Site.
The George Town project is entirely financed with state and municipal funds and in-kind contributions from Think City. The funding covers AKTC’s provision of advisory and technical services.
Beyond George Town, AKTC has also provided technical and museological expertise for the rehabilitation and expansion of the National Museum (Muzium Negara) in Kuala Lumpur. The Muzium Negara Conservation Management Plan was approved by the Malaysian National Heritage Department in 2016.
