Penang Chief Minister Announces $5.6M Fort Cornwallis Moat Restoration to Be Finished by July

George Town, May 23 — The restoration work on the moat around the historical Fort Cornwallis is anticipated to conclude by July, aligning with the monthly Unesco World Heritage festivities, according to Penang’s Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He mentioned that the moat, constructed initially in 1804 to safeguard the fort during the Napoleonic Wars, used to completely surround the building.

“He mentioned during a recent press conference following a site inspection that it was later closed off because of a malaria epidemic,” he stated.

The moat was filled in 1921, which led to poor drainage and occasional flooding in nearby areas.

Chow mentioned that the renovation is one of several initiatives included in the larger North Seafront Enhancement Program, which commenced roughly five years ago.

“The initial projects started with the restoration of the Padang Kota, followed by the English Garden next to the Town Hall, the rebuilding of the seawall, the revival of the linear garden, and the upgrading of the pedestrian walkway along Light Street,” he said.

The restoration work around the moat of Fort Cornwallis is anticipated to be finished by July 7. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

The restoration efforts at Fort Cornwallis started around three years back. Although certain tasks have been finished, several projects are still progressing.

The Penang state government funded RM15.3 million of the total RM23.4 million moat restoration cost, with the remaining support coming from Think City and Yayasan Hasanah.

He mentioned that this initiative receives partial funding via a collaboration between public, private, and professional sectors.

The refurbished moat will create a 4,000-square-metre reservoir, with a depth of 0.9 metres, able to contain approximately 3,600 cubic metres of water.

The recently reconstructed RM4 million Astaka Kota Selera is anticipated to open on June 2nd. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

Next to Fort Cornwallis, Chow mentioned that the current food court, Astaka Kota Selera, has also undergone reconstruction to harmonize with the fort’s appearance through similar brickwork.

The MYR4 million food court, which houses the renowned Mee Pata is anticipated to reopen on June 2.

"The revival of the food court and the moat will transform this area into a notable and important public space," he stated.

The moat restoration initiative will generate a fresh communal area accessible to both residents and tourists.—Picture by Opalyn Mok

Chow further stated that the initiative was not merely intended to draw visitors but was also a component of the state’s endeavors to create additional verdant public areas surrounding George Town’s historical landmarks.

"This is meant for locals to appreciate our heritage sites, but if tourists find this appealing, it might also draw more visitors. It’s particularly convenient as it’s only 100 meters away from Swettenham Pier, which is where international cruise ships dock," he explained.