By V. Sivaji
Penangites get a special treat at the Penang History Gallery. They only pay RM10 to visit the Gallery for the whole year.
Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow took time off from his busy schedule to attend the launch ceremony of the RM10 annual pass for the Penang History Gallery.
Welcoming Chow was Kevin Goh and Cool Koe Directors of the Penang History Gallery
In his address, Chow described the Penangite Annual Pass, as a very meaningful initiative although It is a simple idea, but one with a big purpose – to bring Penang’s heritage closer to the people of Penang.
“In Penang, heritage is not something that sits quietly in the background. It is part of our daily life. It lives in our streets, our buildings, our food, our traditions, our language and the way our communities have grown together over generations.
“That is why initiatives like this matter. They are not just about encouraging more visits to a gallery. They are about helping more people reconnect with our shared story, and reminding us that our history belongs to all of us,” said Chow inhis speech.
He also added that in view of Visit Malaysia 2026, the national tourism push is becoming even more ambitious, with Tourism Malaysia rolling out a year-long calendar of more than 300 events and targeting 43 million international visitors in 2026.
“The State Government has been placing strong emphasis on preserving both tangible and intangible heritage in a more structured way. Just recently, the State gazetted 35 intangible cultural heritage items under the Penang State Heritage Enactment 2011,” added Chow.
He also shared that the Penang History Gallery Annual Pass is more than a discounted ticket. It is an invitation – an open invitation for Penangites to come back, explore, learn and rediscover the stories that shaped our state.
The Chief Minister joined hands with VIP guests to launch the annual pass and also toured the facility, taking time topose with the various attractions at the gallery.
Also present at the ceremony was State Assemblyman Yb Tek Lai Heng, Yb Joseph Ng, Yb Connie Tan, Penang Global Tourism CEO Ooi Chok Yan, Penang MOTAC Director Dr Annuar Mohamed, Ms Mary Ann Harris, Dato Brian Tan,Dr. Tan Chee Seng Senior Lecturer, History Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia among a host of guests.