These are part of efforts to preserve the state’s rich cultural treasures, Bernama reported.

State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said this involved 15 heritage sites, seven intangible cultural heritage elements and 28 local heritage food items.

Among the 15 heritage sites gazetted on May 7 are the Cherok Tok Kun Inscription, Fort Cornwallis, the Guar Kepah archaeological site, Penang Free School, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi and St George’s Church.

Under the intangible cultural heritage category, the nasi kandar culture, the kopitiam culture, the Thaipusam procession, the Chingay procession, the St Anne’s Festival in Bukit Mertajam and the Penang Tanjong dialect were gazetted on Jan 22.

The Nillaikalakki Silambam martial art was gazetted on May 7.

Wong said the Teong Guan Phor Thor festival is currently in the process of being gazetted.

Penang’s diverse gastronomy also received recognition through the gazettement of 28 heritage food items, including nasi kandar, pasembor, char kuey teow, asam laksa, Hokkien mee, roti benggali, cendol, teh tarik and ais kepal.

Wong said the institutional recognition reflected the state government’s strong commitment to preserving historical memory and social identity.

It will help position cultural heritage as an important asset for tourism and the creative economy in Penang..

Wong said the move would also allow Penang’s cultural heritage to be elevated to the national level under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645).

There is also potential to be nominated to Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in the future, he added.