Book review : Contested space revisited : George Town Penang, before and after UNESCO world heritage listing

The rapid pace of urbanisation and development and its impacts on the material fabric of Asia’s largest cities has brought about a growing recognition of the need to conserve the tangible and intangible heritages of their historic neighbourhoods before it is lost completely. Contested Space Revisited explores this dynamic in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of George Town, Malaysia, and the challenges faced in both achieving and maintaining its World Heritage status. The book’s author, Gwynn Jenkins, is an authoritative voice on these issues, having lived and worked in George Town since 1995. She therefore has intricate knowledge of the transformations that the city has experienced over the decades, and the often fraught politics involved in conserving its considerable heritage.