CLAN JETTIES OF GEORGE TOWN, PENANG: HISTORIES AND PRESENT CHALLENGES

Abstract

Situated along the coasts of Pengkalan Weld in George Town, Penang, the clan jetties are a series of “floating” wooden houses on the sea. Once a socially and economically marginalised community, the clan jetties have been on the verge of demolition at the hands of the state government since the 1950s. Such is a fate which two of the clan jetties have faced in 2006. However, in 2008, the clan jetties along with the oldest sections of George Town were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) in a joint designation with Melaka. This meant that the clan jetties now had to be conserved and preserved under UNESCO guidelines, effectively saving them from the threat of demolition. But along with the designation came several new challenges which have affected the lives of the clan jetty members. These consist of new regulations on the appearance of the jetty members houses and social and commercial regulations which dictate how jetty members have to live their lives. In consequence, the jetty members have to face the full effects of such measures, although many have come up with their own means of subverting them. This thesis will document the histories of the clan jetties, the UNESCO designation and its new regulations. Interweaving personal stories and accounts from the jetty members, I also examine the impacts of the UNESCO designation on the clan jetties materially, socially and symbolically. Such personal accounts contribute towards showcasing the issues and challenges faced by the jetty members on the ground which are not usually found or voiced in state representations of the clan jetties, although it is key to note that these personal accounts should also not be romanticised as the jetty members sometimes have their own agendas which end up harming their own community bonds and environments.