25 July 2026 (Saturday)
Free Malaysia Today
GEORGE TOWN: Historical sites should not merely be tourist attractions but must function as educational spaces to help the younger generation understand the value of unity, the price of independence and the suffering of the people when the country was colonised, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.
Speaking at the opening of Fort Cornwallis after the completion of restoration works, Anwar said the conservation of the fort, which dates back to the arrival of the British in 1786, was not aimed at glorifying colonialism, but rather at providing the community with an opportunity to explore the country’s bitter history and learn from it.
The prime minister said history should be told based on the experiences, sacrifices and suffering of the people, not solely through the perspective or narrative left by the former colonisers, Bernama reported.
“We can revive this memory and use it to instil understanding and expose the younger generation to our own history. We need to rebuild that history, not based on the pointers of the former colonisers, so that it is relevant to our society and future,” he was quoted as saying.
“I recommend that if possible, ensure that in every visit by young people to this area, they are exposed not only to its beauty, but also lessons on the value of unity and the value of a free and independent country,” he said.
Anwar said the history of colonialism taught the people that without unity and internal strength, the fate of a country could be determined by external powers that prioritise their strategic interests.
He said the current generation has a responsibility to defend national peace, strengthen racial unity and appreciate the sacrifices of the previous generation.
Today’s ceremony to reopen the fort marks the completion of a renovation project costing nearly RM40 million by the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation, Think City, and the state government.
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