The restoration of the south moat at Fort Cornwallis in George Town, Penang, is complete, but it will not be open to the public until the west moat is ready. Think City managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said both moats were scheduled to open simultaneously in July 2025. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present at the launch, said between 2019 and 2021, several components of the Fort Cornwallis project were completed, which saw RM4.6mil spent on excavation works and conservation of storerooms. “These are part of the North Seafront Improvement Programme, encompassing 14 projects and totalling about RM140mil,” he said. Chow added that the hoarding around the site of the south moat, which used to block off public view during restoration work, had been removed. Instead, he said an anti-climb fence had been installed for people to view the site. The RM20mil restoration initiative is spearheaded by George Town Conservation and Development Corporation, a partnership between Penang government’s Chief Minister Incorporated and Think City, with technical advice from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The project is guided by the George Town World Heritage Site (WHS) Special Area Plan and the Fort Cornwallis Conservation Management Plan.