Move to make Penang Botanical Gardens world-class feature, says state govt (Updated)

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has moved to assure the people that the corporatisation of the Botanical Gardens will not lead to an erosion in the preservation and conservation of the sprawling 29ha parcel of land here.
The protection of the gardens will be reinforced under the revised legislation passed recently at the state legislative assembly sitting, said Penang Housing and Town and Country Planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo.
"I want to allay the fears of certain quarters, especially civil society, over the proposed legislation," Jagdeep said, adding the move will actually bring the effort to make the gardens a world-class feature closer to reality.
To achieve this, Jagdeep announced that Penang will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the management of Singapore's Botanic Gardens.
"This will allow us to learn about management, sustainability and marketing of the gardens," he added.
Penang's Botanical Gardens is believed to be the country's oldest public park, established in 1884 from an old quarry site under the supervision of the first curator Charles Curtis.