Penang has been allocated RM4.49mil for the restoration of eight heritage buildings under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), Dewan Rakyat was told Monday.

Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister, Senator Heng Seai Kie said the allocation was based on the application received and justification.

"Although Penang has a small number of projects, the allocation for each project was large. For 2009, the National Heritage Department is doing conservation work on the St George Church costing RM2mil slated for completion next year."

Heng was replying to a question by Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) who wanted to know why the National Heritage Department only awarded Penang nine conservation projects for 2006-2008 compared to Melaka which received 49.

She said actually, Penang had seven projects for 2006-2008 while Melaka had 24 projects, not 49.

"Melaka had more projects as the state has more historical monuments over 300 years-old compared to Penang."

Heng said Melaka also has the Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Enactment 1988 to speed up conservation activities.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said Lim did not give a correct picture and had confused the house on Penang's restoration projects.

He said the Federal government had allocated and implemented many restoration projects in Penang under the Seventh and Eighth Malaysia Plan.

"They include restoration projects at Fort Cornwalis, Masjid Lebuh Acheh, Kapitan Keling, the court building which has high heritage value and shophouses in Georgetown.

"The amount allocated under the two Malaysia plans was not less than RM150mil. He (Lim) painted a picture as if the Federal government did not give enough support. This is not true as the previous state government received allocation for the projects," he said at parliament lobby.

On the comment by Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that Penang's infrastructure development lags behind Ipoh and Seremban, Koh said Penang Gerakan would be giving an explanation by listing projects implemented like the port and airport.

"Lee may be referring to the roads in Penang compared to those in Seremban and Ipoh. What else could he compare? Certainly not ports or airports. Roads are under the state governments and municipal councils," he said.