The Millennium Monument at The Esplanade, George Town
The Millennium Monument is a conical structure at The Esplanade, George Town. Built in conjunction of the millennium celebrations in 2000, it is located at the halfway point along the southern side of Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah.
The square around the structure was raised, while pictures of prominent landmarks in George Town were embedded into a semi-circular wall around the monument. A time capsule was buried within the monument by the third Chief Minister of Penang, Koh Tsu Koon.
History[]
Its construction was mooted by the then Barisan Nasional-led Penang state government under the then Chief Minister of Penang, Koh Tsu Koon. Mr. Koh intended to plant a time capsule containing artifacts from around Penang Island as part of the millennium celebrations in 2000.
In spite of popular opposition from local Penangites, including heritage conservationists who believed that the odd-looking modern structure would be an eye sore along the historical Esplanade promenade, the project went ahead. It was completed in time for the millennium celebrations in 2000.