GEORGE TOWN, May 23 -- Restoration works on the moat surrounding the historic Fort Cornwallis are expected to be completed by July, just in time for the annual Unesco World Heritage celebrations, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

He said the moat, originally built in 1804 to protect the fort during the Napoleonic Wars, had once fully encircled the structure.

"It was later filled in due to a malaria outbreak," he said during a press conference after a recent site visit.

The moat was filled in 1921, which led to poor drainage and occasional flooding in nearby areas.

Chow said the restoration is part of a series of projects under the broader North Seafront Improvement Programme, which began about five years ago.

"The initial pro...