Muhammad Hijas Sahari

Muhammad Hijas Sahari (P.J.K)

Manager, Department of Built Environment and Management
hijas[at]gtwhi[dot]com[dot]my

Fields of Expertise

• Urban and Regional Planning
• Built Heritage Conservation
• Conservation Project Management

ABOUT ME

Muhammad Hijas Sahari is the Manager of the Department of Built Environment and Management (BEAM) at George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI). A Registered Conservator (Physical/ Non-physical) with Malaysia’s Department of National Heritage (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture), Hijas specialises in the restoration and conservation of historic structures. His work focuses on integrating George Town’s historical urban landscape with the socio-economic well-being of the local community to create a sustainable, living heritage environment.

Community engagement lies at the heart of his practice. Hijas actively collaborates with local communities to safeguard both the tangible and intangible attributes that define the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hijas also leads the team to take up roles as project manager and heritage advisor to coordinate and manage the Penang state’s development on heritage-related projects.

I AM A SITE MANAGER BECAUSE ...

I am a passionate Site Manager because I dedicate my career to safeguarding the living heartbeat of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site—balancing its tangible history with its rich intangible culture. My work bridges heritage urban planning with sustainable city growth, ensuring that building development, land use, and physical conservation harmonise seamlessly with the socio-cultural and economic vitality of our local community. I am passionate about nurturing George Town into a resilient, thriving, and dynamic living heritage city for generations to come.

PHOTO GALLERY

Presenting the Outstanding Universal Value of George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site to workshop participants.

In action during the Emergency Response Team Training with BOMBA.

Checking on paint material for cast iron column.

Sharing information with the public through discussions.

CURRENT POSITIONS

Manager, Department of Built Environment and Management, George Town World Heritage Incorporated

QUALIFICATIONS

Master of Science in Quantity Survey (QS), School of Housing Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia. (2006 – 2008), https://hbp.usm.my/
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Housing, Building and Planning), School of Housing Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia. (2003 – 2006), https://hbp.usm.my/

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Course on Management and Monitoring of World Heritage Site with special reference to China, ICCROM, CACH, Honhe University, Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China, 2017.
Urban Conservation Planning in Malaysia, George Town Penang, ThinkCity, Badan Warisan Malaysia, The Getty Conservation Institute, 2013.
5 Modul Kursus Bersiri Pengurusan Projek Konservasi Bangunan Warisan, Jabatan Warisan Negara, Kuala Lumpur, 2011.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2011 – 2016, Research Officer, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Penang, Malaysia.
2010, Town Planner, PIR Planners, Selangor, Malaysia.
2009, Research Officer, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
2006 – 2008, Research Assistant, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.

PROJECTS

2026, Upgrading Works for the Penang State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP) Headquarters Building, Beach Street, George Town, Penang.
2026, Upgrading Works of Tourism Facilities and Related Works at Acheen Street Malay Mosque, Acheen Street, George Town, Penang.
2026, Special Area Plan for the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site (Replacement).
2026, Measured Drawings for Category II Heritage Buildings within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2025, New Development of the Penang Prison Complex, George Town, Penang.
2025, Improvement Project for Pintal Tali Mosque, George Town, Penang.
2025, Proposed New Facilities and Building Upgrades Adjacent to Kapitan Keling Mosque, George Town, Penang.
2025, Redevelopment Project for Dewan Sri Pinang, Light Street, George Town, Penang.
2025, Management and Maintenance of the State Legislative Assembly Building, George Town, Penang.
2024, Repair and Conservation Incentives for Category I Heritage Buildings within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2024, Repair and Conservation Incentives for Category II Heritage Buildings within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2024, Measured Drawings of Category I Heritage Buildings within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2024, Conservation and Preservation Initiative for the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2024, Restoration Works for Heritage Building No. 5, King Street under the George Town Heritage Habitat Seed Fund Project, George Town, Penang.
2024, Proposed Construction of the Tuna Port Jetty at Penang Port.
2024, Virtual Island of Penang Heritage Dashboard Project, Penang Island City Council, Penang.
2024, Restoration Works for the Penang Chinese Town Hall, Kapitan Keling Mosque Street, George Town, Penang.
2023, Upgrading Works of Tourism Facilities and Related Works at Sheikh Omar Tomb, Kampung Melayu, Air Itam, Penang.
2023, Repair Works for Benggali Jamek Mosque, No. 39, Leith Street on Lots 170 & 604, Section 19, 10200, George Town, Penang.
2023, Penang State Museum Board Development Project.
2023, Upgrading Project for Chew Jetty and Lim Jetty, George Town, Penang.
2023, Upgrading Project for the Perangin Jamek Mosque Building, Dr. Lim Chwee Leong Road, George Town, Penang.
2023, Upgrading and Repair Works for the Ablution Area of the Alimsah Wali Mosque Building, Chulia Street, George Town, Penang.
2023, Restoration Works for the Northeast District Education Office Building, No. 25, Sultan Ahmad Shah Road, George Town, Penang.
2023, Maintenance and Repair Cost Estimation Assessment for Beach Street Fire and Rescue Station, George Town, Penang.
2023, Restoration Works for the Wisma Kastam (Customs House) Building, George Town, Penang.
2023, Minor Repair Works for the Roof, Floor, and Drain of Acheen Street Malay Mosque, Acheen Street, George Town, Penang.
2023, Internal Roof Structure and Related Repair Works for the Koo Siang Wooi Koon Building, No. 67 King Street, George Town, Penang.
2023, Roof and Related Repair Works for Pintal Tali Mosque, George Town, Penang.
2023, Repair and Upgrading of the George Town Immigration Office, Penang.
2023, Development and Restoration Works for St. George’s Church, George Town, Penang.
2023, Restoration and Related Works for Pillboxes in the State of Penang.
2023, New Temporary Fencing Installation Project for Kuan Im Temple in George Town, Penang.
2023, Proposed Relocation and Multi-Story Development on Reclaimed Land on Lot 10021, George Town, Penang.
2023, Penang Trishaw Riders Image Improvement Program @Penang.
2023, Replacement of the Special Area Plan for the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2022, Roof and Related Repair Works for Kapitan Keling Mosque, George Town, Penang.
2022, Installation of Expanded Metal on Air Vents, Replacement of Solid Doors with Grille Doors, and Other Works at the Remand Prison, George Town, Penang.
2022, Revitalise The Activity at Sia Boey, KOMTAR Phase 5 at George Town, Penang.
2022, Repair Works for the Wooden Stilt House at No. 28 Lim Jetty, George Town, Penang.
2022, Repair Works for the Han Jiang Teochew Ancestral Temple Building, George Town, Penang.
2022, 5G Outdoor and IBC Rollout Progress, George Town, Penang.
2022, Upgrading Project for Existing Wharves, Jetties, and Heritage Buildings in the Swettenham Pier Area, George Town, Penang.
2021, Proposed Restoration Works for the Segara Ninda Mansion, George Town, Penang.
2021, Repair Works for the Kar Yin Fee Kuan Building, George Town, Penang.
2021, Repair Works for the Sun Wooi Wooi Koon Building, George Town, Penang.
2021, Repair Works for the Chung San Wooi Koon Building, George Town, Penang.
2021, Proposed Smart Street Pole (SSP) Installation Guidelines, George Town, Penang.
2021, Repair Works for Stilt Houses at Clan Jetties, George Town, Penang.
2021, Repair Works for the Wooden Bridge at Clan Jetties, George Town, Penang.
2021, Proposed Amendments and Additions to 1 Existing Office Unit at No. 116 Acheh Street and Amendments to 1 Existing 2-Story Office Unit at No. 118 Acheh Street on Lots 411, 1248, 1257, and 1258, Section 18, City of George Town, Northeast District, Penang.
2021, Planning Permission Application for Crag Hotel Development on Lot 10000, Penang Hill, Northeast District, Penang.
2021, Restoration Works for Heritage Building No. 1, Muda Lane under the George Town Heritage Habitat Seed Fund Project, George Town, Penang.
2021, Restoration Works for Heritage Building No. 41, Bishop Street under the George Town Heritage Habitat Seed Fund Project, George Town, Penang.
2021, Restoration Works for Heritage Building No. 42a, Bishop Street under the George Town Heritage Habitat Seed Fund Project, George Town, Penang.
2021, Restoration Works for Heritage Buildings No. 23 & 25, Queen Street under the George Town Heritage Habitat Seed Fund Project, George Town, Penang.
2020, Upgrading Project, Heritage Status of the Penang Prison Building & Future Planning, George Town, Penang.
2020, Conservation Works for the Pedestrian Overhead Bridge and Hawker Site at Market Street Ghaut and Weld Quay, George Town, Penang.
2020, Consultancy Services for the Conservation of Southwest District Land & District Office Heritage Building and Related Works, George Town, Penang.
2020, Restoration Works for the Northeast District Civil Defence Emergency Office, George Town, Penang.
2019, Restoration Works for Building No. 51 Toh Aka Lane, George Town, Penang.2019, Restoration Works for the Main Stage Building of Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, George Town, Penang.
2019, Master Plan Study of Penang Heritage Villages.
2019, Restoration Works for Building No. 35 Carnarvon Lane, George Town, Penang.
2019, Restoration Works for Building No. 39 King Street, George Town, Penang.
2019, Restoration Works for Pillars and 2 Wooden Window Leaves of Building No. 69, Acheen Street, George Town, Penang.
2019, Protestant Cemetery Conservation Project, Sultan Ahmad Shah Road, Phase 5 in George Town, Penang.
2019, Heritage Building Conservation Works for Ta Kam Hong Association at No. 41 Muntri Street, George Town, Penang.
2019, Conservation Works for the North Seberang Perai District and Land Office Quarters Building, St. Mark Road, Butterworth, Penang.
2019, Conservation Works for Two Cannons, George Town, Penang.
2019, Conservation Works for Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Building, Gurdwara Road, George Town, Penang.
2019, Heritage Building Conservation Works for the Homeless Transit Centre at No. 19, CY Choy Road, George Town, Penang.
2019, Restoration Works for the Penang Grocers Association Heritage Building at No. 4 Rope Walk, George Town, Penang.
2019, Restoration Works for Existing 2-Story Shophouses No. 94, 96, 98, 100, 102 & 102A, Kimberley Street, George Town, Penang.
2018-2019, Restoration Works for Ta Kam Hong Building (Penang Goldsmith Association), No. 41 Muntri Street, 10200, George Town, Penang.
2018-2019, Restoration Works for Penang Grocers’ Association, No. 4, Pintal Tali Road, 10100, George Town, Penang.
2018, International Conference on Managing Urban Cultural Heritage, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, George Town, Penang.
2017-2018, Restoration Works for Ng Fook Thong Cantonese Districts Association Temple, 407, Chulia Street, 10200, George Town, Penang.
2017, Feasibility Study Prior to the Introduction of the Rent Regulation Enactment, George Town, Penang.
2017, Tangible Heritage Building Inventories Update within the Buffer Zone, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2017, Implementation Seminar for the Special Area Plan of George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2016-2017, Restoration Works for Existing 2-Story Council (Shophouse) Buildings No. 94, 96, 98, 100, 102 & 102A, Kimberley Street on Lots 1347 & 1348, Section 18, George Town, Penang.
2016, Platform Upgrading at Chew Jetty, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2016, Tangible Heritage Building Inventories Update within the ‘Property’ Zone, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2016, Study and Proposal for Penang Botanic Gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Phase 1), Penang.
2016, Research and Documentation, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.
2016, “The Power of Culture: Supporting Community-Based Management and Sustainable Tourism at World Heritage Sites in Malaysia and Southeast Asia”, UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme, George Town World Heritage Incorporated and UNESCO Office in Jakarta.
2015, Preparation of the Penang State Heritage Regulations 2016.
2015, Heritage Capacity Building 2015.
2014, Maintenance and Upgrading of Jetties at Weld Quay, George Town, Penang.
2014, Proposed Gazette Statement for Penang Free School, Penang as a Heritage Site under the National Heritage Act 2005.
2014, Proposed Gazette Statement for Batu Uban Jamek Mosque, Penang as a Heritage Site under the National Heritage Act 2005.
2014, Repair Works for Premises No. 407, Chulia Street, on Lot 435, Section 18, Northeast District, Penang for Client: Ng Fook Thong Association, George Town, Penang.
2012-2013, Integrated Heritage Database System, George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang.

PUBLICATIONS

Jaafar, M. and Sahari, Muhammad Hijas. 2013. The development of network linkages and housing developers: International Journal of Sustainable Society.
Jaafar, M., Abdul-Aziz, A. R. and Sahari, Muhammad Hijas. 2009. The use of social network theory on entrepreneurs’ linkages development. Urban Issues in Asia. Theoretical and Empirical Researchers in Urban Management Journal.
Jaafar, M., Abdul-Aziz, A. R. and Sahari, Muhammad Hijas. 2009. Entrepreneurs business network: A survey on Malaysian Housing Developers. Presented in CIB W107 2008, 18 – 20 January 2008, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
Sahari, Muhammad Hijas, Jaafar, M and Abdul-Aziz, A. R. (2007) Social network theory and Private Housing Developers in Malaysia. Presented in ICCPM/ICCEM 2007, 1 – 2 March 2007, Meritus Mandarin, Singapore.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

2026, Members of International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Malaysia
2018 – Current, Registered Conservator (Physical and Non-Physical) in Malaysia with the National Heritage Department.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

2026, Management Committee for Setia Sky Vista apartment, Relau, Bayan Lepas, Penang.
2019, Judge, Waris 20Tiga:8 MIID Interior Design Students, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.
2016, Jury, Sketch Competition (Tetramatra Programme), 28th Architectural Student Workshop, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Bahasa Melayu	Mother tongue. Fluent in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
English	Fluent in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Bahasa Indonesia	Fluent in reading and listening, basic in writing and speaking.
Bahasa Bugis	Basic in speaking and listening.

AWARDS RECEIVED

2022, Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) award in conjunction with the 73rd Birthday Celebration of His Excellency the Governor of Penang on 25 July 2022.
2017, First Runner-up, ICT Category of Anugerah Inovasi Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Tahun 2016 for the project Mobile Application Survey “The New Innovation for Heritage Building Survey”. Awarded during Majlis Sambutan Hari Inovasi Peringkat Negeri Pulau Pinang Tahun 2017 on 28 November 2017.
2016, Winner, Innovative Planning Award for the project Mobile Application Survey – The New Innovation for Heritage Building Survey, awarded during Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) Planning Excellence Awards on 25 November 2016.