Heritage Interpretations of the Built Environment:

Experiences From Malaysia

Professor Dr. A Ghafar Bin Ahmad

scussions

alaysia’s cultural heritage. egal instrument. eritage interpretation. xperiences from Malaysia: St. George’s Church. Old Kampung Kuala Dal Mosque. Old Kedai Mulong Mosque. Old Machap Mosque.

ALAYSIA’S CULTURAL HERITAGE

ulti-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. rious ethnic groups differ from one another in ms of language, oral traditions and cultures

herited from one generation to another. eir rich traditions are preserved and portrayed in

eir religious buildings, scared rituals and cultural lebrations.

Legal Instrument: The National Heritage Act 2005

In December 2005, Malaysia’s Parliament passed the National Heritage Act 2005.

The Act considers all provisions of the previous Antiquity Act 1976 and Treasure Trove Act 1957.

The National Heritage Act 2005 clarifies the management of heritage.

The Department of National Heritage is

he Act acts to provide for the conservation and reservation of National Heritage, natural eritage, tangible and intangible, cultural eritage, underwater cultural heritage, treasure ove and for related matters.

The First 50 National Heritage Items of Malaysia (6 July 2007)

15 Buildings

2 Natural Environment

1 Monument

20 Objects

12 Intangible Items

167 New National Heritage Items of Malaysia (Feb. 2009)

Buildings

Archaeological sites

Archaeological collection

Museum collections

National Art Gallery collections

National Archive collection

Food items

ational Heritage of Malaysia

National Heritage: Living Treasures

UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites

unung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, Sabah Sarawak (2000) (2000)

UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites

Heritage Cities of Melaka and George Town (2008)

Heritage Interpretation: Concept and Application

Definitions of Interpretation “An educational activity which aims to reveal meaning and

relationships through the use of original objects, by first-hand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than

simply to communicate factual information” (Freeman Tidlen, 1957)

“Heritage interpretation allows the embodied meanings of heritage resources to be translated and conveyed through

ceptive viewpoints, thus enhancing visitor appreciation and sensitivity” (Salazar, 2007)

“Heritage interpretation serves to impress, provoke, relate and reveal shared emotions, experiences and compassion for people, places, events and objects through time and space” (Uzzell, 1989).

Heritage interpretation is about telling nspiring stories about our intrinsic heritage. It should be effective, through heritage interpreters, and memorable to satisfy quality visitor experience.

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Heritage Interpretation of the Built Environment

ge interpretation provides critical inputs in the restoration works of ge buildings: ermine the nature of building problems and defects imise intervention se proven methods and techniques fy through scientific and technical analyses ice from architects, structural and mechanical engineers, quantity

veyors, historians, botanists, chemists, interior designers, fine artists; local experts

Cases of Heritage Building Conservation Projects in Malaysia

t. George’s Church, Penang. ld Kampung Kuala Dal Mosque, Perak. ld Kedai Mulong Mosque, Kelantan. ld Machap Mosque, Malacca.

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Old Machap Mosque, Malacca, Malaysia (c. 1902)

Concluding Remarks

Heritage interpretation accentuates the mportance of progressive research, evaluation nd training of stakeholders involved in the onservation projects.

Heritage interpretation is an interactive, dynamic nd evolving process of identifying, nderstanding, and expressing the intrinsic alues of heritage property in an effective

t t t

Concluding Remarks Heritage interpretation of the built environment is rucial in building repair and conservation works.

Heritage interpretation requires active nvolvement of local communities and takeholders to take pride in, and care for their hared cultural identities and values.

Heritage interpretation encourages public th h i l f h f

THANK YOU