managing badan warisan malaysia the heritage of

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MANAGING BADAN WARISAN MALAYSIA

THE HERITAGE OF MALAYSIA TRUST

MANAGING HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS

International Conference on Heritage Conservation 2011

Conservation & Development – Partners or Rivals

Laurence Loh, Deputy –President, 13 September 2011, Hong Kong

+ OUTLINE OF PAPER

SHAPED BY ITS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES, BWM

ARTICULATED ITS MISSION BY SAVING SEVERAL

VERNACULAR BUILDINGS IN THE EARLY YEARS.

THE PROJECT-BASED MENTALITY IS NOW

ENTRENCHED IN ITS COLLECTIVE PSYCHE.

ITS CORPORATE CULTURE GREW OUT OF ITS

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE – A COMPANY

LIMITED BY GUARANTEE WITHOUT SHARES WITH

CHARITABLE STATUS

BWM REINEVENTS ITSELF – BADAN

WARISAN HERITAGE SERVICES,

FOCUSING ON THOUGHT CREATION

& CAPACITY-BUILDING

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NURTURING A COMPELLING

CORPORATE CULTURE

Source:

Badan

Warisan

Malaysia

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Source:

Badan

Warisan

Malaysia

ESSENCE – HERITAGE OF MALAYSIA,

PRESERVATION OF BUILDINGS, PROJECT-BASED

MENTALITY, COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

WITHOUT SHARES, CHARITABLE STATUS

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Principal Objective

To promote the permanent preservation for the

benefit and education of the people of Malaysia of

all buildings which because of their historical

associations or architectural features or for other

reasons are considered by the Council of the Badan

to form part of the heritage of Malaysia.

Source:

Badan

Warisan

Malaysia

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OUR AIM is to be the leading national non-

profit organisation for the promotion of the

conservation of Malaysia’s built heritage,

through education and the provision of

technical resources, thereby raising awareness

for the need to conserve our built heritage for

the benefit of our future generations.

Source:

Badan

Warisan

Malaysia

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Goals:

Create Awareness

Influence Policy

Promote Education

Be a Technical Resource

Build Strong Membership

Financial Independence

Source:

Badan

Warisan

Malaysia

Source: “Penang Sketches”

Source: MPPP

+ CONSERVATION ADVOCACY

HERITAGE OF MALAYSIA TRUST

PERCEPTION CREATED THAT BWM IS NATIONAL IN

CHARACTER. EXPECTATION TO ARTICULATE A

NATIONAL VISION & SERVE THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

BWM INVESTED TIME & MONEY TO CONSERVE

MANY HISTORIC STRUCTURES. EMPHASIS ON SAVING

TYPOLOGICAL, MALAY, VERNACULAR WOOD BUILDINGS

UNDER THREAT. CREATED BEST PRACTICE EXEMPLARS.

CREATING AWARENESS, PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR

CONSERVATION AND VISIBILITY. LEARNING ON THE JOB,

NUTURING A PROJECT-BASED MENTALITY.

LOCATION OF PROJECTS

BY BADAN WARISAN MALAYSIA

FIGURE 1 Source: Badan Warisan Malaysia

TYPOLOGIES OF THE MALAY HOUSE

Source: Lim Jee Yuan, The Malay House, Rediscovering

Malaysia’s Indigenous Shelter System, Institut Masyarakat, 1987.

THE TERENGGANU MALAY HOUSE

Source: The Terengganu Malay House, Raja Bahrin Shah bin Raja Ahmad Shah,

Badan Warisan Malaysia, 1988.

THE TERANGGANU MALAY HOUSE

Source: Laurence Loh Model of the Terengganu Malay House

at Badan Warisan Malaysia

THE TERANGGANU MALAY HOUSE

Source: Laurence Loh

VULGARISATION OF FORM

& MOTIFS THRU MAGNIFICATION

& DECONTEXTULISATION

+ THE RUMAH KUTAI, PERAK

Source: Badan Warisan Malaysia

THE RUMAH KUTAI, PERAK


STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION Conference1986. Key Points Posed to Government

1. The local Malay House represents the earliest

vernacular samples of the use of purely local

materials in buildings

2. It reflects the high degree of skill and expertise

of local craftsmen in working the high quality

tropical timber and in making the intricate

joinery and delicate carving.

3. Local timber houses are fast disappearing due

to the harsh tropical conditions (of high

humidity and heat) and the owner’s own neglect.

4. The craftsmen and carpenters who are well

versed with the construction of these types of

houses are becoming a rare species. Lack of

demand for timber houses due to a preference to

build in bricks and mortar has made them lose

their skills at their former trade.

5. No proper and systematic records of these types

of houses, together with the sequence and

technique of construction have been kept for

futu re generations.

Source: The Terengganu Malay House, Raja Bahrin Shah,

Badan Warisan Malaysia, 1988

RUMAH

PENGHULU

IN-SITU


RUMAH PENGHULU

Resited in the grounds

of Badan Warisan

Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Honorable Mention, 2000 UNESCO

Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards


INFLUENCING POLICY

Need for comprehensive heritage

legislation

Law needs to be enforced to be effective

2003 Amendment to the Town & Country

Planning Act 1976


Key Provisions in the Heritage Bill

New functions & responsibilities at Federal, State and Local levels

Promoting, implementing & coordinating policies

Monitoring standards, guidelines & procedures

Education & training

Conducting research

Heritage fund & financial incentives

Stiffer Penalties Source: Badan Warisan Malaysia

No. 8

Heeren Street,

Malacca

“It is... recommended that a model

conservation project be in itiated...” Feb 2001, Report

Unesco Monitoring Mission to Melaka


The changes affecting Malacca’s remaining

stock of early shophouses were recorded as part of

the restoration project. 366 early shophouses were

identified in 19 streets:


7% (27) with a high level of authenticity

45% (163) with a medium level of authenticity

48% (176) demolished or with a low level of

authenticity

Before Restoration

Understanding the

heritage values of the site

Source: Badan Warisan

Malaysia

The project’s aim was to maintain the structural,

material and spatial integrity of the building & at the

same time demonstrate a successful adaptation to new

uses.


After Restoration


Site Visits & Awareness Raising

- Community Participation

- Sustainability


Responding to market needs,

repositioning to stay relevant & vibrant creating a consultancy company to generate

revenue, build capacity & technical expertise

Source:

Stanley

Jewkes

Merdeka Stadium of Independence

Merdeka Stadium of Independence

2006 1957


After removal of upper tiers 2007

Award of Excellence 2009 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Conservation

2007

Source: Laurence

Loh

1957

Source: Stanley Jewkes

Range of Projects Technical studies, Heritage Impact Assessments,

Cultural Mapping & Surveys, Heritage Management

Plans, Heritage Site Management, Conservation

Planning & Building Conservation. Contributes to

30 % of BWM’s annual income.

Source: Laurence Loh Source: Arkitek LLA

Implication of a company limited by

guarantee without shares No ownership of shares, governance by BOD

& Companies Act

Charitable Status Non-profit, public service & welfare, tax exemption


The Sum Total - A Unique Outcome Projects produced in advance of understanding & collective conservation consciousness. Precedents created without local knowledge, intellectual material & professional resources.

Previously no heritage laws & local charters.

Good relations with government a strategic advantage. Creating policies by proxy.


Staying ahead in the heritage game

Maintaining BWM’s position as the leading

Heritage NGO requires constant reinvention.

Built heritage Intangible heritage

Empowering communities Self-protecting

Thought creation, problem-solving, live projects,

advocacy, widening capacity, new heritage.

Remaining true to its CORE VALUES


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Copyright reserved

by Laurence Loh.

No part of this

presentation is to

be reproduced

without the

author’s permission.

It was a privilege

& pleasure to share

this presentation

with you. Thank You.

MANAGING THE DICHOTOMIES OF Loss Irreversible

THE MODERN CONTEXT Buy time

Refocus

Plan

Loved heritage

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