Heritage Heroes Keep Nation’s Treasures Gleaming

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Proving that a sense of continuity does not have to halt new ideas, the Department of National Heritage (JWN) endeavours to enable the nation's past lives and stories to remain dynamic for future generations.

JWN has 36 major programmes lined up for the year. From awareness programmes to archaeological actitivities, the deeper appreciation for our humble beginnings takes one heritage step at a time.

Tickling the Curiosity

According to the Commissioner of Heritage Emeritus Professor Datuk Zuraina Majid, JWN aims to capture the essence of the nation's character and identity through awareness.

"We want Malaysians to be cultured citizens and to appreciate human achievements over a period of time whether it is in arts, sports, music and etc. Through the understanding and linking of past events, we want them to be aware of who they are. Pride for one's heritage is a sure-way to get the public to preserve it."

She added that programmes organized by JWN are in line with three focal requirements which are empowering the 1Malaysia heritage, complying with the Act 645 and making heritage a culture.

"Some of our periodic activities include cultural activities, traditional games, and the merdeka heritage trail for students and teachers and others."

Due to the positive response received from its programmes, there are currently 20 Heritage Clubs set up in schools nationwide. For the older age group, members of the Heritage Club meet fortnightly at the oldest surviving structure in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur - The Sultan Sulaiman's club house.

High-impact Projects

With a list of impressive major undertakings, 2010 marks another exciting year for JWN with Zuraina elaborating on the Department's high-impact projects.

"Among these include the construction of the Malacca Town Complex through the reinstallation of Bastion Middelburg and the ongoing excavation works around the area. It is a part of the already torn down city wall of Portuguese Colonization," she said.

The wall was built on the original location of the fort and was added by the Dutch around 1660 for extra security of the Malacca Fort, the port and Malacca River.

Additionally, the Malacca Town Gallery will be utilized creatively to convey the town's rich history.

"Another high-impact project is the preservation of a medical heritage little-known to many, which is the Sungai Buloh National Leprosy Control Centre in Selangor. We would like to gazette the leprosy settlement as a National Heritage Site and the proposed development for the settlement includes a horticulture centre, a heritage gallery and an arts and culture village.

"We also hope to have the site for a joint-nomination with Philippines and Taiwan in UNESCO's World Heritage List," she added.

Other sites vying for World Heritage nominations (Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972) are Lenggong Valley in 2011 and Taman Negara (Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan).

World Heritage nominations for the Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003 include Dondang Sayang, Sewang, Bangsawan and Jo'oh.

Moreover, tingling the tastebuds has always been a Malaysian specialty, so there's no surprise to have the country's culinary heritage made known to the world. The heritage food of Malaysia will see local favorite dishes served in major cities of New York, London and Sydney.

The Galeri Melayu Pulau Pinang is another high-impact project which has been tagged this year.

Archaelogical Treasures

Several significant archaeological finding in the country has kept JWN dusting for more.

Work in the Lenggong Valley in Perak, highlighted recently due to the Perak Man, has been going on for 20 years but the place still has not revealed all of its secrets.

"We are currently excavating in Bukit Bunuh in Lenggong, a new Palaeolithic site discovered in 2002. The area is more than 1.86 million years old, considered the oldest Palaeolithic site in Southeast Asia. There are 8 important projects carried out at the location, and it has a tremendous impact on the region. We hope to have this site recognized as a World Heritage in 2011," Zuraina stated.

Another significant archeological site is Sungai Batu in Bujang Valley, Kedah.

Zuraina mentioned that more than 90 sites have been identified to be unearthed in Sungai Batu, and at present they are working on 10 sites. Excavations are also being conducted in Semporna, Sabah where findings have indicated the presence of ancient human habitation in the Semporna region as early as the late Palaeolithic period to the Neolithic, Metal and early historical periods.

Radiocarbon dating placed some of these sites to date more than 10,000 BCE to 1280 CE.

"Archaelogical works are carried out so that we may conserve and preserve these sites, as well as to generate new data and disseminate awareness."

Zuraina added, "Malaysia is unusually fortunate whereby we're a nation that has good and important archaeological finds. When dealing with the country's history, the burden to interpret these findings are on our shoulders. Because of that we have to be careful, cautious and honest in our analysis. We need to have strong evidence to support our claims because the implication is on the nation."

Future Direction

The world has now recognized Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, Melaka and Georgetown as well as the Mak Yong (listed as Masterpice of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity) and the Inscribed Stone of Terengganu (Memory of the World International Register).

But JWN doesn't plan to sit on its laurels.

Presently, JWN is in its consolidation stage (2009-2011), highlighting on the need to increase expertise in the heritage field through trainings, seminars and internships.

"There's still a huge gap in the expertise available in the country," Zuraina said.

"We need more architects, engineers and quality staff to work in the Department. Furthermore, we have to conduct more rigorous in-house training so that they will be more equipped in handling research."

The consolidation stage also includes the establishment of a virtual national heritage gallery to set up conservation standards for archeology and intangible heritage that contains a manual, Standard Operating Procedures and Charters.

The Department also holds strong ambitions in the next few years, aspiring to win a chair as a member in the World Heritage Committee and to have a National Heritage Gallery.

Everyone’s s Custodian of Heritage

The most powerful memories we have of our cultural identity revolves around that neighbourhood home, our favourite childhood song, or the tasty dish that grandma prepared for special occasions.

But how many of us appreciate these links to our past? Zuraina explained that it's not all gloom and doom for heritage in the country as she has observed the change in people's perception towards the matter.

"The public is quite aware now, thus it's not so difficult to raise enthusiasm for heritage conservation like previous times. You can see from the letters in the press how concerned and vocal people are, and through the works of many non-government organisations. There is awareness, and the public is conscious that the country's historical variety and differences enrich us. And that doesn't stop us from embracing our identity as Malaysians," she said.

Zuraina further stated that there was a renewed interest in heritage conservation and preservation amongst young people. This fervor is fuelled by the increasing access to information on the latest archaeological findings or heritage news.

"We had a lot of people persuading JWN to declare the Petronas Twin Towers as a national heritage due to its technological and historical relevance. People are now pushing us to have more heritage sites, and this is definitely a hopeful indicator."

And as for Zuraina who has been likened to Malaysia's very own 'Indiana Jones', the Commissioner dismissed the suggestion with a laugh.

"Heritage survives as much in people's minds as it does in buildings. We are all responsible to safeguard our national treasures. We can all be Indiana Jones." (Ummi Nadiah Rosli)

Source: http://www.bernama.com
Picture: http://www.mir.com.my

Share

Write your comment !