 The
Badan Warisan Malaysia (Heritage of Malaysia Trust) has made much progress
this year. As promised, a Corporate Strategy was developed which starts
with the vision to be the national non-profit organisation for the conservation
of Malaysia's built heritage. The mission comprises the following four
goals: promote programmes in Education, create Awareness of the value
of conservation; develop Technical Resources; and achieve Financial Stability.
The major programmes for 1998-2000 were identified as the short-term strategy
in the overall plan to achieve the stated goals.
An innovative Education Programme with details for the first stage entitled
Pilot Project 2000 was designed. I have written to the Ministry of Education
to inform them of this programme and we are currently seeking funding
for the pilot. The programme includes the introduction of the subject
of built heritage to complement the existing co-curricular activities
in selected secondary schools, as well as the implementation of a Heritage
Day in those schools. We had the first Heritage Day at No 2 Jalan Stonor
on October 25th 1998. This was a day of interactive events integrating
built heritage with other aspects of our cultural and natural heritage.
Events ranged widely from the building of an orang asli house to gamelan,
wood carving demonstrations, craft demonstration and sales, feng shui
talk and painting and drawing competitions for school children. The day
was made possible by the generous sponsorship of corporations and individuals
and the hard work of dedicated volunteers and staff.
This year, trips and events such as exhibitions and launches were well
covered in the media and the eight Buletin Warisan published by the Badan.
We introduced the organisation and the need to preserve and conserve the
built heritage of Malaysia to a number of community associations such
as the Malaysian Cultural Group and the American Association Malaysia,
professional organisations and government departments associated with
the tourism industry. This increase in activities was made possible by
the Heritage Centre at Stonor. We processed 69 new applications for membership
for the year, and this has assisted the outreach of the Badan.
On November 4th, we had the awards ceremony of the Mubin Sheppard Memorial
Prize. Volume 2 of the Mubin Sheppard Memorial Prize, which contains the
edited winning entry and the summaries of three submissions chosen for
honorary mention, was launched. This coincided with the beginning of the
third year competition for the coveted prize.
In the continuing effort to obtain data on our rural heritage, I wrote
to all the district officers thanking those who responded in 1997 to the
Badan's questionnaire and following up with those officers who have yet
to reply. The Rural Heritage Committee is sorting through the wealth of
information submitted by the Melaka Museum.
With the sponsorship of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB),
the Badan will be publishing four heritage trails of Kuala Lumpur. The
areas covered by the maps will be Merdeka Square, Market Square, Chinatown
and Masjid India - Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Much original research has
been undertaken by volunteers of the Badan and consultants in the preparation
of these heritage trails. The Badan will also be training the MTPB staff
on the history of Kuala Lumpur and the proper conduct of the tours. The
launch of these trails is targetted for early 1999.
In October 1998, the Badan announced its first Awards for Conservation
and Heritage Development competition, which aims at recognising the contributions
of those involved in the conservation and preservation of Malaysia's built
heritage. In particular, three categories have been identified: Restoration,
Conservation with Adaptive Reuse; and Conservation Studies. More than
200 invitations and entry forms have been sent to local authorities and
district officers and professional organisations such as Pertubuhan Arkitek
Malaysia. The submissions will be assessed by the panel of judges next
year, and the winners will be declared as soon as the judging is completed.
Following on the designation of Kampung Cina, Kuala Terengganu as an
endangered site by the World Monuments Watch, the Badan was awarded a
USD 50,000 grant by American Express and World Monuments Fund. Kampung
Cina is the area encompassing the riverfrontage and street now known Jalan
Bandar, in Kuala Terengganu. The grant proposal covers a dilapidation
study and facade upgrading proposal for a shophouse on Jalan Bandar and
the preparation of an area conservation plan for Kampung Cina. The Badan
has selected consultants for both projects.
The other activities of Badan Warisan Malaysia are listed below:
- Together with the Universiti Malaya, we are producing a forty minute
technical video covering the restoration process of the Rumah Penghulu;
- Members and staff of the Badan have been invited as resource persons
at three international seminars;
- The Resource Centre has acquired a number of publications in its aim
to become a recognised resource on the built heritage of Malaysia; and,
- We continue to work with the government in its efforts to enact legislation.
Towards this end, members of the organisation attended a meeting at
the invitation of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
The finances of the Badan are dependent upon members' subscriptions,
proceeds of sales of our products and services, and donations. The Badan
operating expenses comprise sixty percent of the total budget in an ordinary
year. During the coming year, we have to redouble our efforts in raising
funds from these sources. Two major fund raising activities are being
planned, namely i) the establishing of an endowment fund through generous
donations by concerned persons in heritage, and ii) the sale of coffee
table books containing the drawings and photographs of selected estate
managers' bungalows in the country. In the meantime, we have to increase
the sales of merchandise items at the gift shop to earn additional income.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our diligent staff and
the numerous volunteers who have contributed their valuable time out of
love for our built heritage.
TAN SRI DATO' SERI (DR) AHMAD SARJI BIN ABDUL HAMID
President
13 November 1998 |
