The Heritage Trust of Malaysia or Badan Warisan Malaysia do much more than just promote conservation of historic architecture and culture.
Tucked in the corner of Jalan Stonor and Jalan Conlay in Kuala Lumpur lies the office of Heritage Trust of Malaysia or popularly known as Badan Warisan Malaysia.
This non-governmental organisation, suitably located in a colonial house, was set up in 1983 to promote the preservation of Malaysia’s built heritage.
Their motto, “Giving our past a future” aptly explains the work that the organisation is involved in across the country.
Within the grounds of Badan Warisan’s office itself is the Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman or House for Village Head Abu Seman, a traditional Malay house that was relocated from Kedah and restored in its present site.
The meticulously restored 120-year-old Rumah Kutai thanks to the efforts of Badan Warisan.
This house was built between the 1910s and 1930s and was left vacant in the 1980s. Badan Warisan had acquired the house in 1996 for restoration works.
A Heritage Garden is also situated near the Badan Warisan office, which showcases kitchen herbs and plants that are indigenous to the country or have been beneficial to Malaysia’s economy.
Another example of Badan Warisan’s work is located in Malacca’s Heeren Street, which is a late 18th century two-storey shophouse, No. 8, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. This project now functions as a Heritage and Interpretative Centre.
Before restoration: The Dutch era shophouse built in the 1700s located at No.8 Heeren Street (Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock), Malacca.
Members of Badan Warisan have been working on a variety of projects across the country, such as the Gedung Raja Abdullah or Raja Abdullah Warehouse in Klang, Terengganu’s Istana Tengku Long, the Rumah Bomoh and Rumah Kutai in Perak and Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Central Market. Even the Badan Warisan office is a work of restoration, as the organisation adapted the 1925 building to reflect their commitment to conservation.
The office also functions as a seminar, exhibition and meeting centre, as well as a resource centre for heritage enthusiasts or those keen on learning about the historical architecture of the country. Tours are also available for visitors.
Reproduced from the Badan Warisan official website, here are the organisation’s objectives:
- to CREATE AWARENESS and PUBLIC SUPPORT for conservation so as to ensure the survival of our built heritage
- to INFLUENCE POLICY so as to create a conservation-friendly environment
- to PROMOTE EDUCATION so as to develop an understanding of our built heritage as an expression of our history and identity
- to be a TECHNICAL RESOURCE as the national knowledge-base for conservation skills
- to BUILD a strong, involved and committed MEMBERSHIP
- to achieve and sustain FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Map: Badan Warisan
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