Community Perspective and Challenges of Heritage Buildings Conservation in Urban Malaysia

Authors

  • Ezyana Anyzah Marmaya College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Rohana Mahbub College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Faudzi Muhammad Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia
  • Mas Ayu Mohd Tahir Jabatan Warisan Negara, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22iSI.6476

Abstract

Understanding the significance of Malaysia's heritage buildings, especially in areas such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang, is essential for several reasons. Kuala Lumpur and Penang, a region renowned for its rich architectural and cultural legacy, is the location of various structures that illustrate the city's historical development from the British colonial era to the dynamic, multicultural present. These heritage buildings could become cost-effective investments that benefit ancillary economic growth in local or regional areas. This paper aims to review the Malaysian public's concern about heritage building conservation, including identifying key reasons and challenges for retaining these buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown Penang. Both locations, which were designated as World Heritage Sites, are renowned for having a large number of historically significant structures that are older than 100 years. However, not all historic structures have been suitably preserved in the neighbourhood, particularly by the owners and tenants. Due to this, there are severe problems with heritage buildings that need to be addressed by the public and their owners. The research method adopted was the quantitative approach employing a questionnaire survey with 100 questionnaires distributed to local respondents. From the community's observation, heritage buildings in Georgetown needed to be adequately conserved compared to Kuala Lumpur. In addition, the study findings conclude that the locals' degree of knowledge in both locations is fairly excellent.

Author Biographies

Ezyana Anyzah Marmaya, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia

Ezyana Anyzah binti Marmaya obtained MSc of Built Environment in 2019 from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy (Built Environment) in Universiti Teknologi MARA since 2021. Her PhD thesis is on Forensic Cost Application Model for heritage buildings in Malaysia; including relevant issues pertaining to the conservation of heritage buildings. [Email: e_anyzah @yahoo.com]

Rohana Mahbub, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia

Rohana Mahbub, PhD is Associate Professor at College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA and has been lecturing for over 36 years. She obtained her PhD in Built Environment and Engineering from Queensland University of Technology; her MSc in Construction Project Management from UMIST and her BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying from University of Reading. She has published research papers and articles for numerous conferences and academic journals throughout her academic career, and has supervised over 20 PhD and Masters (by research) students in areas of innovative technologies, conservation and heritage buildings, sustainable construction and education in built environment. [Email:rohanam@uitm.edu.my]

Faudzi Muhammad, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia

Faudzi Muhammad, PhD is the Deputy Director at the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. He obtained his PhD in the Specialisms of the Built Environment and MSc in Integrated Construction Project Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA, and BSc in Quantity Surveying from Liverpool John Moores University, UK. He has worked in various management and teaching posts, including Ministry of Higher Education, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and Politeknik Kota Bharu; with wide-ranging skills in human capital development, project management and value management. [Email: faudzi.muhammad@mohe.gov.my]

Mas Ayu Mohd Tahir, Jabatan Warisan Negara, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mas Ayu Mohd Tahir is a Curator at Jabatan Warisan Negara, and has been with JWN since 2001. She obtained her MSc in Heritage Conservation Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA and her BSc (Hons) in Sains Kemasyarakatan from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She has been involved in numerous activities related to national conservation of heritage buildings during her career at JWN at the Archeology Division, Conservation Division and Bahagian Daftar Warisan. [Email: masayu@heritage.gov.my]

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Published

22-06-2025

How to Cite

Marmaya, E. A., Mahbub, R. ., Muhammad, F. ., & Mohd Tahir, M. A. . (2025). Community Perspective and Challenges of Heritage Buildings Conservation in Urban Malaysia . Built Environment Journal, 22(SI). https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22iSI.6476

Issue

Vol. 22 No. SI (2025): Built Environment Journal

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Ezyana Anyzah Marmaya, Rohana Mahbub, Faudzi Muhammad, Mas Ayu Mohd Tahir

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