CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH HERITAGE LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT IN MALAYSIA

This study discusses the conservation of cultural heritage in Malaysia through heritage legislation. Various cultural heritages are owned and inherited by every ethnic and indigenous people in Malaysia. Heritage legislation through the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645) serves to provide protection to the cultural heritage of the country. National Heritage Act 2005 has been the underlying act to other existing legislation related to heritage such as the Antiquities Act 1976 (Act 168), the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 1972) and the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172). The objective of this study is to identify the extent of the legal enforcement heritage in providing appropriate protection to the cultural heritage in Malaysia. This protection is important to preserved the cultural heritage for the future generation which would be part of their identity. In terms of methodology, this is a qualitative study with ethnographic approach. Observation and interview techniques were applied to obtain data. The interview technique, on the other hand was also applied to gather information from individuals involved in the implementation and enforcement of the law. These data were further analysed through content analysis method. The findings show that firm heritage legislation gives adequate protection to the cultural heritage in Malaysia. Such protection can provide social, economic and political stability. Therefore, this study has an impact on society in regard to the importance of cultural heritage that will be inherited by the next generation as their identity.