Photo: Author

While global communities around the world are becoming more interconnected with one another - thanks to the advancement of technology and social media - Malaysia, as a multi-ethnic state, is committed to its nation-building operation in promoting its collective national identity. Nation-building has been seen as the process that leads to the establishment of countries in which the citizens adequately feel that they share common values, goals, preferences and interests, which lead them to stay together and not wishing to separate from each other. Being predominately defined by three major ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese, Indians - and also made up of more than ten minority ethnics, a nation-building enterprise should therefore be Malaysia's need of the hour as it seems to be the principal way to keep the nation viable and politically stable in the long run.

Studies on nation-building in Malaysia usually draw some insights by looking at its history, as well as the nature of its society and its political institutions, mainly after its independence. However, not many people realise that many decades before its political independence, the Malaysian (formerly known as Malayan) society was already multi-ethnic.  Identification of ethnics with economic activity during the colonial age did not actually create but enhance the differences in the Malaysian society that was already segmented by race, language and religion. After gaining independence from the British rule, the country was hit with a tragedy that has formed the darkest part of its history; the '13 May Incident', the racial riot that had taken place in the aftermath of the 1969 Malaysian general election.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana

Moving forward, the Malaysian government has always seen nation-building as one of the major issues that needs to be addressed to enhance the country’s harmony - as well as to prevent the recurrence of 'The Incident'. Nation-building has been the primary thing that is taken into account in policy making in Malaysia. Besides, a programme known by the name 1Malaysia (pronounced Satu Malaysia in Malay, ‘satu’ means ‘one’) was designed by the 6th Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in 2009 to promote ethnic harmony, national unity and efficient governance. However, the concept had faced a great deal of criticism and interpretation, probably due to its political nature, which did not make the national issue progress any better.

The purpose of this blog is not to address the long trajectory of the background of nation building in Malaysia, but to draw insights from archaeological evidence to see what connection does cultural heritage have with the development of a community. This blog is aiming to focus on the role that archaeology can and has to play in a nation in dealing with its cultural challenges and bringing forward the idea that archaeology has the power to strengthen the identity of a nation by looking at Malaysia's history way back before it gained its political independence from the British rule in 1957. 

Archaeologists and cultural heritage management organisations are actively working out on ways to account for public involvement in its research and management in Malaysia. Thinking a step ahead,  one should also be asking oneself, how would public involvement in archaeology contribute to the nation-building agenda of this multi-ethnic and multireligious country? That said, this blog is then designed to explore the benefits archaeology has to offer - and the challenges that come with it - in confering the sense of unity in the society.

Through modernisation and globalisation, we have seen that advancement and progression of knowledge, education and convention has managed to encourage positive peace and reconciliation on the local, national and global level. And for this reason, archaeology, as a platform of knowledge, education and convention, can and should be the facilitator for a dialogue between different cultures to support the concept of national unity.

“Archaeologists across the whole world had discussed on how evidence from archaeological sites can contribute to global peace, where archaeologists serve as facilitators and mediators between the past and the future. Archaeologists are the navigators to the future.” - Mokhtar Saidin

Key references and further readings:

1. Mokhtar Saidin (2019). 'Arkeologi: Cabaran dan Masa Depan' (Archaeology: Challenges and the Future) in Bicara Arkeologi. Jabatan Warisan Negara, Malaysia. pp. 48-54.
2. Heng, M.S.H. (2017). A Study of Nation Building in Malaysia, in East Asia 34:217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-017-9275-0
3. Alesina, A. & Reich, B. (2015). Nation-building. URL: https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/alesina/files/nation_building_feb_2015_0.pdf
4. Wikipedia (2020). 13 May Incident. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_May_incident. Accessed 25th January 2020
5. Wikipedia (2019). 1969 Malaysian general election. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Malaysian_general_election. Accessed 25 January 2020.
6. Passi, A. (2018). ‘Why Nation-Building is the Need of the Hour for a Country Like India’ [online]. URL: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/310289. Accessed 25 January 2020.

Image credit: <a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background">Background photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com</a>. Available under Freepik License.

As the year 2019 came to an end, Malaysians were struck by the breaking news of the abolition of the Critical Service Incentive Allowance (BIPK = Bayaran Insentif Perkhidmatan Kritikal) that will be affecting 33 public service schemes. According to the Deputy Director-General of the Public Service Department (PSD), the incentive was introduced in 1992 due to low recruitment in certain sectors at the time, as well as to attract graduates to join public service. He added that the abolition is done as the provision of the allowance is no longer relevant – it is not as difficult to gain the expertise as it was before.  

The abolition has called upon health professionals including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and dentists to speak up for their upcoming junior counterparts whom in their opinion already have bleak career prospects. Malaysian Medical Association consequently set up an online petition to reinstate the critical allowance for the healthcare staffs. 

While the issue of the restoration of allowance is still being discussed, the online petition had witnessed Malaysians unite and successfully gained 125,000 signatories over the course of a week. The call for petition had shown that medical practitioners are very well-respected in the country, and for Malaysian archaeologists, this is not something new. 

Many might have heard of the name Perak Man, but many might not be aware of his significant role in the society he once used to live in – thanks to the palaeoanthropological studies of the skeleton. According to the archaeologist who excavated the 11,000 years old prehistoric remains, Prof Zuraina Majid, Perak Man is not only noteworthy for being the oldest best-preserved human skeleton in Malaysia, yet he was already a prominent man during his course of life. Despite having to cope with a type of deformity – Brachymesophalangia - due to a genetic disorder, Perak Man was a very well-respected shaman during his lifetime. He had also lived up to 45 years old – which is nearly 20 years older than the average life span of a person during his time.

“Within social archaeology, the age of an individual at death contributes to debates about their life course, and in particular the way in which the very young and very old were treated by past societies.” – Falys and Lewis (2011) 

Having lived as a ‘special child’, the discovery had shown that Perak Man was living in such a caring society, not only while he was still alive but also at the time of his death, as he was buried with great respect – with food and stone tools as his accompanied grave goods. 

MY Story: The Woman behind 'Perak Man'. Available under YouTube API Terms of Service.

The story of Perak Man shows that wellbeing and healthcare have always been and should always be any society’s and nation’s priority. Perak Man's role as a shaman or 'medicine man' and knowledge was well-recognised in the society, and was most probably the reason he was very well-taken of and able to live that long despite his deformities.

Malaysian Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian stressed that the key to an excellent public healthcare system are high quality and experienced medical personnel. The abolition of the incentive might cause the country to lose more experienced personnel and discouraged the good ones from joining. He added that for rural areas in Sarawak, the medical services could be even worse with the loss of healthcare expertise. 

A study done on role of health in nation-building postulated that health-sector reform needs to be sustainable, with responsibility passed to the country’s health care providers and leaders in nation-building operations. Besides, negative wellbeing and mental health are often seen as cause of reduction in productivity, and this can undeniably affect and deteriorate global economy. Any further action taken to tackle the national issue will hopefully be a step further from the destruction to the well-established medical services, and a step closer to improving health security of the nation.

Key references and further readings:

1. The Star Online (2019). 'Critical service allowance was cut because it no longer met criteria, says PSD deputy DG'. URL: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/27/critical-service-allowance-was-cut-because-it-no-longer-met-criteria-say-psd-deputy-dg
2. CodeBlue (2019). 'Critical Allowance: Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses, Dentists Band Together For Juniors'. URL: https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2019/12/27/critical-allowance-doctors-pharmacists-nurses-dentists-band-together-for-juniors/
3. change.org (2019). 'Reinstate the Critical Allowance for Healthcare Staffs'. URL: https://www.change.org/p/doctors-reinstate-the-critical-allowance-for-healthcare-staffs
4. Wikipedia (2019). 'Brachydactyly'. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachydactyly
5. Oh My English (2018). 'MY Story: The Woman behind 'Perak Man''. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nyBsKItHWc
6. New Straits Times (2019). 'Critical allowance cut will destroy well-established medical services'. URL: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/551214/critical-allowance-cut-will-destroy-well-established-medical-services
7. Jones, S. G. et. al. (2007). 'Health System Reconstruction and Nation Building'. URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9237.html

Photo:

1. Freepik (2019). ‘An elevated view of stethoscope over blue background’. URL: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/elevated-view-stethoscope-blue-background_3885450.htm#page=1&query=stethoscope&position=19. Accessed 7 January 2020.

Kedah – the northern state of Malaysia, is prominent among the locals as the ‘rice bowl’ of the nation. Fascinatingly, archaeological excavation that has been carried out since 2009 suggested that the state has held a significant status since a long, long time ago, more than just for the source of the country’s staple food.

Based on historical accounts and resources, Kedah in the old days was known by a series of different names including Kadaram and Kataha among the Indians, Kalah by the Arabs and Cheh-cha among the Chinese. Subsequent literature studies on these names revealed that despite drawn from different languages, the names refer to one similar thing, which is iron.

According to Professor Mokhtar Saidin who leads the excavation in Sungai Batu, Kedah, the kingdom of Ancient Kedah (Kedah Tua) was located at the edge of the northern part of Melaka Strait, facing the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. This location was very strategic for the trade that took place between the ancient civilisations in the west and the east as the traders travelled by sea, and Peninsula Malaysia is located right in the middle of that sea lane.

“Sungai Batu is important - it is part of the whole network.” – Professor Leonard Andaya, University of Hawaii

Archaeological research conducted in Sungai Batu revealed that the site was first used around 2,800 years ago – making it the oldest civilisation in the Southeast Asian region. Studies have shown that the region was rich with iron ores, which was then exploited as its main economic resources. Apart from iron smelting sites, trading facilities such as ports, jetties and syahbandar (port administration building) were also discovered during the excavation. This shows that iron ores were not only mined and smelted to produce ingots, but they were also exported worldwide. It makes so much sense that this region was once called the ‘iron’ kingdom by people from all around the world!

Photo: Author

The ancient civilisation of Kedah had already came into existence since 788 BC. It had also flourished with the aid of technological advancement and strong social hierarchical system. Not only the Kedah Tua civilisation had already existed during the Golden Age of the Maya civilisation, but it is also almost as old as the ancient Greek and Rome civilisations! It’s time to make not only the nation, but the world acknowledge and add Kedah Tua to the map of the ancient civilisations in the world.

The discovery of Sungai Batu has led to the establishment of a new industry for the country, which is archaeotourism. Festival Kedah Tua has been organised annually since 2016 as one of the strategies to raise awareness on the significance of the site – as well as archaeology – among the public. In addition, Kedah Tua International Conference was organised as one of the main highlights of the festival when it was first held to gather experts on ancient civilisations and researchers from various backgrounds to gain as well as give input in preserving and promoting the major find.

'Kedah Tua Kingdom: New Evidence from Sungai Batu Complex'. Available under YouTube API Terms of Service

As one of the means to promote heritage to the locals, Professor Mokhtar Saidin initiated the Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP) to equip them with good command of the history of the site. It is through this kind of approach that the locals can be made aware of their heritage and identity, consequently instilling sense of pride and enthusiasm to promote their own prodigious past to others. One of the locals who was trained in the programme surmised:

“Sungai Batu marks the birthplace of the oldest ancient civilisation in our country. We, as inheritors of their wondrous legacy, must work hard to help uncover more of its hidden secrets so that our future generations can look back and be proud of their ancient heritage.”

As the country strives to achieve its goal of its nation-building scheme, this should not only be the words of a person, but the spirit of a nation.

With that, it is hoped that in the near future, Sungai Batu – the oldest Southeast Asia’s civilisation - will gain the recognition that it deserves.

“It is a must for this site to be visited, because this is the evidence that our ancient civilisation had possessed knowledge, skills, and technology that was very advanced of its time…

And to instil sense of proud and love for our country that has been blessed with amazing historical remains which can be seen with our own eyes.” – Mokhtar Saidin, Director of Centre of Global Archaeological Research, Malaysia

Key references and further readings:

1. Jabatan Warisan Negara (2019). 'Seminar Kebangsaan: Kedah Tua Dulu Kini Dan Masa Depan' (National Seminar: Ancient Kedah Then, Now and the Future). Conference paper.
2. Centre of Global Archaeological Research, USM (2016). Festival Kedah Tua [online]. Available from: festivalkedahtua.blogspot.com/ [Accessed 11 January 2020]
3. Centre of Global Archaeological Research, USM (2016). Kedah Tua International Conference [online]. Available from: ktic-my.blogspot.com/ [Accessed 11 January 2020]
4. Universiti Sains Malaysia (2015). 'Lima Sebab Kenapa Tapak Arkeologi Sungai Batu Wajib Dikunjungi Sekurang-kurangnya Sekali Seumur Hidup' (Five Reasons Why Sungai Batu Archaeological Site Must be Visited at Least Once in a Lifetime). Available from: https://news.usm.my/index.php/berita-mutakhir/6369-lima-sebab-kenapa-tapak-arkeologi-sungai-batu-wajib-dikunjungi-sekurang-kurangnya-sekali-seumur-hidup
5. Alan Teh Leam Seng (2017). 'Old-new history of ancient Kedah', New Straits Times, 11 November. Available from: https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/pulse/2017/11/301995/old-new-history-ancient-kedah
6. Astro Awani (2016). 'Analisis Awani: Ketamadunan Kedah Tua'. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ebOzhEmMrs
7. mediaisma (2016). 'Kedah Tua Kingdom: New Evidence from Sungai Batu Complex - Prof Dato' Mokhtar Saidin'. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMRci4Aum4A&t=121s

Penang and Melaka are the top-pick for holiday getaways in Malaysia among the locals as well as international tourists for their historic attractions. Apart from increasingly alluring visitors to the ‘food heaven’, these places had also been appealing to ‘foreigners’ in the past.

Melaka

The history of Melaka began with the arrival of a fleeing prince from Temasik (today’s Singapore), on the shore of Melaka in the late 14^th century. The prince, Parameswara, then founded the city and turned it into one of the greatest trading ports in Southeast Asia. As Melaka came to monopolise the trading routes, the port city was attacked by the Portuguese in 1511. The Portuguese was later defeated by the Dutch in 1641 who then ruled the port before handing it over to the British in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824. Melaka was then under the rule of the British until 1942. After being briefly ruled under the Empire of Japan during World War II, Melaka which was a crown colony at that time, became part of the Malayan Union in 1946 and eventually gained independence from the British in 1957.

A Famosa’s construction represents the Portuguese conquest while its demolition is a reminder of the British occupation. Only the entrance gate of the town wall survived. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas. Available under Wikimedia Commons.

Penang

The way the history of Penang – formerly Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley - is usually told is by putting Francis Light, a British explorer, in the picture as the founder of the island. This is probably because the beginning of British expansion into the Malay states and the British colonisation in Southeast Asia was marked by the entitlement of Francis Light as the Superintendent in charge of the settlement in 1786, making Penang the oldest British settlement in Malaysia.

The island, however, was previously under the reign of the Kedah Sultanate, as it was also part of the Ancient Kedah (also known as Bujang Valley) civilisation which we have talked about in the previous post. In addition, an archaeological excavation conducted by the Centre of Global Archaeological Research USM in Guar Kepah, Penang in 2017 uncovered human remains dated back to 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, indicating that the region was already inhabited during the Neolithic period. Even so, the history of Penang is still hugely shaped by the British colonialism.

Fort Cornwallis, a defensive fort built by Francis Light after he took possession of Penang from the Sultan of Kedah in 1786. Photo available under Creative Commons License.

The Cities Today: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Melaka and George Town (the capital of Penang), both known as the ‘Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca’ have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2008.

The inscription of the two historic urban centres are based on the following criteria:

1. "exhibit an important interchange of human values":  a site of multicultural trading and three successive European colonial powers

2. "bearing unique testimony to a cultural tradition": expressing multicultural heritage through the diversity of religious buildings, ethnic groups, languages, and festivals

3. "an outstanding example of a type of building or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history": reflect a mixture of influences which created a unique townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.

Archaeology in Malaysia Today

A study concluded that a country’s attitudes towards its colonial past is influenced by the factors including when and how the colonisers came, the coloniser’s degree of dominance and exploitation, and the conditions under which they left.

In the late 20^th century, colonial sites in Southeast Asia have been said to be competing for attention, personnel and funding with archaeological relics belonging to a much older, pre-colonial, rich indigenous culture. This competition would be conceivable, as undertaking more ‘archaeology of colonialism’ will create the ‘impression’ of ‘colonisation of archaeology’ by the colonial sites. The 'pre-colonial' archaeological sites, however, have always been in the agony of lack of funding and manpower, most probably due to the lack of interest and the expertise needed.

Nonetheless, the cities have evidently demonstrated colonial legacy through the lens of public archaeology. The World Heritage Sites' inscription criteria of both cities do not only reflect their historical significance, but also portray the country's uniqueness; its multi-racial identity that has definitely appealed to people from all over the world. This diversity, which is the country's exceptionality, should not only be embraced by the nation but should be internalised as an entity to promote and enhance unity among its citizens.

Moving forward, good management, funding and legislation of these heritage sites - both archaeological and colonial - can only be allowed and maintained with the presence and increase in public interest on their own past - the past, which had formed the multicultural nation to be what it is today.

Key references and further readings:

1. Wikipedia (2019). History of Penang. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Penang#Founding_of_Penang. Accessed 17 January 2020.
2. Wikipedia (2020). Malacca. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca. Accessed 17 January 2020.
3. Wikipedia (2019). A Famosa. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Famosa. Accessed 17 January 2020.
4. Wikipedia (2019). Fort Cornwallis. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Cornwallis. Accessed 17 January 2020.
5. Wikipedia (2020). Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Cities_of_the_Straits_of_Malacca. Accessed 17 January 2020.
6. Wikipedia (2020). World Heritage Site. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site#Selection_criteria. Accessed 17 January 2020.
7. Asia Web Direct (2020). The Historical City of Malacca. URL: malacca.ws/attractions/melaka-historic-cities.htm. Accessed on 17 January 2020.
8. Proust, K. (1993). ‘Public Archaeology and the Physical Legacy of European Colonisation in South East Asia’. Australasian Historical Archaeology, Vol. 11, pp. 108-117. Australian Society for Historical Archaeology. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/29544335?read-now=1&seq=7#metadata_info_tab_contents.

Photos:

1. Uwe Aranas (2014). ‘Malacca City, Malaysia: A Famosa’. URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melaka_Malaysia_A-Famosa-01.jpg
2. Graystravels (2017). ‘Fort Cornwallis’. URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Cornwallis_-_Penang.jpg

It is said and proven that getting a 2 and a 4 from rolling a dice are mutually exclusive – they are just incompatible or cannot exist if the other one is true. Archaeologists would be fascinated to know that ‘development’ and ‘heritage conservation’, on the other hand, are not mutually exclusive events.

As one of the efforts to gauge public interest on archaeology and heritage while moving along the path of development of the nation, Sia Boey Rejuvenation Project was launched in March 2018 to transform Sia Boey - a site in Penang - into an area that makes the coexistence of development and heritage conservation possible.

Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park - Penang, Malaysia. Available under YouTube API Terms of Service

In the early 19^th century, Sia Boey was a natural stream surrounded by mangrove swamps that marked the borders of George Town. Also known as the name Prangin or Ujung Pasir (literally translated into the end of sand in English), Sia Boey also means ‘tail end of the settlement’ in Hokkien, which had given rise to the name of the locality; ‘Town’s End’. This is because until the mid-19^th century, the area beyond Prangin Canal has not yet been developed, therefore Sia Boey was perceived as the end of town - it was also considered far from Fort Cornwallis (the British bastion fort that we have discussed in the previous entry) in the old times.

When a granite structure was unearthed at the site of the Sia Boey Market in October 2015, the Centre of Global Archaeological Research under Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) had undertaken a rescue excavation and had identified the structure as an old canal lock, and parts of a canal basin. The USM archaeologists discovered that the granite walls of the Prangin canal sit on top a stilt foundation constructed using bakau and nibong logs. The canal lock acted to control the discharge behind a basin that served as a reservoir.

The discovery of the 20 feet wide and 5 feet deep canal had inspired the project owner to create the first urban archaeological park in the country. Though the park had just been opened to the public in November 2019, George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) are now working on the subsequent phases of the project involving Prangin Canal, a canal bypass, a market hall, archaeological sites and an interpretive centre, at the site that was once the trading hub of George Town.

“Although its land value is high, PDC and the state government decided to not develop the area and instead turned it into a public sphere.” said the Chief Minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow, who also claimed that the archaeological park would tell the story of George Town.

The urban park also incorporates green spaces and playgrounds which attracts families and young children – in other words, a space that appeals to people of all ages. With the construction of the urban archaeological park, visitors can see how archaeological finds are connected to national history by walking through the landscape, guided by the visitor’s board and information that will be provided in the interpretive centre. Open spaces like this have great potential to draw people from various backgrounds, hence making it important for organisations like GTWHI and PDC as well as the state government to play their roles in nurturing a sense of national identity and promoting unity.

Nevertheless, awareness and interest in heritage and archaeology in Malaysia are still in its infancy. For instance, a grave relocation project was undertaken from the end of the year 2018 to April 2019 in Kelantan – a state in the east coast part of Peninsula Malaysia - as the land of the grave site was going to be developed. Though the 200 graves were dug up and reburied properly according to the syara’ (Islamic law), some of the locals expressed their disappointment on the lack of effort in commemorating the grave site, on which members of the royal family as well as important figures including Islamic scholars were once laid to rest.

Recognising history and heritage should be a significant feature in nation-building and nation development. As a multicultural nation, the history of everyone's ancestors should be receiving respect it ought to deserve. Having said that, more people; especially city and town developers should be made aware and more sensitive about national heritage, regardless of whom the past belongs to - plus, if we are truly one nation, they are all our, one shared past.

Key references and further readings:

1. Timothy Tye (2019). ‘Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park, George Town, Penang’ [online]. URL: https://www.penang-traveltips.com/sia-boey.htm. Accessed 21 January 2020.
2. BERNAMA (2019). ‘Sia Boey ready to become Malaysia's first urban archaeological park’ [online]. URL: bernama.com/en/news.php?id=1752781. Accessed 21 January 2020.
3. Muhafandi Muhamad (2018). ‘Penduduk kesal kubur lama dipindah tanpa tertib, batu nisan berselerak’ [online]. URL: astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/penduduk-kesal-kubur-lama-dipindah-tanpa-tertib-batu-nisan-berselerak-193139. Accessed 21 January 2020.
4. Liew Jia Xian (2019). ‘Crowds breathe life to urban park’ [online]. URL: https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/11/13/crowds-breathe-life-to-urban-park. Accessed 21 January 2020.
5. SCM Southern Corridor Malaysia (2019). ‘SIA BOEY Urban Archaeological Park - Penang, Malaysia’. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUwzVn-gF5o.

As highlighted in the previous posts, it is important for citizens of a nation to have a strong sense of belonging to the country in order to achieve unity, peace and prosperity. Celebrating diversity as the uniqueness of the country, the end goal of nation building in Malaysia should then not be to enforce common identities on these strongly segregated populaces but to administrate states that can organise their territories and most importantly, enable people to reside together in spite of their differences.

"Nations stay together when citizens share enough values and preferences and can communicate with each other." – Alesina and Reich 2015

In this blog, we have attempted to delve into various themes in exploring how archaeological discoveries can present historical and cultural values that can be collectively shared and be the source of pride for its citizens.

While reflecting upon the news of the abolition of the Critical Service Allowance for healthcare staffs, we have revisited the story of Perak Man, who was discovered in a prehistoric site in Lenggong, Perak. Palaeoanthropological studies and discoveries of material culture have given us insights into how Palaeolithic societies once lived. However, the lack of sense of attachment and cultural appreciation among the locals is putting the prehistoric site in peril, with the risk of losing its World Heritage status and more importantly, its heritage significance. This shows that public involvement in archaeology is essential in imposing a sense of belonging to instill pride and ownership on their own past among the locals, which is a key factor in nation-building.

Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley - UNESCO World Heritage Site. Available under YouTube API Terms Of Service

Countering ignorance, fostering patriotism

It’s such a shame that some never knew the existence of national treasure stored in their own backyard while they are looking up to pyramids, the great standing walls, the stones and ruins in countries abroad. The oldest civilization in Southeast Asia located in Sungai Batu is still invisible to some local (and global) communities. It is one thing to account on the fact that there are not much that have been explored, recorded and presented in Malaysia, however, more awareness and interest on heritage need to be urgently worked on in moving towards the goal of nation-building through patriotism.

The community of archaeologists in Malaysia is working hard on training its local experts in various archaeological fields. It is important to have passionate people that are dedicated to sow the seeds of pride and ownership to their own past, not only in themselves but to the nation as a whole. The sense of devotion and attachment to one’s country is substantial in upholding and protecting heritage. Malaysians, be it Malays, Chinese, Indians, or whatever race written on their IC (identity card), should love the land we call ‘home’, and honour the uniqueness we are blessed with. Multiculturalism poses a lot of challenges for a country, but if we are able to make it through, Malaysia can be the novel global icon in promoting the celebration of diversity to the whole world.

“…make rhizomes, not roots, be multiplicities…” – Gilles Deleuze

As aforementioned, the increase in archaeological discoveries come with certain obstacles that need to be overcame to ensure its sustainability. This also means finding solutions that allow urban developments to take place without sacrificing the conservation of our own heritage. Nonetheless, it is unequivocally a worthwhile effort as we have seen how archaeology can play a fundamental role in the scheme of nation-building.

That said, archaeologists and cultural heritage officers in Malaysia should be aware of the great potential archaeology has not only in convention, interpretation and connection to the past, but also in being actively involved in shaping the foundation of common understanding and unity among the citizens. And for Malaysia, this is another set of grand challenges, with the huge first step being to nurture the seeds of awareness in the society on the importance of archaeology and heritage to the future of the nation.

Key references and further readings:

1. Hsiao Mei Goh (2015) ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lenggong Valley, Malaysia: A Review of its Contemporary Heritage Management’ in Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 17:2, 143-158. DOI: 10.1080/13505033.2015.1124180
2. Ottaway, M. (2009). ‘Think Again: Nation Building’ [online]. URL: https://foreignpolicy.com/2009/11/09/think-again-nation-building/. Accessed 25 January 2020.
3. Alesina, A. and Reich, B. (2015). ‘Nation-building’. URL: https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/alesina/files/nation_building_feb_2015_0.pdf
4. Ivan Loh (2019). ‘Lenggong Valley lacking appreciation as a Unesco site, say experts’ [online]. URL: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/22/lenggong-valley-lacking-appreciation-as-a-unesco-site-say-experts. Accessed 25 January 2020.
5. World Heritage Journey (2019). ‘Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley - UNESCO World Heritage Site’. URL: https://youtu.be/944Rfdz60bs