Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim has declared 154 sites, tangible and intangible objects and distinguished individuals as the country’s national heritage.

They comprise 24 sites, 10 tangible objects, 111 intangible objects and nine individuals.

Rais said the declaration of the national heritage status was a positive move in providing balance to all transformation programmes implemented by the government.

“The ministry views the declaration as a catalyst to fuel our spirit of patriotism and nationalism. It will also boost the spirit of conservation and preservation,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

At the event, he also presented national heritage certificates to the nine distinguished individuals who had helped nurture national heritage values.

They are Ramli Ibrahim (Indian classical dance, classical ballet and modern dance), Ahmad Othman Merican (music), Mek Jah Deris (Mak Yong), Jati anak Ju (Pua Kumbu), Mohd Nor Khalid aka Lat (cartoonist), Intan Sulga KK Tiring (Bajau Laut traditional dance), Eyo Hock Seng (Wayang Kulit), Nyonya Tan Abdullah (Dondang Sayang) and Kumaresan Karthigesu (Sitar Music).

Later, the minister flagged off 450 participants of the Heritage Trail programme, comprising students from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, who will also visit historical places in the city, including the National Textile Museum and the City Theatre.

The national heritage status for archeological sites are given to the archeological site in Sungai Batu, Sungai Petani, Kedah; Bukit Bunuh, Lenggong, and Gua Batu Tambun in Perak.

For natural heritage, the status was given to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (Frim) in Kepong, Selangor; Tanjung Piai National Park in Pontian and Gunung Ledang National Park in Muar, Johor; Belum Royal Park in Grik, Perak and Perdana Lake Garden in Kuala Lumpur.

For architectural heritage, the status was given to 16 buildings, namely Istana Kenangan, Kuala Kangsar; Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar; All Saints’ Church, Taiping; Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan and Taiping Prison in Perak, Sultan Suleiman Royal Mosque in Klang, Selangor; Santiago City and St Paul’s Church in Malacca; Istana Jahar in Kota Baru, Kelantan; former information department building, former high court building in Jalan Raja, former federal territories post controllers office (now Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library), former Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China; St Mary’s Church, SM St John, Bukit Nanas and Malaysian Institute of Rubber Research in the city.

For fine art heritage, the status of national heritage was given to two paintings, namely the ‘Pago-Pago’ by Abdul Latiff Mohidin and ‘Pemandangan Malaysia’ by Khalil Ibrahim.

For tangible objects, the status was given to Pahang Canon Law, Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad’s (Zaba) personal letters, Tengku Omar ibni Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah’s personal letters, Declaration of Malaysia 1963, Declaration of Kuala Lumpur 1974, Labuan Treaty and the Terengganu Inscription Stone.

Traditional games also honoured

Under the intangible object category, the national heritage status was given to traditional games and martial arts, namely ‘galah panjang’, cock-fight, ‘dam haji’, ‘katuk keli’, ‘tating lawi’, ‘sepak raga’, ‘batu seremban’, ‘ketinting’, ‘kuit’, ‘kabbadi’ and ‘silambam’.

Under the language and literature category, ‘Kitab Tib’, ‘Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina’, ‘Misa Melayu’, ‘Pengap’ (Iban, Sarawak) and the Malay Language were also declared as national heritage, while under the traditional medicine category, the status was given to ‘main peteri’, ‘ulik mayang’, ‘bekam’, ‘bomoh patah’, traditional massage and the traditional midwife.

For the fashion, textiles, accessories and craft category, the status was given to ‘baju kurung’, ‘kebaya labuh’, ‘kebaya pendek’, ‘songket’, Kadazan Dusun customary outfit, ‘pakaian Ngepan’ (Iban, Sarawak), ‘pua kumbu’, ‘tengkolok’, ‘songkok’, ‘keringkam’, ‘batik’, ‘tekat’, ‘samping’, ‘anyaman tepas’, ‘anyaman mengkuang’ and ‘labu sayong’.

For performance art, the national heritage status was given to ‘rodat’, ‘ghazal’, ‘bongai’, ‘datun julud’, Sarawak Malay drums, ‘jo’oh’, ‘dabus’, ‘kompang’, Wau Bulan song, Chingay, ‘magunatib’ and ‘runsai’.

Under the food category, the status was given to ‘puding raja’, ‘pengat’, ‘kuih pepena’, ‘ganti tandan jagung’, ‘rojak’, ‘kuih rengas’, boiled tapioca, ‘sambal tumis’, ‘putu piring’, ‘murtabak’, ‘jemput-jemput’ and Baba Nyonya’s delicacies namely ‘bubur cha-cha’, ‘pulut tekan’, ‘popia’ and ‘pie tee’.

Also, food from Chinese and Indian communities, namely ‘apam’, ‘tau fu fa’ and ‘choonpiah’, ‘apom’, ‘capati’, ‘ambuyat/pinantung’, ‘tompe/tinompeh’, as well as ‘nonsom bambangan’ (Sabah) and ‘tuak’ (Sarawak).

Other traditional food declared as national heritage are 'itik golek', 'gulai masam keladi kemahang', 'sambal biji getah', 'pindang', 'sotong sumbat', 'rendang campur', 'sup belut', 'sambal rong', 'sambal goreng', 'tauge dan tauhu masak lemak', 'lawa terung', 'lompap daging dan hati', 'jantung pisang', 'budu', 'asam rebus', 'tempe', 'tauhu', Baba Nyonya community's traditional dishes 'kari kapitan', 'nasi kembuli', 'ayam pong teh', 'ayam masak buah keluak', 'gerang asam', umbut rebus (Orang Asli community), 'ambila' and devil curry (Portuguese), 'keema' (Indian) and 'inche kabin' (Chinese).

Under the customs and culture category, 'berlenggang perut', Adat Perpatih of Negri Sembilan and Naning, Adat Temenggung, Adat Mandi Anak Iban, as well as 'berkhatan' (circumcision), 'magavau', 'cukur jambul' and 'naik buai' are also declared as national heritage.

- Bernama