National Heritage Act
2005, was legalized on March 1st in Malaysia to replace two previous
acts: Treasure Trove Act (Akta Harta Karun) 1957 and Relics and
Antiquities Act (Akta Benda Purba) in 1976.
This act is based on
UNESCO Convention on the protection of natural and cultural heritage. It
is also based on UNESCO Convention to safeguard intangible cultural
heritage. Both English Heritage and New South Wales Heritage served as a
guideline to draw this act too, together with National Heritage Policy.
So, what is this act?
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It is an act to allow for
restoration and conservation of National Heritage, Natural Heritage,
tangible and intangible Cultural Heritage, underwater Cultural Heritage
and other related matters.
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What is the
definition of Heritage? It is best described in this diagram below:

The Act allows for:
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The appointment of a
Heritage Commissioner
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The establishment of
National Heritage Council
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The establishment of
National Heritage Fund
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The listing of
National Heritage List
The Heritage Commissioner
is responsible for:
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locating the specific
heritage site, register of objects and above the land, underground
and below water.
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building and
maintaining the Register as well as placing these relics and objects
under the correct categories.
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overseeing and
supervising conservation and restoration; giving encouragement;
maintaining display and also public access.
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giving out permission
for excavation and overseeing and supervising sites which are dug
for their heritage values.
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establishing and
maintaining relationship with the State Authority regarding heritage
conservation and restoration
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coordinating with
local town planners, city council and other entities as well as
giving advise for the purpose of heritage conservation and
restoration
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advising the Ministry
for any matters regarding to heritage conservation and restoration
National Heritage Register
includes:
There are nine criteria
that can be used to list a site, human or object as National Heritage.
The council will decide whether any of these is worthy to be listed. Not
all criteria have to be fulfilled before the candidate is listed as a
National Heritage in this National Heritage Act.
Back to the top of
National Heritage Act.
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Penang Heritage City

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