KUALA LUMPUR – Is there a lack of appetite to develop Lembah Bujang’s archaeological sites as they amplify Hindu and Buddhist culture and beliefs in a modern Kedah governed by PAS?
The perception is tied to the political leanings and sentiments of voters in the area, and past incidents where ancient temple ruins were destroyed by developers, with little reprimand from the authorities.
This lack of reprimand has been exploited by politicians and right-wing thinkers while other groups perpetuate the narrative that they are descendants of some form of “super-race”, embellishing and twisting the facts to their narrative.
Embracing multi-ethnicity, diversity and inclusivity
During visits to several sites in Lembah Bujang and having met the teams that have been working on their hands and knees, it is fair to say that most are not hung up on petty race and religious arguments.
Most of the academic staff and students, who are Malay-Muslims, spent days on end hiking the steep hills regardless of the heat and rain, as well as insect bites and the threat of animals in the nearby jungles.
They also develop skin issues from the pesticide and fertiliser run-off in the soil as they patiently dig through the clay, mud and sand.
So, the argument that there are efforts to erase the Hindu and Buddhist influence in Lembah Bujang does not hold water at the academic or ground level.
On the contrary, the key lesson we can learn from ancient Kedah is that it was a civilisation that was tolerant, diverse and multicultural.
This is what makes Lembah Bujang unique compared to the other civilisations in the region – most of which are monocultural civilisations – meaning they represent mostly one race, one religion or one culture.
This is what sets our history and heritage apart from other countries in the region, and it is also what sets us apart from our neighbours today.
A Unesco listing?
A recent social media post lamented the lack of drive by the current government to pursue a Unesco World Heritage Site listing for Lembah Bujang.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Global Archeological Research (USM CGAR) is currently working closely with the National Heritage Department to get ancient Kedah on the Unesco list.
USM CGAR senior lecturer Nasha Rodziadi Khaw had said: “We are moving towards this listing which has to start with a dossier that clearly states the Outstanding Universal Values (OUV) for the site, hence we need to ensure that our findings are up to date and on par with international standards.”
Some obstacles have to be addressed – namely land development issues, as it is imperative for sites to uphold the OUVs. Any threat or reversal of values might result in the site being delisted as a world heritage site.
According to the technical report titled Bujang Valley and Kuala Kedah Fort: proposals for a masterplan: Malaysia – (mission) published by Unesco in 1987, Malaysia submitted a proposal for establishing a national historical park in Lembah Bujang as far back as 1968 as a start to a programme for developing a cultural heritage policy.
Little has been done to bring this proposal to realisation. The report also made recommendations for both short- and long-term situations.
The long-term objectives were:
– To establish a national historical park at Lembah Bujang to protect, preserve and present the archaeological sites found there while making it a tourist destination; and
– To undertake the excavation, conservation and presentation of the Kuala Kedah Fort as a tourist destination.
The short-term objectives were:
– To prepare a master plan for the excavation, conservation and presentation of the monuments of the Lembah Bujang National Historical Park and the Kuala Kedah Fort;
– To augment and train professional staff in the present Lembah Bujang Museum;
– To expand the existing facilities at the Lembah Bujang Museum complex;
– To develop suitable museum and visitor facilities at the Kuala Kedah Fort.
For now, the Unesco listed guidelines and objectives based on the site’s OUVs seem to be a structured path towards not just listing Lembah Bujang as a world heritage site, but also to lay out a plan for the way forward.
Developing facilities to accommodate new discoveries
The recent discovery in Bukit Choras has renewed interest in Lembah Bujang, both locally and globally, however, USM CGAR has had to limit the number of visitors to its centre, where the artefacts from Bukit Choras are being stored, for security reasons.
This throws a spotlight on one of the main problems in Lembah Bujang – that the heightened interest and discoveries are not supported with the necessary infrastructure, be it suitable storage, galleries, museums or facilities where these items can be utilised for education and awareness programmes.
Many more discoveries will be made in Lembah Bujang and its surrounding areas in the coming years, and it will be prudent to ensure that this is matched with the suitable facilities, manpower, skill and expertise that is needed to explore, excavate and develop the site’s culture-based economic opportunities.
Without proper facilities to showcase the discoveries and findings on ancient Kedah, presented with accurate accounts and interpretations, the perception and narratives remain open – even to misrepresentation. – July 4, 2024