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Multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, and making heritage in Malaysia: a view from the historic cities of the Straits of Malacca

2011; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 18; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13527258.2011.609997

1470-3610

Florence Graezer Bideau, Mondher Kilani,

Asian Studies and History

Abstract Based on the 'universal' values of economic development, democratic governance and cultural diversity promoted by UNESCO, the official policy of the Federation of Malaysia, known as Wawasan 2020 (Vision 2020), promotes modernization with an emphasis on democracy, tolerance, culture and economic development, and asserts the multicultural character of Malaysian society while upholding the peaceful coexistence of its three largest communities (Malays, Chinese and Indians). The joint inscription of the two historic Straits cities of Melaka and George Town on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2008 was a reaffirmation of that policy. Our study illustrates the construction of this social model through the heritage process which was based on the tangible as well as the intangible heritage of the different ethnic groups that make up the Malaysian nation. Dubbed the 'Rainbow Nation' by the British during the colonial era, postcolonial Malaysia has reappropriated the label to construct its present and future identity. We focus on the agency of civil society activists, government officials and international experts in the process that mobilised, in turn, the values of nationalism and internationalism, communitarianism and multiculturalism, and universalism and cosmopolitanism. Keywords: anthropologymulticulturalismUNESCOheritageMalaysia Notes 1. We have chosen to use 'Melaka' to designate the state and its capital of the same name, as per local usage, but to follow English usage for the 'Straits of Malacca'. 2. Two other Malaysian properties on the island of Borneo were listed in 2000 as natural heritage sites: Kinabalu Park (approximately 30,501 acres) in the state of Sabah, and Gunung Mulu National Park (approximately 21,394 acres) in the state of Sarawak. See UNESCO n.d. 3. The ethnic division into these three main groups arose from the political intention stated since independence and supported since then by the majority political coalition. It concerns peninsular Malaysia only, and its purpose is to insure a balance among these groups. This policy is directly linked to British colonial practice in Malaysia and lies at the root of the idea of the 'Rainbow Nation', as it was designated by Westerners during the colonial era (Giordano 2004). 4. See Wawasan 2020 n.d. 5. See the decision at UNESCO 2009. 6. The first of Wawasan 2020's nine challenges is to establish 'a united Malaysian nation with a sense of common and shared destiny. This must be a nation at peace with itself, territorially and ethnically integrated, living in harmony and full and fair partnership, made up of one "Bangsa Malaysia" [Malaysian nation] with political loyalty and dedication to the nation' (see n. 4 supra). For further developments on Wawasan 2020, see, for example, Bunnell 2004. For modernity in Malaysia, see Giordano 2004, Goh 2002, Kahn 2008, Shamsul 2001. 7. In 2010, the population in the state of Melaka was 57% Malays, 32% Chinese, and 11% Indians and others; in the state of Penang it was 43% Chinese, 40% Malays, 10% Indians, and 7% others (Wikipedia 2011, which cites government sources unavailable to the general public). In 2000, the population in the city of George Town was 60% Chinese, 30% Malays, and 10% Indians (Giordano 2004, p. 97). Note that the statistical representation of the various communities is a sensitive issue which affects their clout in the political arena. 8. See 'The Slave Route', 'The Silk Roads: Roads of Dialogue', and 'The Spice Route' at http://www.unesco.org. 9. A series of four colloquia devoted to Penang's main ethnic communities was held in 2001 and 2002, followed by a major international conference on The Penang Story: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity, 19–21 April 2002. These events were part of the process that led to George Town being named to UNESCO's World Heritage List. 10. See Jenkins (2008, 147, 173–174) for examples of Local Effort and Preservation (LEAP) projects launched with the help of UNESCO. See also the developments presented below. 11. The Penang Heritage Trust is a non-governmental organization composed of many activists from Penang civil society – such as journalists, architects, engineers, academics, intellectuals, artists and economic promoters – and is open to all communities, although its membership is mainly Chinese. This very active organization is involved on several fronts: it organises a variety of activities and publishes informational and promotional leaflets. 12. A shophouse is a traditional Chinese two-storey home that combines economic activity on the ground floor and living space on the floor above. 13. For further information, see Global Ethic Penang 2006. 14. Trail maps are published by PHT and Arts-Ed (Arts Education Programs for Young People) and distributed in hotels, galleries and museums and at the Penang Heritage Center. 15. Celebrations in the city of Melaka lasted the entire month of August 2008 and ended with the Merdaka on August 30, the Federation of Malaysia's Independence Day. 16. Celebrations in George Town began with the visit of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and other civil service and religious representatives to the main houses of worship on the Street of Harmony, and continued with concerts, plays and street performances at different locations around the historic centre, notably Armenian Street and Cannon Square for the Chinese, Aceh Street for the Malays, and Little India for the Indians. One day was also devoted to an open-door visit to various places of the city and notably to the Chinese jetties. 17. As of 2010, the entire month of July is devoted to cultural and artistic celebrations, including exhibitions, concerts, plays, dance performances, sports competitions, films, etc. 'To celebrate George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and to showcase the unique diversity of our culture and heritage' is the mission of the George Town Festival which was created for this purpose. 18. These various working sessions, most of which took place in Penang, involved members of the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT), the Penang Heritage Center (named George Town World Heritage Incorporated since 2010), the Penang Global Ethic Project, the Heritage of Malaysia Trust (Badan Warisan Malaysia), the Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI), Han Jiang Teochew Temple, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Arts-Ed (Trails), the Xiao-en Cultural Foundation, the Koay Committee, the Penang Apprenticeship Program for Artisans (PAPA), the Little Market, etc. We further extended our work through archival and journals research, electronic correspondence, etc. 19. ICOMOS has proposed these ideas in various official documents such as the 1994 Nara Document on Authenticity and the 1999 International Cultural Tourism Charter (Managing Tourism at Places of Heritage Significance). 20. For additional details, see Graezer Bideau and Kilani 2009. 21. These organizations included the Malaysian Nature Society, the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, the Penang Inshore Fishermen's Welfare Association, the Consumer Association of Penang, the Friends of the Penang Botanic Gardens, the Baiqi Koay Community, Malaysian travel and trade associations, and Penang tourist guides associations. 22. Interview with Will Marcus (Argo Architects), an Australian specialist in ethical architecture and site rehabilitation, and Penang historian Ong Seng Huat, who jointly submitted a project to the local government to integrate the jetties into an eco-tourism framework. 23. Strictly speaking, the core zone is the protected area while the buffer zone that wraps around the core zone is supposed to protect the latter from encroachment. In George Town as in Melaka, the core zone roughly corresponds to the historic centre. In George Town it covers an area of 44.27 acres, with 1,700 buildings and a population of 9,379. Melaka's core zone is 15.63 acres, with 600 buildings and 3,420 residents. 24. Malaysia's Constitution distinguishes between Bumiputra ('sons of the earth'), i.e. Malays, and non-Bumiputra, i.e. non-Malays, and grants supremacy to the Malays. Malay supremacism is exemplified in successive positive affirmation policies such as the NPE (New Political Economy) in the 1970s, whose goal was to improve the Malays' economic status, and Wawasan 2020 in the 1990s (see n. 4 supra), which includes a component specifically concerning the Malays. The category of Malay is defined in Article 160(2) of the Malaysian Federal Constitution by the profession of Islam, the use of the Malay language, conformity to Malay custom, and lastly, having a direct connection to the country whether through birth, or kinship (see Jenkins 2008, pp. 26–27). 25. See Lubis and Khoo 2000; the authors clarified and explained this document to us on several field visits to the area which included specially guided tours of the site. 26. See the Penang Star, 17 and 30 July, 2008. 27. On Armenian Street in particular, we note the historic home of Dr Sun Yat Sen where he lived during his exile in Penang and which now houses a museum dedicated to him, along with the Edelweiss Café renovated in Art Deco style with Swiss detailing, and the 'Straits Collection' Heritage Boutique Hotel Bon Ton and its shops.