History
Conserving Bukit Persekutuan As A Historical And Natural Heritage Of The Nation
Organized by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Live Webinar Details
Date: Thursday, 18 November 2021
Time: 4:00 PM (Kuala Lumpur, GMT+8)
Topic: Conserving Bukit Persekutuan As A Historical And Natural Heritage Of The Nation
Venue: Virtual – Zoom Webinar
Free Admission
Speakers: Ar. John Koh & Pasupathy Murugiah
Moderator: Ar. Anand Krishnan
ABOUT THE TALK
Bukit Persekutuan (Federal Hill) encompasses over 70 hectares in Kuala Lumpur. This talk will introduce Federal Hill from the historical, architectural and environmental perspectives, as well as its importance as an Urban Community Forest. This talk will also cover areas of conservation for preserving the natural environment and built heritage as well as community outreach programs. The speakers will also touch on the gazettal of Federal Hill and the vision to create a larger green network in Kuala Lumpur in linking Federal Hill to Taman Botani Perdana (Lake Garden) and Taman Tugu.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Ar. John Koh Seng Siew
Ar. John Koh has been in Architectural Practice since 1974. Akitek Maju Bina, which he founded in 1981, won numerous International and National awards for Excellence in Architecture in Township Design, Residential, Green Architecture, and Cineplexes. His firm’s Interior Design projects have also been recognized by the Malaysian Institute of Design (MIID) Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA).
As a Fellow member of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia, the Singapore Institute of Architects, and the Australian Institute of Architects, John has also been active in professional institutional affairs for over 40 years. He was the Regional Representative of the Royal Institute of British Architects Validation Board to the University of Malaya and Universiti Teknologi MARA.
He is also the Honorary President of the Eastern Regional Organization of Human Settlements. He has traveled extensively in the Asia Pacific to promote professional collaborations and the multi-disciplinary approach in the development of sustainable Human Settlements.
John developed the Conservation Masterplan for Historic Malacca in 1989 and continues to explore avenues for the Restoration of Malacca‘s Historical Landscape Heritage. He has also been involved in the Conservation of the Natural and Historical Heritage of Bukit Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur since 2008. Among his accreditations include Chair of the panel of judges for the Mubin Shepperd Memorial Prize (Cycles 1 & 7) by Heritage of Malaysia Trust (Badan Warisan Malaysia) where he was an Honorary Council Member from 1995-97. He was also a founder member of the World Association of Chinese Architects (WACA).
Today, John is Principal of John Koh Architect, which he set up in 2014, and is immediate past Chairperson of the Malaysian Nature Society Board of Trustees.
Pasupathy Murugiah
Pasupathy is the Selangor Branch Chairperson of Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) from 2017 to 2023. She received her Basic and Intermediate Certificates in Birding from 2006 to 2008. She became a Licensed Nature Guide since 2009.
First and foremost, Pasupathy is a Teacher specialising in English with a B.A. Hons. (History, International Relations), Diploma in Education from the University of Malaya and M.A. Educational Psychology from the University of London She retired as a principal of Methodist Girls’ School in 2001. She received her Excellent Service Award from the Ministry of Education in 1993 and 1999. She became a Curriculum Director in the RR Technology & Training Centre, Kuala Lumpur from December 2002 to July 2003.
Her hobbies include gardening, reading, jungle-trekking, bird watching, and mountain climbing.
BWM Talk Series: East Indiaman: The World of Francis Light by Rose Gan
Organized by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Live Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, 3 November 2021
Time: 5:00 PM (Kuala Lumpur, GMT+8)
Topic: East Indiaman: The World of Francis Light
Venue: Virtual – Zoom Webinar
Free Admission
ABOUT THE TALK
KL-based author Rose Gan, accompanied by her daughter, Zoe, as the moderator for this talk, will speak about her newly released book entitled ‘Dragon’. This book is the first volume in the Penang Chronicles, which tells the story of Captain Francis Light and his partner, as well as the backstory of the British settlement of Penang. This new series of historical fiction features real historical characters and events from 18th-century Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Britain.
Before Stamford Raffles of Singapore fame, before Rajah Brooke of Borneo fame, there was Captain Francis Light, the 18th-century trailblazer in the Malay Archipelago. From humble origins in Suffolk, England, Light struggled against the social prejudices of his day. His subsequent adventures as a naval officer and country ship captain took him from India to Sumatra, the Straits of Malacca to Siam, through shipwreck, sea battles, pirate raids and tropical disease. But Light’s most difficult challenge was his ultimate dream: to establish a British port in the Indies on behalf of the East India Company.
Want to find out who his partner was? Register and participate in our webinar to find out many more fascinating details in Rose’s book!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
British by birth, Rose Gan studied Ancient and Medieval History with Latin and Greek at University of Birmingham. Gan first arrived in Kuala Lumpur in 1978 and has been living and working between both UK and Southeast Asia ever since. Married to a Malaysian, and formerly a teacher of History, Latin and Classics, Gan was also Vice Chair for Museums of the Indonesian Heritage Society, a guide and docent in Museum National Indonesia, Jakarta, and Muzium Negara and the Textile Museum in KL. In addition to lecturing to cultural associations, Gan has been actively involved with museum publications in Malaysia and Indonesia, both as a writer and editor.
LENSA WARISAN: Understanding Impact Assessments (EIAs, SIAs, and HIAs) by TPr Ishak Ariffin
ABOUT THE LECTURE
This lecture will examine the methodology characterizing 3 different types of impact assessments which are employed in Malaysia. In order to ensure a robust and detailed impact assessment, the impact assessment process has been structured over a series of progressive and iterative stages. Join us as we will delve into the commonality in the different frameworks of Environmental (EIA), Social (SIA) and Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA).
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ishak Ariffin is the Managing Director of via Natura (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a consultant for heritage, social and environmental conservation planning. With over 30 years’ experience, Ishak is a registered Town Planner, a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Planners and Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (UK). He is also a Registered Conservator with Jabatan Warisan Negara and a registered EIA Subject Specialist with the Department of Environment. He specializes in environmental planning and management, urban conservation as well as sustainable strategies and appraisals.
Admission: RM30 (RM20 for Badan Warisan members)
A packed lunch will be provided.
Limited to 25 participants.
To register email lensa@badanwarisan.org.my.
Talk on Memories of a Malaccan: A Pictorial Recollection of the 1920s to 1960s by Audrey Lim
ABOUT THE TALK
Audrey has written “Memories of a Malaccan” as a tribute to her father, Lim Keng Watt (1909-1996). She has selected images from his vast collection of photographs and postcards and has drawn on his notes, documents and other memorabilia to highlight significant aspects of the socio-political scene of Malaya before, during and after World War II. She will talk about her father’s life and times – as student and teacher, Scout, sportsman, soldier, musician and drama enthusiast. The nostalgic pictures and interesting mementos she shares will fascinate both general readers and history buffs
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Audrey Lim is a Founder-member of Malacca Theatre Group. Has helped the MTG organise inter-school drama competitions. Also acts and helps regularly in its productions. Served as President of the MTG for 3 terms. She wrote a book titled Write with Success originally published by Longmans, now revised and reprinted as Write It Right ; now in its 12th. edition. Recently she wrote 2 short plays for the latest Malacca Theatre Group production Snippets held in November 2016, one of which was a historical but fictionalized play about her aunt who had been jailed by the Japanese during the Occupation, while the other Beauty and the Bard was in the finals of the Short and Sweet drama fest in KL.
Asia in Those Days by Thomas Brandt
ABOUT THE TALK
This talk by Thomas Brandt will give us an insight into the social life of Europeans from the 16th to the 19th centuries in the Asian region. Brandt spent six years researching the subject and published a book of the same name. The talk, based on this book, will be illustrated with photographs and other historical documents including lithographs and quotations taken from travel reports and contemporaneous writing.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Brandt is the General Manager of the Malaysian German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has a deep interest in the history of Asia, having lived in South-East Asia for over 20 years. He has also published another book,”China in Those Days”, where he has drawn upon his extensive collection of old postcards from the region
A Jewel in the Crown: Masjid Diraja Sultan Suleiman
ABOUT THE TALK
Located in Kampung Jawa, Masjid Diraja Sultan Suleiman was built in 1932-33 in the Royal Town of Klang, Selangor and has been gazetted as National Heritage under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645). In November 2017, the mosque was reopened to the public following its restoration and refurbishment. This talk will cover the history of the building, the conservation and restoration work and the construction of new amenities to respond to the present day needs of the qariah.
Speakers will include members of the conservation team, architects Ar. Dr. Helena Aman Hashim and Mariana Isa from Badan Warisan Heritage Services Sdn Bhd, the consultant architect, Ar. Hafizi Tan Sri Mohamed from Linea Architect Sdn Bhd and Musrizal Mat Isa from Balai Seni Negara who was involved in the restoration of the bas-relief features in the mosque.
Legends of the Secret Tunnel of Malacca by Dennis De Witt
ABOUT THE TALK
Dennis De Witt will share the tales of the subterranean tunnels under the historic town of Malacca that has existed for over a century. There were stories of a tunnel under St. Paul’s hill and how people had gone into these tunnels but were never to be seen again.
This talk will give an overview of the book. What secrets do the tunnels contain and why were people willing to risk their life by descending into the dark and unknown orifices below Malacca? Is there lost treasure still buried in Malacca? This book uncovers the layers of history that unfold Malacca’s most bizarre and amazing legend. He will share pictures of Malacca and the historic St. Paul where the tunnel is, some of which are featured in the book. A book sale will also be held after the talk.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dennis De Witt, a management consultant in Kuala Lumpur, is a 5th generation Dutch Eurasian originally from Malacca. He has a keen interest in subjects relating to the history of Malacca and Dutch influences in Malaysia.
Over the years, he has participated, spoken and presented papers in various academic, private and public seminars and events organized by the Malaysian National Archives, and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Malaysia, the Malacca Museums Corporation, the Institute of Occidental Studies at UKM, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Universiti Teknologi MARA.
He also regularly conducts CTRE training for the Kuala Lumpur Tour Guides Association and speaks to the volunteers’ group at the National Museum. He has contributed articles for the Journal of Malaysian Biographies and written articles for various newspapers and magazines.
He has published several books, including ‘Reconnecting Through Our Roots’ (2006), ‘History of the Dutch in Malaysia’ (2007), ‘Melaka from the Top’ (2010), ‘Historical Tombstones and Graves at St Paul’s Hill Malacca’ (2016). In 2009, he was named the winner of the ‘Dutch incentive prize for Genealogy’ for his book ‘History of the Dutch in Malaysia’ and he received his prize in the Netherlands. He was the first-ever recipient of the prize who is not a Dutch citizen. His latest publication is entitled ‘Legends of the Secret Tunnels of Malacca’ was just released in 2018.
Brickfields: As Witness by Mano Maniam
ABOUT THE TALK
Brickfields is a diverse neighbourhood with dozens of religious institutions, schools, associations as well as social and welfare organizations within a square mile, all with a history of more than a century. It is in serious threat of rapid change and is at odds with its own past and its future.
Brickfields: As Witness explores the changing image of this neighbourhood through Mano’s eyes. He fears that Brickfields will no longer reflect that colour and become just a giant communication “go-to/come-from place”.
This narrative will also uncover the stories he has experienced as an inmate of this colorful suburb.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
An actor, director, teacher and voice over artist, Mano Maniam is well known for his roles as Uncle Chan in the local TV series ‘Kopitiam’ and as Moonshee in Hollywood’s ‘Anna and the King’.
As a cultural anthropologist, he is curious on examining how cultures merge, collide and intertwine. Brickfields has become the center of his curiosity and observation.
Having lived in Brickfields for over 30 years, Mano has seen the land and peoplescape change, unsure of its destiny.
BADAN WARISAN MALAYSIA 