'Public must take pride in heritage assets'

KUALA LUMPUR: Historical sites, assets and items gazetted as national heritage must be maintained not only by the National Heritage Department (JWN) and state governments, but also the public.

Perak Heritage Society president Law Siak Hong said it was important for the community to take pride and ownership of heritage assets.

Describing the public as ‘heritage ambassadors’ of the nation, Law said Malaysians should assume responsibility for heritage assets.

‘Maintaining a heritage site is important. It is part of our history and that is why a location is gazetted as a national heritage.

‘Aside from the state government or JWN, locals play an important role in maintaining heritage sites.

‘We should all do our part such as cleaning the site and throwing away rubbish in garbage bins.

‘How could we allow a place to be gazetted as a national heritage if we do not take pride in it and care for it?’ he told the New Sunday Times yesterday.

In the case of the Victoria Bridge in Karai, Perak, Law urged the public to understand the history and value of the 120-year-old bridge, which is one of the oldest railway bridges in the country.

When the Japanese Army attacked Malaya in 1941, the Fifth Regiment of the British India Army from the north had retreated to the other side of Sungai Perak after being aggressively attacked in Kerian.

To stall the Japanese from advancing to Singapore, the Victoria Bridge was blown up by British army engineers at dawn on Dec 22, 1941.

After the Japanese occupied Karai, the bridge was built using local labourers with a payment of 55 cents per day.

Materials used were trunks of durian, mangosteen, mango, coconut and rubber trees.

‘There is a lot of history around the site and this is why I said the local community must do their part. It is the state government’s responsibility to ensure there is awareness among the public. These heritage sites are ours. Be proud of them.’

Heritage expert Elizabeth Cardosa, a former Badan Warisan Malaysia president, said a plan must be in place to ensure the survival of Victoria Bridge and for its life to be ‘renewed’.

‘Without a plan, all will go into disrepair.

‘If we value it enough to be gazetted as a national heritage, then we should make the effort to ensure that it is well maintained.

‘If we recognise its value and contribution to the nation, stakeholders are responsible for ensuring this bridge has a future built into it.’