Chapter 5: The conservation

5.0 Present Situation of Building Conservation in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the most fortunate countries in the world that have many historic buildings

which are of immense architectural and historical values. These buildings are currently protected

under a law intended to preserve and safeguard all historical sites nationwide. It is believed that

there are more than 37,000 historic buildings built between 1800 and 1948 throughout the

country which are worthy of preservation and conservation.

Like other countries implementing the law, Malaysia faces several problems in dealing with the

issues of historic buildings. This is due to a number of factors. First, the existing legislation is

insufficient to protect such buildings from being demolished or destroyed. At present there are

four Acts and Enactments which show some aspects of building conservation although their

application and formulation are limited and unable to address the issue of heritage conservation

extensively. With the country's rapid development in which the practice of demolishing historic

buildings has been the norm, none of these pieces of legislation is comprehensive enough to

protect historic sites. Second, there is no reliable method to recover and record details of historic

buildings. Such a system is critical in building conservation, particularly when we need among

other things to find the building location, function and owner; classify the buildings into their

functions, assist the authority in keeping a record on the buildings for future research and

funding; and measure building defects and assess remedial measures. Finally, there is the lack of

technical knowledge in repairing and maintaining historic buildings. This is the main problem

that needs prompt action. As a matter of fact, it is an obstacle because nearly all conservation
jobs involved both repair and maintenance stages require an understanding of and analysis on

building defect diagnoses.

In Malaysia, under the Antiquities Act 1976 a historic building or monument that aged over 100

years old can be gazetted by the Government through the Museum Department to give protection

and encouragement for preservation and conservation. But the department has little power to take

legal action against those destroying historic sites. At present, there are 51 buildings and 86

monuments which have been gazetted. Out of these 51 buildings, only 21 have British colonial

architecture. Most of them are owned by the government although some are privately owned

buildings which still have architectural and historical values. Historic buildings in Malaysia are

mainly consist of traditional Malay houses, mosques, churches, palaces, clock towers, prisons,

government offices, institutional and commercial buildings, residential, schools, railway stations,

hotels and guest houses; and monuments.

5.1 Malaysia’s Conservation Bodies

Conservation bodies in Malaysia can be divided into three separate groups which are:

1. Official Conservation Committees

2. Private Societies

3. Charitable Trust

5.1.1. List of Official Conservation committees

5.1.1.1. Conservation and Urban Design Unit of Kuala Lumpur City Hall
 Location: Unit Pengekalan Seni Bandar, Bangunan DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut,

50350 Kuala Lumpur

The Unit is considered as the pioneer among all official conservation committees

set up by the local authorities in Malaysia. The Unit provides other

services which include preparing plans for any new development in the

conservation areas, formulating planning principles and development guidelines,

carrying out programmes which encourage public awareness and

appreciation of better urban environment; and evaluating planning applications

as well as giving advice to property owners, developers and government

agencies.

5.1.1.2. Penang Conservation Unit

Location: Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Pemajuan, Majlis Perbandaran Pulau

Pinang, KOMTAR, 10000 Georgetown, Penang

Their purpose is to preserve old buildings and streetscapes, retaining the unique

character of Georgetown; and revitalising old areas without having to

destroy old fabric. Among its conservation works include

indentifying buildings and sites for conservation zoning, controlling and

considering any new development planned in the conservation areas, formulating

guidelines as well as development policies for the conservation areas.

5.1.1.3. Melaka Conservation Unit

 Location: Conservation Unit, Urban Planning and Building Control Department,

Melaka Municipal Council, Malacca

5.1.2. Private societies

5.1.2.1. Penang Heritage Trust

Location: 6-A Lorong Stewart, 10200 Georgetown Penang

The Penang Heritage trust is a voluntary society which seeks to preserve and

enhance Penang's heritage. It collaborates with the Penang Conservation

Unit through joint planning and activities to advance the goals of conservation.

The Trust also organises public seminars on building conservation and invites

representatives from different local authorities, private agencies,

museums and the Public Works Department. It is prominent in publicity and

intervenes in local and regional development proposals.

5.1.2.2. Acheh Mosque Heritage Group

Location: 47, Lebuh Acheh, 10200 Georgetown, Penang

Known as Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh. The main objectives of

the group include to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the

mosque and its surrounding properties, collate and document

 information relating to the Acheh Street Mosque, to

promote the permanent preservation of all historic buildings for the benefit

and education of the public, to consider and support any new

development to improve the socio- economic conditions of the area; and

to enhance good relationships among community members through regular

meetings and cooperation

5.1.3. Charitable thrust

5.1.3.1. Badan Warisan Malaysia (Heritage of Malaysia Trust)

Location: No. 2, Jalan Stonor, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

The objectives of the Badan Warisan Malaysia include to promote the permanent

preservation for the benefit and education of the people of Malaysia of all

historic buildings, to preserve the setting of historic buildings and where

appropriate their historic content, to preserve the character of groups of

attractive buildings which enhance a street, a town or a village; and to

preserve sites of archaeological or pre-historic interest. The Badan

Warisan Malaysia also organises talks, exhibitions, visits and

competitions.

5.2 Steps in conservation

5.2.1. Recreating villages

 Currently, Malaysia accommodates fifteen re-created villages. Cultural villages have

emerged only recently in Malaysia, whereas museums have been a colonially-instituted

presence since the 19th century. The first cultural village to be established was Mini

Malaysia in the state of Malacca in 1986.

In 1987 tourism and culture were combined in one ministry and in 1992 this was

expanded into the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism. Mini Malaysia also promotes

itself as Malacca's 'Cultural Village'. It was initiated as a tourism project of the Malacca

State Development Corporation. Mini Malaysia, located in a semi-rural setting,

comprises replica wooden houses of each of the thirteen states. The houses are complete

with museum-style displays of artefacts, mannequins, tableaux and texts. The thirteen

replica houses of Mini Malaysia are "authentically crafted" and are intended to represent

the "traditional architecture" of each state (undated brochure, 'Taman Mini Malaysia').

Mini Malaysia in its architecture of space reveals a set of implicit boundaries. As a

manifestation of the nation's architectural identity, the site does not represent a collection

of Malaysia. The replica houses, like any museum collection, are informed by selection

procedures. Mini Malaysia is, simultaneously, a collection of omissions and a tacit

statement on who belongs to the nation as 'village'.

5.2.2. Maintaining existing traditional villages

 New traditional houses are being constructed in the World’s Heritage site in Malacca. Fig. shows a new house is
being built to replace the old one (demolished). Fig. shows the house had been varnished following the guidelines
given by the local authorities including the spot lights positioned on top of the house.

To conserve a wooden type house, it needs several methods of preservation for instance, the use

of timber preservatives. Timber preservatives fall into three categories which are;

Category Example
 Tar Oil Creosote

Pentachlorophenol

Napthenates

Tributyl tin oxide

Organic Solvent
Gamma-hexachloro-cyclohexane (Lindane)

Synthetic pyrethroids (e.g. Permethrin)

Organo boron compounds

Waterbone Copper chrome arsenic

Source: Practical Building Conservation Volume 5: Wood, Glass and Resins and Technical Bibliography

According to the guides written in Practical Building Conservation Volume 5: Wood, Glass

and Resins and Technical Bibliography, timber preservatives can be applied in a variety ways:

 By brushing and spraying. Slow evaporation and greater penetration result from using

higher boiling point solvents, but there is always a flammability risk.

 By the additional use of bodies mayonnaise emulsions on heavy section timbers. A toxic

reservoir is maintained under a hard skin which forms on the paste.

 By the insertion of borate rods, especially in external joinery. The rods are inserted into

sealed drillings. The preservative diffuses when the wood becomes wet.

 By injecting into plastic nipples incorporating a non-return valve. The nipples are set into

10mm (½”) holes down into the wood.

Causes and effects of faults related to construction

The historical value of timber

The historic value of timber depends on the extent and manner in which it utilizes timber in its

construction and decoration.

Preservation and repair in the historical value of timber;

Preservation implies taking steps to ensure that timber (old and new) will be protected

from future decay, an operation that becomes increasingly important as the intrinsic value

of the individual timber rises. It must be stressed that this value is not necessarily

dependent on age or elaboration; it may lie solely in the manner of its use.

Repair in this context may be defined as the repair of the timber in such a manner that it

may perform once again the function for which it was originally designed. Here the

function is taken primarily to be structural; it may also be aesthetic.

Framed buildings

There are certain danger spots where faults may develop as a result of the decay or failure of

incorporated timber. The symptoms are generally the distortion of the frame or the cracking and

displacement of panel fillings in both internal and external walls, the cause of which may be

traced to broken or, more often, cut members. Common examples are the cutting of tie beams

and braces of roof trusses in order to insert doorways between attics; the removal of a main cross

beam to insert a staircase; the removal of cross frames and their braces to open up two rooms

into one and, in fact, any one of the usual ‘improvements’ to which a building is subject and
which result in the severance of the structural member of the frame. Even if there have been no

such removals parts, the decay of those hidden portions can prove equally harmful.

Roofs over brick or stone buildings

By far the greatest number of failures in timber roof arises through decay of the timber resulting

from failure of the roof covering. In Malaysia for instance, the use of nipah or senggora tiles for

the traditional Malay house. (See Figure). Inspection of the roof itself will reveal these. Less

obviously, the real fault may lie in the supporting walls rather than the roof. Some roofs were

designed to exert an outward thrust on the walls; others were framed as to give a vertical

resultant thrust. In either case, deteriorated, undermined or weakened walls may, by movement,

throw unreasonable loads on the truss members. Pulled tendons and buckled and bent struts are

as likely to be caused by external circumstances such as these as they are by inadequate design of

the truss. The answer may lie in reinforcing the walls rather than the timber truss, which may

only need repairs.

 Figure – from left Singgora tiles used in the construction of Terengganu Malay house and right; the condition of a
roof covering using nipah – a relocation project in FRIM, Kepong.

Built-in timbers

For a number of reasons ashlar or brick facing is often built onto a rubble masonry or brick

backing with little or no effective bond between the two. The facing is provided with its own

lintels or rubbed brick arches, whilst the backing may be carried on hidden timber lintels, thus

allows the backing to sink and may throw a heavy load on the facing, which will then either

bulge or fracture. Such a bulge or fracture is often the clue to decayed timber within the wall; the

mere tying back of the bulge will not be a satisfactory repair.

Trussed partitions and trussed beams

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, local house builders made use of trussed partitions

and many ingenious forms of trussed beams across the wide spans of ground and first floor state

rooms to help further improve the house characteristics. But later alterations paid little heed to

the structural importance of these partitions, and doorways were cut through the former and the

latter were pierced for chandelier chains or fan hangers and the like. (In some cases it is found on

western wooden-type buildings). The result may be seen in sagging ceilings or, if the partitions

are panelled, could result in split panels. Such changes should always be looked into as in most

cases there are sometimes evidence of structural failure or defect especially in an area which

include smaller room spacing.

Existing problems in conserving wooden type houses

Decayed Floorboards

By tradition, timber floorboards are widely used in many historic buildings including churches,

schools, residential and railway stations throughout the country. Additionally they are also used

in contemporary buildings such as chalets and lodging houses as they are durable albeit flexible.

But every so often many parts of the floorboards are badly abused with serious damages on the

surface and eventually they deteriorated; leading to further structural problems and therefore

unsafe for occupants. The main causes to the deterioration are insect and termite attacks, careless

lifting of weakened boards by occupants, electricians or plumbers; lack of natural seasoning and

preservatives, and rusty nails.

Termite attacks

Since the last century, timber has been used widely in many historic buildings in Malaysia.

However it can deteriorate very easily if exposed to water penetration, high moisture content and

loading beyond its capacity. Insect and termite attacks are a common danger to timber. Insect or

termite attacks usually happen in a damp and digestible timber which can be found in elements

such as wall plates, the foot of rafters and bearing ends of beams and trusses; and in all timber

components which are placed against or built into damp walling. It is dangerous to leave the

timber with insect or termite holes because they may soften the timber and form further cracks.

Untreated timber can also spread ant or termite colonies to other wooden parts of the building.

Affected timber can be treated with the advent of new technologies and inventions such as by

pressure-spraying with insecticide or fumigant insecticidal processes.

Roof defects
In addition to being one of the main structures in a building, roof acts as a weather shield, giving

protection to occupants from rain and the hot sun. Given its functions, it is important to treat any

ageing roof tiles with great care to avoid accidental crack and irreparable damage. In Malaysia,

clay tiles have been widely used in historic buildings despite their fragility. Common defects of

roof tiles include the corrosion of nails fixing the tiles to battens and rafters, the decay of battens;

cracking of tiles which may be caused by harmful growth, or walked upon by a carpenter. The

harmful growth is equally dangerous to the tiles because it may lift the tiles and create leaks.

Another aspect to be considered in the common defects is the mortar applied for ridge tiles which

tends to decay or flake off over the years. Thinly applied mortar can also crack easily when

exposed to the high temperature of our tropical climate.

Factors that govern building defects or problems

Climatic conditions

Considering Malaysia’s location in the Equator, it is vital to think about our climatic conditions

and the effect on building materials. Like many tropical countries, Malaysia has heavy rainfall

and warm sunshine all year round. The extreme condition is further worsened by human errors

like jungle clearing or deforestation that causes soil erosion and landslide besides the increase in

tropical heat and global warming. This implies that buildings in the country tend to weather

rapidly, particularly in respect to external building materials which are exposed to external

causes such as rain, wind, solar radiation including ultra-violet light; and atmospheric pollution.

Fungal stain, harmful growth, peeling paint, erosion of mortar joints and defective plastered

rendering are a few examples associated with this factor.

Location of building

The location of a building plays a significant role in its ability to withstand environmental

impact. For instance, buildings that are located near the sea or rivers tend to have common

building defects. This is because the water coming from the ground causes dampness and

structural instability. For example, the village of Kampung Morten which is situated on the

lower reaches of the Malacca River and is frequently flooded, especially during the northeast

monsoon season (December-January). The houses show the traditional flooding adjustment of

being raised 1.5 to 2 metres above ground on stilts, and villagers also use tyres, sandbags and

wooden barricades to reduce flood impacts. Only during larger events are the houses flooded,

since water levels must be high enough to rise above the stilts. This occurs quite frequently

1939, 1952, 1954, 1961, 1971, 1985, 2006 etc. Heavy rainfall in the upper Malacca catchment

area produces most of the flooding and there is a lag time of 18 hours, so there is time for

evacuation if warnings are given and residents are responsive to them. In another situation, a

building erected on a hill slope needs a completely different set of environmental studies. It

may include ways to stop soil erosion and the possibility of constructing strong foundation.

Building type and change in use

It has been observed that most historic buildings which maintain their original functions or uses

appear to have fewer problems internally, even though there were symptoms of building defects

found on the external fabric. Buildings that change their use and functions should consider the

effect of the new requirement on the existing structure. This is because historic buildings were

built to only hold certain load and may not withstand additional weight. Where buildings are

converted into either commercial or office purposes, the need to install air-conditioning systems
to meet modern building requirements is a necessity. It has been found that in some cases the air-

conditioning units were placed improperly creating defect and obstruction. This does not only

affect the appearance of the buildings but intervenes with the existing fabric, particularly when

ducts are running in full view on the ceiling. Thus the conversion of any building must first

require a complete structural study by an authorised architect to determine its feasibility in

coping with new functions.

Maintenance of building

Unlike preservation procedures used previously, building maintenance organized through a

rigorous programme of cyclical maintenance today plays a major role in preventing building

defects. Apparently historic buildings that neglect building maintenance can fall into several

defects which may lead to structural failures. Any inspections carried out by either architects or

surveyors should inflexibly include checking for any signs of abnormal deterioration, cleaning

out gutters of leaves or harmful growth, checking lighting conductors, cleaning out all voids and

spaces; and changing tap washers. In order to secure the general structural stability and life of a

building, it is important to regularly inspect not only the main structural elements including

foundations, walls and roofs; but other common building problems.

Building age

It has been generally known that all elements of historic buildings tend to deteriorate at a lesser

or greater rate depending upon their location and function. Ageing building materials,

particularly timber should be checked once there are signs of fungal and termite attacks. This

may lead to major replacement of the old and weather-beaten materials in use. But this process
guarantees the safety of the building and its occupants. Buildings that are built in the early period

of British occupation, for instance, often face problems in building materials Therefore, proper

treatment of building repair and maintenance should be given full consideration.

Advantages of wood and timber

All woods are stronger along their longitudal axis, as this is the line of the wood fibres or growth

cells as the tree matured. The basic structure of wood consists of long narrow tubes or cells (fibre

or tracheids) that are about the same diameter as a human hair. Their length varies from about

1/25” in hardwoods to about 1/8” in softwoods.

Tiny strands of cellulose make up the walls of the cells, which are held together with natural

cement called lignin. It is this cellular structure that makes it possible to drive nails and screws

into the wood and also accounts for the light weight, low-heat transmission factors, and sound

absorption qualities.

The following list of advantages gives wood its place in the construction industry:

 Wood is lightweight by volume and can be easily transported

 Wood is easily shaped in comparison to other materials

 Wood will lend itself to decorative coatings more easily than other materials.

 Wood resists acids, rusts, saltwater, and other corrosive agents

 Wood has high salvage value

 Wood can be overhauled, making it possible to undo a particular configuration

Wood possesses more compressive strength when erected vertically than horizontally. When

installed vertically the fibres are running straight up and down. When placed horizontally the

fibres will blend or deflect, and an overloaded piece will collapse in the middle. In addition, all

wood members have a natural curvature referred to as the crown. For roofs and floors or stair

stringers, the crown should be up. This will allow the unit to strengthen out when loaded. For

walls and ceilings it is very important for the crown to be the same for each member or waves

will occur. Wood member can share loads if they are placed neatly into position. Most building

codes refer to this positioning as spacing.