THE PERCEPTIONS OF NATIVE COMMUNITY IN SAFEGUARDING OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE: THE CASE STUDY OF UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CITY AT GEORGE TOWN, PENANG

Abstract

The standing of intangible cultural Heritage (ICH) to the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted from one generation to the next ones. Intangible cultural Heritage (ICH) is expressed through progression, expressions, knowledge, and abilities that include associated objects and cultural spaces that people differentiate as a component of their cultural heritage. Spread through generations and continually recreated, it ensures humanity with a sense of identity and continuity. The Convention also speaks about the significant role of communities and groups of tradition bearers in a non-specific way. This field is unusual, as it is characterized by the urgency to preserve and disseminate some of the strangest intangible creative expressions, especially those at risk of vanishing So far, these cultural terminologies have been passed down mainly through imitation and oral tradition. Thus, this paper provides an insight into the perspectives of the local community in the involvement of safeguarding (ICH) present in this region. This is a case study using a detailed interview as a method to collect data. The result showed that the current framework for safeguarding (ICH) is limited in scope and lacking local people’s perspectives, though there are efforts in the safeguarding mechanism by the relevant authority.