Cultural heritage is a legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from the past. It is a bridge between the past and future, maintaining and bestowing cultural values for the benefit of the present generation as well as future generations (UNESCO 1972: Article 1, Paragraph 1).
Cultural identity is formed through the use of culture-specific objects, places or activities such as clothing, music, architecture, language, festivals, etc. These are accompanied by specific cultural practices such as food, dance and customary ceremonies that provide an individual with a sense of belonging to their community and culture.
A person’s heritage is a part of their personality, and it is important for them to feel connected with their culture, especially when it is under threat. This is why it is essential to maintain cultural traditions and protect these things from destruction. The loss of a person’s cultural heritage may cause them to feel alienated from their community, and this can lead to mental health problems.
Moreover, the preservation of cultural heritage can enhance people’s sense of pride and belonging to their community, and it also fosters tourism development and economic growth. Hence, it is important to preserve cultural heritage and promote it to the public for people to enjoy and appreciate.
However, it is not easy to preserve cultural heritage because of the different viewpoints among members of a community regarding its importance. Moreover, the representation of cultural heritage is a matter of politics since it depends on the political hierarchies that exist in a given society. Therefore, cultural heritage is a complex concept that needs to be understood from multiple perspectives and addressed in ways that are compatible with international human rights standards.
The study aims to understand the factors that influence the conservation of cultural heritage. The methodology involves surveying 384 people in the city of Kuala Lumpur and analyzing the data using multivariate regression analysis. The results show that the factors that significantly affect the conservation of cultural heritage are lack of community concern, illicit trafficking, and promotion towards sustainable development. Furthermore, natural catastrophes and agricultural practices have a negative impact on the preservation of cultural heritage.
A unified representation of cultural heritage is not possible, and it may affect the perceptions of individuals in terms of their relationship with heritage and identity. It is therefore crucial to develop a system that values minority cultures and supports them in their effort to preserve their culture. In addition, it is imperative to ensure that all parties involved in preserving the cultural heritage are adequately compensated and protected. This will improve their view of the value of their heritage and increase their willingness to conserve it. In addition, it is critical to educate communities about the importance of preserving their culture and heritage so that they will take a proactive role in ensuring its sustainability. Additionally, education must be tailored to suit the needs of each community and should reflect the values of the locals.