Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia
No News Is Bad News
Kedah has Southeast Asia's oldest civilisation and archaeologists barely know its complete history.
Prof Chin: Unity Government no better than PAS and Umno if …
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25, 2024: What future do you think a country has when its Government denies historical facts and evidence on civilisation?
Professor James Chin says: “The Government is unwilling to apply UNESCO World Heritage title to one of the oldest archeological sites in the world, which is located in Bujang Valley (Kedah).
“We know why: it is proof of the Malay Peninsula's significant Hindu influence before the coming of Islam.
“Rewriting pre-Islamic history for the sake of political correctness is not something we should do.
“If the (so-called Madani) Unity Government doesn't demonstrate that it honors the past, it is just as bad as the Moon (the Taliban-like PAS) and Umno parties.”
Such people, living in denial of the past, have little intelligence to say the least.
Bujang Valley's potential as an international tourism gem is undeniable but why is there no support from the Government and private sector?
This was what Chin wrote on Facebook:
*kindly viral about early Historical Facts of Tanah Malay....*
Professor James Chin
Asia Studies, Politics & International Relations
25 June 2024
Please follow me and make this post viral. This report makes it evident that the government is unwilling to apply UNESCO World Heritage title to one of the oldest archeological sites in the world, which is located in Bujang Valley.
We know why: it is proof of the Malay Peninsula's significant Hindu influence before the coming of Islam.
Rewriting pre-Islamic history for the sake of political correctness is not something we should do.
If the Unity Government doesn't demonstrate that it honors the past, it is just as bad as the Moon and UMNO parties.
Please spread the word about this post so that everyone is aware of it.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a CNN article in English and Bahasa Malaysia:
Kedah has Southeast Asia's oldest civilisation and archaeologists barely know its complete history
A retired researcher who discovered the oldest dated evidence in Bujang Valley is calling for young archaeologists to continue his mission and uncover the true extent of this ancient civilisation.
Aqil Haziq Mahmud
02 Jul 2023 06:00AM(Updated: 11 Jul 2023 11:24AM)
ALOR SETAR, Kedah: When Professor Mokhtar Saidin bought a house in a private enclave in Sungai Petani, Kedah in 2005, he did not know that he was moving close to a site that would mean so much for Malaysia’s history.
“I did not think that I would be doing work nearby. God planned this,” he told CNA.
From 2007 to his retirement in 2021, Mokhtar made the half-an-hour drive countless times to the nearby Sungai Batu archaeological site, where he and his team from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) uncovered evidence of a thriving iron export industry dating as far back as 788 BC.
For context, this is much older than the famous monuments of Borobudur (8th century) in Indonesia and Angkor Wat (12th century) in Cambodia, making Sungai Batu and the larger Bujang Valley complex it is part of the oldest civilisation in Southeast Asia.
This declaration was accorded to Sungai Batu during a meeting on Ancient Kedah in 2016. A Bernama report quoted Mokhtar as saying that it was signed by five archaeological experts representing five world civilisations: Mesopotamia, Indus, Mesoamerica, China, and Greek-Rome.
An iron smelting facility found at the Sungai Batu archaeological site. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Bujang Valley is believed to have occupied an area as big as 1,000 sq km on Malaysia’s west coast, stretching from northern Penang to Kedah and possibly eastwards to as far as the current border with Thailand.
Since more than a century ago, researchers who worked on the valley have dug up evidence of Hindu-Buddhist temples, iron smelting sites and ancient relics.
They say this is proof the area was a bustling, cosmopolitan trading port on the sea route from China to India and further on to Arabia.
Professor Mokhtar Saidin discovered the oldest dated evidence in Bujang Valley. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
“It really shows that this area is important, not just to Southeast Asia but the world, because this area connects the East and West,” Mokhtar said, pointing out that the area’s geographical features made it an “ideal” port.
The valley had a bay and estuary for ships to dock, and the nearby Mount Jerai acted as a visible waypoint for vessels making the long voyage.
“Ships stopped here for three months to wait for the winds. During these months religion spread, leading to the existence of the temples. Sungai Batu is a picture of the trading system 2,800 years ago,” Mokhtar added.
Despite the site’s outsized historical significance, Mokhtar - who retired two years ago - said archeological works here have stalled and that no one has replaced him to continue his work and uncover more of this ancient civilisation.
SO MUCH YET TO BE UNCOVERED
Mokhtar, the former director of USM’s Centre for Global Archaeological Research, said he initially could not believe that the charcoal remains his team found at an iron smelting site were from 788 BC, based on radiocarbon dating.
“I had to see the real stratigraphy; whether the connection is true,” he said, referring to a chronological sequence based on the oldest soil layer at the bottom to the youngest soil layer at the top.
“Also, none of our history books said we exported iron ingots; we were only known as a supplier of gold and tin. It really surprised me because iron exporting was a heavy industry that needed really good infrastructures.
“We found (evidence of) a really high-tech port - not just jetties but administrative and customs buildings. So, we were really high-tech people.”
HOW BUJANG VALLEY WAS FIRST DISCOVERED
Evidence of Bujang Valley was first discovered in the 1830s by Colonel James Low, a British colonial officer who uncovered a large boulder carved with Indic scripts in what is now Seberang Perai, Penang.
The boulder was eventually dated to the fifth and sixth century, older than Indonesia’s Borobudur and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
In the next few decades, colonial archaeologists discovered temple ruins and relics in the area, but it was not until just before World War II that excavations started.
By 2007, when local archaeologist Mokhtar Saidin entered the picture, archaeologists had found more than 80 sites with remains of candis, referring to Hindu-Buddhist temples or burial sites. Bujang Valley was then believed to cover an area of 400 sq km.
The Malaysian government, keen on promoting Bujang Valley as a tourist site, commissioned Mokhtar to gather more data. This was after he had coincidentally moved to a home in the area.
Mokhtar looked at past research and felt that the discoveries dated so far were “quite young”, given that trading routes in the region were known to exist much earlier.
The professor used technology and scientific methods to reconstruct the environment in Bujang Valley during the year AD 1. He determined that the coast then was located 8km inland, leading him to focus on the present-day Sungai Batu site.
Mokhtar’s work, often cited in studies and accounts of Bujang Valley, showed that the civilisation covered a much larger area and existed even further back in time.
But Mokhtar, who started excavating the Sungai Batu site in 2009, believes his work of over 12 years has barely unearthed “10 per cent” of what Bujang Valley has to offer.
Mokhtar pointed out that he has found evidence of more iron smelting sites on the banks of Sungai Muda, a river which stretches further east to the current border with Thailand.
“From Sungai Muda to Pattani (in Thailand), besides iron smelting there must be homes and administrative buildings,” he said.
“We hear that Egypt and Rome are still finding new things. So, research must go on. It took me so many years just (to get to where we are now).”
Researchers have also found mentions of Qalah - the Arabic word for ancient Kedah - inscribed on documents used in Mesopotamia in 1300 BC, much older than his 788 BC discovery, Mokhtar said.
“It shows there is contact with Mesopotamia - the earliest civilisation in the world 8,000 years ago. But we have not found evidence yet. So, it is very important that future research gets this data.”
Mokhtar hopes the next generation of archaeologists can “complete” his data to determine how big and old Bujang Valley actually is, stressing that it is part of Malaysia’s natural heritage, identity and pride.
“The government should look at Bujang Valley as what Rome did for Pompeii,” he said.
“Also because archaeotourism brings a lot of income, like Borobudur and Angkor. You must look at Bujang Valley at that level.”
SEARCHING FOR A SUCCESSOR
But Mokthar said no one has taken over him yet to lead a team that will continue researching the Bujang Valley complex, and that he does not know the reason why.
While some of his former students are currently working at the site as part of their curriculum, he stressed that it is not easy to do this full time.
“The work is tough; you are both the worker and boss,” he said, adding that archaeology involves manual labour and interpretation in a tedious and time-consuming documentation process.
“When I retired, I did not expect that nobody would continue (my work). If someone continued, I could help out.”
After this article was published, the current director of USM's Centre for Global Archaeological Research contacted CNA to give an update.
Professor Stephen Chia said a team from the university is still continuing work at Bujang Valley. The team is led by Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, a protohistorian and an expert on early civilisations in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
Protohistory refers to the period of human development or a particular culture immediately before the emergence of writing.
"Currently, USM is undertaking research at Pengkalan Bujang and Bukit Choras in Bujang Valley and also with Think City to promote archaeotourism in the Bujang Valley, Kedah and Lenggong Valley and Tambun, Perak in the northern regions of Malaysia," Chia said.
Think City is an organisation that provides project expertise in areas like environmental and social resilience, analytics and conservation. It was founded by Malaysia sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional.
"It is hoped that the outcomes of USM research on this important protohistory site in Bujang Valley in Southeast Asia will result in a reliable narrative that is much needed for this site," Chia added.
Chia acknowledged that archaeological excavation is destructive and costly, and that a "professional multidisciplinary team" is needed to carry out detailed work and ensure no data is lost during the dig to provide an accurate and comprehensive interpretation of the site.
"Since 2009, USM is still working closely with Department of National Heritage for many years to conduct archaeological research, conservation, development and archaeotourism not only in the Bujang Valley but also in Lenggong Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site and other sites in Malaysia," he said.
CNA had previously asked the Department of National Heritage, which manages the Sungai Batu site, for an update on the project. The department has not responded.
Mohd Faudzi Sulaiman was involved in the early archaeological works on the temple sites. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Mohd Faudzi Sulaiman, a senior museum assistant at the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum in Merbok, said archaeological work needs a good amount of funding.
“It can take years for just one site because these artefacts could be thousands of years old and are fragile,” he told CNA, noting that several mounds at the Sungai Batu archaeological site have yet to be excavated.
“So if these works take years, the costs to pay for workers, equipment and other (expenses) will definitely go up.”
Faudzi was personally involved in the early archaeological work on the temple sites and is now employed at the museum where some of these structures were moved to.
Many of the temple sites were located in forested areas, so excavations proved difficult, he said. Some of the sites were in villages, so authorities had to find alternative spots for the museum or persuade villagers to move.
An aerial view of the temple sites at the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum. (Photo: Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum)
Likewise, the Sungai Batu site is located in a privately-owned plantation, Mohktar said, adding that its “very nice” owner permitted his team to continue research only if the trees were not disturbed.
Beyond logistics, Bujang Valley has also run into challenges on the issue of religion, a sensitive topic in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
“A lot of these sites are in the form of candi monuments, which are places of worship for Hinduism and Buddhism. Here, we are all (practising) Islam, so there were some objections from locals,” Faudzi said.
“But as the museum department, we take it as a historical site. If we research this place, we will know our history.”
MORE RECOGNITION NEEDED
Like Mokhtar, Faudzi believes that Bujang Valley plays an important role in attracting tourists to Malaysia, noting that numerous homestays and food stalls have sprouted in the area since the museum opened in 1980.
The free-admission museum is also revamping its archaeological gallery, which features relics found in Bujang Valley like earthenware and Buddha figures. Another gallery on maritime trading was recently added.
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ancient relics, some of religious origins, were found in Bujang Valley. (Photos: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
“We found tens of thousands of artefacts here from China, India and Arabia. It shows that trading occurred,” Faudzi said.
“Many international tourists and researchers have come here. Even though the monuments here are not as impressive as Borobudur and Angkor Wat, they are much older.”
Moving forward, Faudzi hopes Bujang Valley can be accorded UNESCO World Heritage status to boost tourism and improve conservation efforts.
Bernama reported in 2019 that the National Heritage Department was lobbying UNESCO to recognise the valley as a world heritage site. The government had also allocated RM10 million (US$2.16 million) for the department to develop infrastructure at the Sungai Batu site as one of the country’s main tourism spots.
But a UNESCO spokesperson told CNA that Bujang Valley has not been listed by Malaysia in an inventory of potential nominations, and hence was “not even at the first step of the process”.
CNA has also asked the National Heritage Department about this issue.
A diorama of what the iron smelting industry in Bujang Valley would have looked like in its heyday. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Regardless of Bujang Valley’s status, Mokhtar feels authorities can attract more tourists by using technology.
For instance, the Sungai Batu site could feature three-dimensional “holograms” of what the structures would have looked like in their heyday, he said.
“We found remains of the roof and walls … so we know the original sizes and can create 3D ‘buildings’,” he said.
“We have to put in some money to improve this.”
Kedah ada tamadun tertua di Asia Tenggara tapi para pakar kurang pasti sejarah lengkapnya
Seorang pesara penyelidik yang menemui bukti yang tertua di Lembah Bujang menyeru ahli arkeologi muda untuk menyambung legasi misinya dan membongkar kebenaran tamadun purba yang bersejarah itu.
Tinggalan kuil Hindu-Buddha, atau candi, yang asalnya ditemui di tapak Muzium Arkeologi Lembah Bujang. (Gambar: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Aqil Haziq Mahmud
10 Jul 2023 10:52AM(Updated: 11 Jul 2023 11:21AM)
ALOR SETAR, Kedah: Ketika Profesor Mokhtar Saidin membeli sebuah rumah di enklaf persendirian di Sungai Petani, Kedah pada 2005, dia tidak tahu bahawa dia semakin dekat dengan sebuah tapak yang amat bermakna bagi sejarah Malaysia.
“Saya tidak sangka saya akan membuat kerja berdekatan. Tuhan telah merancang ini,” katanya kepada CNA.
Sejak 2007 hingga persaraannya pada 2021, Prof Mokhtar perlu berulang-alik selama setengah jam ke tapak arkeologi Sungai Batu yang berhampiran, di mana dia dan pasukannya dari Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) menemui bukti bahawa industri eksport besi yang pernah berkembang seawal tahun 788 Sebelum Masihi.
Sebagai konteks, ia adalah jauh lebih tua daripada monumen terkenal Borobudur (abad ke-8) di Indonesia dan Angkor Wat (abad ke-12) di Kemboja, menjadikan Sungai Batu dan kompleks Lembah Bujang yang lebih besar itu adalah sebahagian daripada tamadun tertua di Asia Tenggara.
Pengisytiharan itu diberikan kepada Sungai Batu semasa sebuah perjumpaan mengenai Kedah Purba diadakan pada 2016. Laporan Bernama memetik Prof Mokhtar sebagai berkata bahawa ia ditandatangani oleh lima pakar arkeologi yang mewakili lima tamadun dunia: Mesopotamia, Indus, Mesoamerika, China dan Greek-Rom.
Kemudahan peleburan besi ditemui di tapak arkeologi Sungai Batu. (Gambar: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Lembah Bujang dipercayai menduduki sebuah kawasan seluas 1,000 km persegi di pantai barat Malaysia, meliputi kawasan bermula dari bahagian utara Pulau Pinang sehingga ke Kedah dan mungkin ke arah timur hingga sejauh sempadan semasa dengan Thailand.
Sejak lebih satu abad lalu, para penyelidik yang bekerja di lembah itu telah menggali bukti kuil Hindu-Buddha, tapak peleburan besi dan artifak purba.
Menurut mereka, ia adalah bukti bahawa kawasan itu merupakan pelabuhan perdagangan kosmopolitan yang sibuk di laluan pelabuhan kapal dari China ke India dan seterusnya ke Arab.
Mokhtar Saidin menemui bukti yang tertua di Lembah Bujang. (Gambar: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
"Ia betul-betul menunjukkan bahawa kawasan ini penting, bukan hanya untuk Asia Tenggara tetapi dunia, kerana kawasan ini menghubungkan Timur dan Barat," kata Prof Mokhtar sambil menunjukkan bahawa ciri geografi kawasan itu menjadikannya sebagai sebuah pelabuhan yang "ideal".
Lembah itu mempunyai teluk dan muara untuk kapal berlabuh dan Gunung Jerai yang berdekatan berfungsi sebagai titik laluan yang boleh dilihat bagi kapal yang melakukan pelayaran yang panjang.
“Kapal berhenti di sini selama tiga bulan untuk menunggu angin. Pada bulan-bulan ini agama tersebar, membawa kepada kewujudan kuil. Sungai Batu adalah gambaran kepada sistem perdagangan 2,800 tahun dahulu,” tambah Prof Mokhtar.
Di sebalik kepentingan sejarah tapak yang terlalu besar, kerja-kerja arkeologi di sini terhenti dan Prof Mokhtar - yang sudah bersara dua tahun lalu - berkata tiada siapa yang menggantikannya untuk meneruskan kerjanya itu dan membongkar lebih banyak mengenai tamadun purba itu.
BANYAK BELUM TERBONGKAR
Prof Mokhtar, yang juga bekas pengarah Pusat Penyelidikan Arkeologi Global USM, berkata dia pada mulanya tidak percaya bahawa arang kekal yang ditemui pasukannya di tapak peleburan besi adalah dari tahun 788 Sebelum Masihi, berdasarkan pentarikhan radiokarbon.
“Saya perlu melihat stratigrafi yang sebenar; sama hubungkait itu benar,” katanya merujuk kepada urutan kronologi berdasarkan lapisan tanah tertua di bahagian bawah hingga lapisan tanah termuda di bahagian atas.
“Selain itu, tiada dalam buku sejarah kita mengatakan kita mengeksport jongkong besi; kita hanya dikenali sebagai pembekal emas dan bijih timah. Ia sangat mengejutkan saya kerana pengeksportan besi adalah industri berat yang memerlukan infrastruktur yang sangat baik.
“Kami menemui (bukti) pelabuhan yang sangat berteknologi tinggi - bukan sahaja jeti tetapi bangunan pentadbiran dan kastam. Jadi, kita sebenarnya masyarakat berteknologi tinggi.”
Tetapi Prof Mokhtar, yang mula membuat ekskavasi di tapak Sungai Batu pada 2009, percaya bahawa hasil kerjanya selama lebih 12 tahun itu hanya membongkar "10 peratus" daripada apa yang ditawarkan oleh Lembah Bujang.
Prof Mokhtar menyatakan bahawa beliau telah menemui bukti lebih banyak tapak peleburan besi di tebing Sungai Muda, sebatang sungai yang terbentang lebih jauh ke timur ke sempadan semasa dengan Thailand.
“Dari Sungai Muda ke Pattani (di Thailand), selain peleburan besi mesti ada rumah dan bangunan pentadbiran,” katanya.
“Kami dengar Mesir dan Rom masih mencari penemuan baharu. Jadi, kajian mesti diteruskan. Saya mengambil masa bertahun-tahun hanya (untuk sampai ke tahap ini).”
Para penyelidik juga menemui sebutan Qalah - perkataan Arab untuk Kedah purba - tertulis pada dokumen yang digunakan di Mesopotamia pada 1300 Sebelum Masihi, jauh lebih tua daripada penemuannya pada 788 Sebelum Masihi, menurut Prof Mokhtar.
“Ia menunjukkan terdapat hubungan dengan Mesopotamia - tamadun terawal di dunia 8,000 tahun lalu. Tetapi kami belum menemui bukti lagi. Jadi, ia amat penting bagi penyelidikan pada masa depan untuk mendapatkan data ini."
Prof Mokhtar berharap ahli arkeologi generasi akan datang dapat "melengkapkan" datanya untuk menentukan betapa besar dan tuanya Lembah Bujang sebenarnya, sambil menekankan bahawa ia adalah sebahagian daripada warisan semula jadi, identiti dan kebanggaan Malaysia.
"Kerajaan harus melihat Lembah Bujang seperti yang dilakukan Rom untuk Pompeii," katanya.
“Juga kerana arkeopelancongan membawa banyak pendapatan, seperti Borobudur dan Angkor. Anda perlu lihat Lembah Bujang
MENCARI PENYAMBUNG LEGASI
Tetapi Prof Mokthar berkata belum ada sesiapa yang mengambil alihnya untuk mengetuai pasukan yang akan meneruskan penyelidikan di kompleks Lembah Bujang itu. Katanya, dia juga tidak tahu sebabnya.
Walaupun beberapa orang bekas pelajarnya kini bekerja di tapak itu sebagai sebahagian daripada kurikulum mereka, dia menegaskan bahawa bukan mudah untuk melakukannya sepenuh masa.
“Kerjanya sukar; anda adalah pekerja dan anda juga adalah bos,” katanya sambil menambah arkeologi yang melibatkan kerja manual dan tafsiran dalam proses dokumentasi yang renyah dan memakan masa.
“Apabila saya bersara, saya tidak sangka tiada siapa yang akan meneruskan (kerja saya). Jika seseorang meneruskan, saya boleh membantu.”
Selepas laporan ini diterbitkan, pengarah semasa Pusat Penyelidikan Arkeologi Global USM menghubungi CNA untuk memberi maklumat terkini.
Profesor Stephen Chia berkata pasukan dari universiti itu masih meneruskan kerja di Lembah Bujang. Pasukan ini diketuai oleh Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, seorang sejarawan proto dan seorang pakar tentang tamadun awal di Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara.
Proto sejarah merujuk kepada tempoh perkembangan manusia atau budaya tertentu sejurus sebelum kemunculan tulisan.
"Pada masa ini, USM sedang menjalankan penyelidikan di Pengkalan Bujang dan Bukit Choras di Lembah Bujang dan juga bersama Think City untuk mempromosikan arkeopelancongan di Lembah Bujang, Kedah dan Lembah Lenggong dan Tambun, Perak di wilayah utara Malaysia," kata Prof Chia.
Think City adalah sebuah organisasi yang menyediakan kepakaran projek dalam bidang seperti daya tahan alam sekitar dan sosial, analitik dan pemuliharaan. Ia diasaskan oleh dana kekayaan berdaulat negara Malaysia, Khazanah Nasional.
"Hasil penyelidikan USM mengenai tapak proto sejarah penting di Lembah Bujang di Asia Tenggara ini diharapkan akan menghasilkan naratif yang boleh dipercayai yang sangat diperlukan untuk tapak ini," tambah Prof Chia.
Prof Chia mengakui bahawa aktiviti ekskavasi arkeologi merosakkan dan mahal. Katanya, ia memerlukan "pasukan profesional pelbagai bidang" bagi menjalankan kerja terperinci itu dan memastikan tiada data yang hilang semasa penggalian untuk memberikan tafsiran yang tepat serta komprehensif tentang tapak tersebut.
“Sejak 2009, USM masih bekerjasama dengan rapat dengan Jabatan Warisan Negara selama bertahun-tahun untuk menjalankan penyelidikan arkeologi, pemuliharaan, pembangunan dan arkeopelancongan bukan sahaja di Lembah Bujang tetapi juga di Tapak Warisan Dunia UNESCO Lembah Lenggong dan tapak lain di Malaysia,” katanya.
Terdahulu, CNA menghubungi Jabatan Warisan Negara yang menguruskan tapak Sungai Batu untuk mendapatkan maklumat terkini mengenai projek itu. Jabatan itu bagaimanapun belum memberi respons.
Faudzi Sulaiman pernah terlibat dalam kerja-kerja arkeologi awal di tapak kuil itu. (Gambar: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Mohd Faudzi Sulaiman, seorang pembantu kanan muzium di Muzium Arkeologi Lembah Bujang di Merbok, berkata kerja arkeologi memerlukan jumlah pembiayaan yang cukup.
"Ia boleh mengambil masa bertahun-tahun untuk hanya satu tapak kerana artifak ini mungkin berusia ribuan tahun dan (bersifat) rapuh," katanya kepada CNA, sambil menyatakan bahawa beberapa timbunan di tapak arkeologi Sungai Batu masih belum digali.
"Jadi jika kerja-kerja ini mengambil masa bertahun-tahun, kos untuk membayar pekerja, peralatan dan lain-lain (perbelanjaan) pasti akan meningkat."
Encik Faudzi secara peribadi terlibat dalam kerja arkeologi awal di tapak kuil itu dan kini bekerja di muzium di mana beberapa struktur terbabit sudahpun dipindahkan.
Banyak tapak kuil terletak di kawasan berhutan, jadi ia menyukarkan aktiviti penggalian, katanya. Beberapa tapak itu berada di kawasan kampung, jadi pihak berkuasa terpaksa mencari tempat alternatif untuk muzium atau memujuk para penduduk kampung untuk berpindah.
Pemandangan dari udara tapak kuil di Muzium Arkeologi Lembah Bujang. (Gambar: Muzium Arkeologi Lembah Bujang)
Kata Prof Mokhtar, begitu juga dengan tapak Sungai Batu yang terletak di sebuah ladang milik persendirian. Pemiliknya "sangat baik" (kerana) membenarkan pasukannya meneruskan penyelidikan itu dengan syarat tidak merosakkan pokok di kawasan terbabit.
Selain logistik, Lembah Bujang juga menghadapi cabaran dalam isu agama, satu topik sensitif di Malaysia yang majoritinya adalah Muslim.
“Banyak tapak ini berbentuk monumen candi iaitu tempat ibadat (kaum) Hindu dan Buddha. Di sini, kita semua (mengamalkan) Islam, jadi ada bantahan daripada penduduk tempatan,” kata Encik Faudzi.
“Tetapi sebagai jabatan muzium, kami menganggapnya sebagai tapak bersejarah. Jika kita meneliti tempat ini, kita akan tahu sejarah kita.”
PERLU LEBIH BANYAK PENGIKTIRAFAN
Seperti Prof Mokhtar, Encik Faudzi percaya bahawa Lembah Bujang memainkan peranan penting dalam menarik para pelancong ke Malaysia. Jelasnya, banyak rumah inap desa dan gerai makanan mula didirikan di kawasan itu sejak muzium dibuka pada 1980.
Muzium kemasukan percuma itu juga sedang membaiki semula galeri arkeologinya yang menampilkan artifak ditemui di Lembah Bujang seperti tembikar dan patung Buddha. Sebuah lagi galeri perdagangan maritim telah ditambah baru-baru ini.
Artifak, termasuk yang purba berunsurkan keagamaan, ditemui di Lembah Bujang. (Gambar: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
“Kami menemui puluhan ribu artifak di sini dari China, India dan Arab. Ia menunjukkan bahawa wujudnya aktiviti perdagangan,” kata Encik Faudzi.
“Ramai pelancong antarabangsa dan penyelidik telah datang ke sini. Walaupun monumen di sini tidak sehebat Borobudur dan Angkor Wat, ia jauh lebih tua.”
Melangkah ke depan, Encik Faudzi berharap Lembah Bujang dapat diberikan status Warisan Dunia UNESCO untuk memacu pertumbuhan industri pelancongan selain memperbaiki usaha pemuliharaan.
Bernama melaporkan pada 2019 bahawa Jabatan Warisan Negara sedang melobi UNESCO untuk mengiktiraf lembah itu sebagai tapak warisan dunia. Kerajaan juga memperuntukkan RM10 juta (AS$2.16 juta) untuk jabatan itu membangunkan infrastruktur di tapak Sungai Batu sebagai salah sebuah tempat pelancongan utama di Malaysia.
Tetapi jurucakap UNESCO memberitahu CNA bahawa Lembah Bujang belum disenaraikan oleh negara itu dalam inventori pencalonan yang berpotensi, maka ia "belum pun pada langkah pertama dalam proses terbabit".
CNA juga telah mendapatkan komen daripada Jabatan Warisan Negara mengenai isu ini.
Sebuah model tiga dimensi menunjukkan gambaran industri peleburan besi di Lembah Bujang pada zaman kegemilangannya. (Gambar: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Tanpa mengira status Lembah Bujang, Prof Mokhtar merasakan pihak berkuasa boleh menarik lebih ramai pelancong dengan menggunakan teknologi.
Sebagai contoh, tapak Sungai Batu boleh menggunakan teknologi seperti "hologram" tiga dimensi bagi memaparkan rupa struktur itu pada zaman kegemilangannya, katanya.
"Kami menemui serpihan bumbung dan dinding ... jadi kami tahu saiz asal dan boleh mencipta 'bangunan' 3D (tiga dimensi)," katanya.
"Kami perlu mengeluarkan sedikit wang untuk memperbaikinya."
Source: CNA/nm(ih)
No comments:
Post a Comment