Expansion of heritage mosques in Malaysia: Issues and challenges

The expansion of the mosque is a common practice that aims to provide additional space for the increase in congregation members as well as to improve the facilities of the mosque. However, there are some issues and challenges that have to be faced in the expanding of heritage mosques. Some mosques in Malaysia have been designated as heritage sites and have been gazette under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645). Act 645 has stipulated that any new development including expansion must comply with certain conditions as a heritage site. Department of National Heritage (DNH) has provided guidelines related to new developments at heritage sites in the Heritage Building Conservation Guidelines 2017. Although guidelines have been made available, reports from DNH indicate that issues involving the expansion works of heritage mosques continue to arise. There is dissatisfaction among the community of heritage mosques over the restriction made by DNH upon their expansion proposal. While DNH sees the expansion as potentially affecting the heritage value of the mosque, in contrary the mosque community sees it as important in continuation of using it. The purpose of this study is to discuss the issues and challenges surrounding the problems in the expansion of heritage mosques in Malaysia. This is a library-based study, follows qualitative approach by analyzing laws and guidelines in Malaysia that govern heritage sites development. The study results found that the conflict of values involving various stakeholders on the heritage mosque, the absence of clear criteria in the existing guidelines and the absence of community involvement in the evaluation process are the factors in the issue of expanding heritage mosques in Malaysia.