DISMANTLING PROCESS Lack of proper tagging – as only white marker was used to mark the components . Proper tagging should be carried out before , during and after the works by producing a Historic Architectural Buildings Survey ( HABS ) as required by Heritage Department of Malaysia ( HDM ). No temporary roof installed before work started which is a requirement of HDM . A conservator was not appointed to provide advice during the conservation works in contradiction of normal practice required by HDM Workers were not issued with proper attire or health and safety precautions .
Although a measured drawing was produced by the university , it was never used for guidance . The house was not surveyed prior to the start of the project . The house was dismantled part by part instead of lifting up .
The location of the storage was not appropriate as the dismantled parts were exposed directly to the weather - especially hot and wet conditions . The dismantled parts were stored for more than a year due to lack of budget . Many parts or elements of the house are now missing and should be replaced accordingly , especially the Rumah Ibu door .
REASSEMBLING PROCESS No documentation was carried out in contravention of HDM requirements .
A temporary roof was not used to protect the house as required by HDM A conservator was not appointed to provide advice during reasembly in contradiction of normal practice required by HDM Workers were not issued with proper attire or health and safety precautions .. The work was handled by unskilled Indonesian workers , not local tradesmen . No experienced Tukangs or even modern carpenters were employed . The workers used the original material ( timber floor structure ) as a temporary structure while doing the work . No scaffolding was used . The contractor did not refer to the measured drawings .
Orientation : Traditional Malay houses normally face a river or a paddy field with the back facing a hill , and Serambi Pangkal or Hujung facing Qiblah ( Makkah ). The current orientation is quite awkward probably due to site constraints . New location : It is not certain that the house has been placed in the same compound as the Old Palace of Seri Menanti ( OPSM ) which has been gazetted as National Heritage . A ritual ceremony was not done before reassemby which is normal in these circumstances . The traditional method of constructing the house was not used as Tiang Seri was not erected as it was before . The placement of Tiang Seri on the right position is also questionable . The position of the carved beam in the Serambi area which original faced inside , is currently facing outside . The original Serambi Hujung and Serambi Pangkal were once again not reassembled and no reason was given . The use of red zinc material for the roof is also questionable . New paint / lacquer was applied to give a new look to the house including original coloured carvings .
Figure 3 : Issues and challenges in the dismantling and reassembling processes of Rumah Tukang Kahar . ( Source : Sulaiman , 2017 )
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