GELANG PATAH, Feb 28 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) participated in Pesta Gelang Patah 3.0 with a special exhibition titled “Rumah Kedai Lama Gelang Patah: Warisan yang Masih Hidup” (Old Shophouses of Gelang Patah: A Living Heritage). The exhibition took place in one of the heritage shophouse units on Jalan Kacang Panjang, a historic street in Gelang Patah town.

The exhibition was commissioned by the Office of the Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri, under the constituency of YB Liew Chin Tong, who also serves as Deputy Minister of Finance. The event formed part of the festival’s efforts to promote Gelang Patah’s historic town centre as a heritage tourism destination.

Curated by Dr. Aiman Mohd Rashid and Dr. Nor Izura Tukiman from UTM Department of Architecture and the Centre for the Study of the Built Environment in the Malay World (KALAM), the exhibition highlighted the architectural and cultural significance of Gelang Patah’s old shophouses, drawing on research by UTM architecture students and researchers. Visitors explored the history and distinctive design of the buildings through informative posters, detailed explanations of architectural features, and insights into the cultural life that shaped the historic street.

A key attraction was a series of 3D-printed models depicting the overall shophouse development and a detailed model of a heritage unit. These models helped visitors better understand the architectural features, structure, and layout of the buildings.

During the festival, visitors were invited to participate in a short poll on what they found most interesting about the old shophouses of Gelang Patah. Most respondents selected the area’s historical heritage and the unique architectural design of the buildings as the most appealing aspects.

The exhibition received a strong public response, attracting hundreds of visitors throughout the day. It was also visited by YB Liew Chin Tong, who toured the exhibition and engaged with the organisers and visitors.

This initiative demonstrates how academic research, community collaboration, and public engagement can work together to celebrate and preserve local heritage. Through exhibitions such as this, UTM continues to raise awareness of the importance of Malaysia’s architectural and cultural heritage, highlighting the role of universities in supporting community-based heritage initiatives.