It tells the story of the history and culture of six towns and villages that developed over time along the Perak River. The journey starts from the village around Chenderoh Dam, the first Malaysian dam built in the 1920s. It then continues past Pekan Karai and downstream to the final destination, Kampung Menora.
It highlights points of interest such as the local communities, traditional trades and practices, accommodations and activities for visitors and the culture and arts specific to each locality.
It focuses on preserving the Royal Town, which faces imminent development threats. The Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar and the eight essential elements that define what makes a royal town in Malaysia are the main focus of this preservation effort.
It digitally documents and shares these elements with the public through a remarkable visual imagery collection of photos, videos and a 3D model depicting the town's evolution from the 1800s to the 2000s.
It is a systematic approach to recording rich assets and identifying significant values of the tangible and intangible heritage assets in the Royal Town. The output, exhibited in collaboration with the Perak Library Board, attracted more than 7,000 visitors. It considered archival materials supported by interviews and oral accounts from royal family members. A historical guide and map of the Royal Town were produced in Bahasa Malaysia and English.
It is a traditional Malay musical instrument from Perak that holds great cultural significance in Malaysia and has been integral to local celebrations and gatherings for centuries. This project enhances the experience for visitors and improves the business of Mohd Sapri, the last active Rebana maker in Perak, who runs SRAW Enterprise.
This project supports the ‘Labu Sayong’ traditional ceramic product, recognised as a national heritage. This initiative is led by the descendant of the 'Labu Lepap' maker. 'Labu Lepap', a variant of ‘Labu Sayong’, won the UNESCO APHADA (ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association) award.
Note: A selection of projects is featured here to showcase the diverse initiatives and highlight the network connecting the unique archaeological, natural, and cultural assets across the northern region. For a complete list of all grantees and partners who benefited from the programme, please view the full list.