ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL STREET IN MALAYSIA IN ATTRACTING VISITORS

N.H.Jaafar, I.M.S.Usman, M.F Irfan Mohd Nor, M M Tahir Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
mell_ina@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Apart from playing the most important role as a place for interactive communication, the element of street also generates outdoor activities that are vital for the visual perception of the urban dwellers. This paper will investigate on the elements of traditional street that attracts visitors. Three traditional streets have been identified in Kuala Lumpur city centre, namely; Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Petaling. These streets have been identified as the appropriate areas of study and selected due to it being the earliest urban setting with its own unique identity that can be felt until today. These streets portray its own sense of belonging and meanings. The objective in this study will discuss the elements of traditional street in attracting visitor looking from users point of view. Mix methodology was used, qualitative as a major follow by quantitative as a minor (supporting qualitative). The finding shows there are four major elements of traditional street in attracting visitors where activity element is one of the significance elements.

Keywords: sense of belonging, traditional street, unique identity, meanings, qualitative, quantitative 1.0 INTRODUCTION

In the design of urban public open spaces, there are two main categories, namely street and the square (Moughtin, 1995; Lynch, 1960; Rob Krier, 1979; Shuhana & A. Bashri, 2001). In this study, street is considered as public open space as opposed to it being a vehicular passageway. In Malaysian cities specifically and in Asian street generally, street or jalan plays an important role in public open spaces. The Street is also the main element in enhancing the image and identity of the city apart from contributing to the morphological of a town. According to Jacob (1995), much can be learned about the culture of a society from the way the streets are used. Traditional streets in old towns exude its own identity of place compared to modern streets. All elements from cultural aspect to the types of activities of traditional streets should be preserved. On the other hand, traditional streets can also be considered as a necessity for local society because it creates a venue for social interaction in the city. There is no specific definition of traditional street. So to define it, there are two terms that must be considered; street and traditional. According to scholar like Moughtin (1995), street is 3 dimensional that create sense of enclosure which have been applied into two aspects, building scale and trees. The sense of enclosure will encourage a movement. Whilst, the term of traditional is from the word of tradition which san be conclude as something that received from generation to next generation. In this paper, traditional street is defines as among of the earliest streets in the city. Its been a public attraction until today which situated in city centre. All the public activities in the traditional street will develop according to the time from generation to the next generations. Types of merchandise usually are well known by local people and also have their own memory and historical significant. This is known and call traditional street. From the research, traditional street in Malaysia is defined as the street in an urban setting built from the late 19th century until the independence in 1957. These include traditional shop-houses and buildings conceived within the period but contain elements or activities related to the research. It still retains parts of its original physical characters as well as activities. In the past, traditional street was the centre of commercial activities and also as community space. On the other hand, road are priority given to vehicular. Therefore, three concept of traditional street have been identified in this study, namely; (i) public open space (ii) the unique architecture (iii) spatial human scale. By the same token, both street and traditional street is known as public open space for human and focusing of activity. However, traditional street shown time and heritage of the place base on physical, activity and spatial aspect which can be appreciate by all users. 2.0 THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK

There have no specific study on traditional street but there is a study on old town centre. According to Shuhana and A.Bashri (2000, 2002, 2004), Malaysian old town have a strong sense of place compare to the new town. In Asian city, when we are talking about public open space in the city centre, street play an

important role compare to square (Shuhana et. al, 2000, 2003; Derek A., 2002). Besides, sense of place is stronger in old town and traditional street because the activities have taken since a long time ago. But the uncontrolled of rapid urbanization gave a bad impact to this early setting (Merrick A. et. al., 2002; P. Miao, 2001). The symbol and function of traditional street in local society and also as our heritage have been forgotten nowadays (Shuhana & A. Bashri, 2002; Badan Warisan Malaysia, 2004; John B., 2001). In fact, the significant of old townscape appraisal have facing a dilemma. For instance, a destroying of traditional street from a lively society activity will be occurring. For this reason, all the environments that have been create since a long time ago will change the life-style of society. According to the research, The Vanishing Streets in Malaysia Urbanscape, the development of shopping complex without considers the shopkeeper in shop-houses along traditional street will oppress (A. Bashri & Shuhana, 1997). Apart from this, the contribution of environmental perception which need a social design is very important (Goodey, 1973; Sommer, 1983) to enhanced their own identity and cultural and spirit of the place (Paul L. Knox, 2005). 3.0 METHODOLOGY

The survey covered three areas of traditional streets namely Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Petaling. These streets are located within Kuala Lumpur original city centre. The survey also gathered 330 (110 for each street) and 21 respondents for quantitative and qualitative method respectively. In this study cluster random sampling are using. The 21 respondents are dividing into 7 in each street. The same respondent will be chosen for qualitative techniques which are in- depth interview and photo recognize. The qualitative/ statistic are the main approach in this research which contributes three techniques, namely; observation, in-depth interview and photo recognize. All the analyze are base on theoretical that have been done. At the same time the appropriateness of the theory that majority from western will be known in Malaysian context from user point of view. User is defining as people who are using the traditional street such as shopkeepers, tourist and buyers. So, the willingness of the users without considers their background or gender is defining as respondent in qualitative and quantitative methods. The comparison using matrices method will be using in discussing among the streets. 4.0 RESULT

There are four types of elements of traditional street in attracting visitors. The elements in the order of its significance are activity, physical, meaning, and transportation (Table 1). Table 1: Types of element that enhanced in traditional street in attracting visitor Types of Element Activity Elemental Factors Stalls, hawkers, outdoor bazaar along the street; display techniques for business inside the shops (sense of territory); walking; window shopping Types of famous/familiar business inside the shops/building Religious places; residential; tradition trades Identification of building by its activities People; landscape Formal activities; informal activities; local people activities Buildings; non buildings Variety of public transportation Linkages for pedestrian walkways; station near by public transportation hub

Informal

Physical Meaning

Transportation

Formal Local society Building Non-building Activity Physical Familiarity Public transport Linkages

4.1

Activity

The most famous elements in traditional streets as mentioned by most of respondents are the activities. It is divides into three main categories, namely informal activities, formal activities and local society activities,

as in Table 1.First of all informal activities were the most enhanced elemental factor of activity that includes types of business along the street such as stalls, hawkers and outdoor bazaars. The type of business inside the shops also represents the informal activities, which were reflected by their display techniques and the creation of sense of territory. As supported by Shuhana and Bashri (2001, 2002, 2004), the strength of the old town can be seen in the way the streets were able to act as settings that were formed by unique outdoor activities. In Malaysia, the traditional street is famous for its five-foot way or kaki lima, which is used as a spill over space by the shopkeepers to display their merchandise as well as stalls along the street. In addition, kaki lima is also act as public open space; adjacent to the street. This encouraged people to pleasantly walk along the street while allowing visual interactions to exist between the users and the displayed items (Flannigan, 1990). According to Appleyard (1981) and Rapoport (1987), this environment will create a sense of safety due to the interaction between indoor sand outdoors, in other words creating a sense of transparency. Other activities such as walking, relaxing, and shopping will further enhance the lively environment. From the research (table 1), businesses that are conducted inside buildings in traditional street are considered as formal activity. This type of business is well known when it comes to discussing about traditional street. This familiarity among the user has further enhanced the character of traditional street. From the aspect of the local society factor, these activities include those that inherited from their ancestor to newer generations. This has become a symbol to traditional street. For example, Friday prayers are performed by Muslims at the mosque in Jalan Masjid India every week. This is a situation that is distinctive to the local society at Jalan Masjid India. The situation has been supported by Moughtin (2003) theory that we can expression culture of the local people by the way the street is used as public open space. Another example found through this research is a tradition trade at the traditional street that is called a night market. This night market includes types of mechanism which usually we can find a local food for instance. It is lively at night and ends at midnight. The trading products depend on the time and place. Sometimes of the products sold in the night market are souvenier items for tourist. In Jalan Masjid India, we can see more local merchandise sold compared to what is sold in Jalan Petaling. This is because Jalan Petaling is widely known to the tourist for its Chinatown environment. According to Shuhana et.al. (2007), this is in increasing attraction from many visitors both locally and overseas, the local authority tend to focus on these places in their efforts to enhance the streets environment as well as turning these streets into a tourism product. As a matter of fact, all types of activities inherited and associated with traditional street is very important and should be maintained. The existence of traditional streets has created identity and symbolises the lifestyle of Malaysian society. In summary, traditional activities can be seen as being local trademarks for traditional street. All factors mentioned above creates visual linkages along the street which is known as key-note shops (Flannigan, 1990). According to survey, the most important element in traditional street in attracting visitor follow by significance are; (i) sense of place, (ii) visibility and (iii) location of the traditional street (Graph 1). The activities can be seen through the types of activitiy but the level of liveliness environment and also the crowd presence. Then the node of activity will be creating by that environment (Heng and Chan, 2000) and sense of safety naturally (Tibbalds, 2001). The enhance of activity also influence by the location and sense of visibility. As mention by Jacob (1995), this character will atrrack more people to come to the street. As the result it will create sense of place or meaning.

(i)

(iii) (ii) Graph 1: Factors that related with activiity from questionnaire technique; (i) Jalan Petaling (ii) Jalan Masjid India (iii) Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 4.2 Physical

The next elements of traditional street in attracting visitor is physical aspect which including two factors, namely; (i) building physical (ii) non-building physical (Table 1). Building physical factor was recognised by respondent through the essential of activity. For example business activity which be done inside the building as well as formal activity that have been explain above. Besides, all respondents (21) are easily recognized the familiarity shops/building along traditional street that can related with shopping activity (recognize photo technique).Moreover, it shown that shopping activity plays an important role of traditional street which as the same time it gives a symbolism and meanings to the user. In fact as mentioned by all respondent (21) (depth interview and photo recognize techniques), the heritage buildings also known by its architecture value and ornamentations. These types of physical element are mostly mentioned in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman because this street is well known by the most existing old shop houses compare to other traditional streets. The old shop-houses represent a mix land-use which retail use on the lower ground and resident in the upper floors. These produce a sense of vitality in the traditional street by the mixture of both retail and residential use. This research also shown a similarity with previous research, building physical always remembered by the respondent (Affendi, 2004; Shuhana, 1997; Dolbani, 2000; Mahbob, 1992). Table 3: The percent of non building factors for every street by questionnaire technique Non-building elements Jalan Petaling 110 % 47.3 3.6 No[57] 53 4 Jalan Masjid India 110 % No[103] 30.3 34 35.5 39 Jalan TAR 110 % 4.7 25.5 No[33] 5 28

Peoples Sitting [landscape element]

Non building is the last factor of physical element that refers to the people and related to the attendant of the majority race in every traditional street. For instance, Chinese shopkeepers are well known in Jalan Petaling, India Muslim, India and a few of Malay people at Jalan Masjid India. Whilst at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, most of the respondent relate with Malay race as majority (depth interview technique). This is related with local society activity such as the famous types of business which become a sense of place to each traditional street. According to Schumacher (1978), the dense of variety of users are very important because it is a point to activate the street whether by planning or naturally. As support by Montgomery (1998), the user contribution with the dissimilar community will enhance sense of place (No Doubt Research, 2002). Landscape elements also related to non building factors for instance, a sitting area

and especially mature trees which have been mentioned in Jalan Masjid India. It has been prove from the previous study, tree will create a good human relationship with nature and this will create a peaceful environment (Appleyard, 1981, 1978; Robert S., 2004; Kaplan & Kaplan, 1982). Besides it can reduce the heat island effect in urban area (City of Austin, 2001). The combination between sitting elements with tree in public open space will create a lively setting activities (Whyte, 1981; Project for Public Spaces, 1982). To all intents and purpose the location of this thing should be well in planning and design (Vines E, 1996). 4.3 Meaning

The third elements as mentioned by respondent is meaning which separated into three factors, which are; (i) activity (ii) physical (iii) familiarity (Table 1). In this study, meaning is relating with unique character which contributes to the feeling of traditional street environment. The factors of activity and physical which have explained above are related with familiarity factor. The study have shown that the most famous element in traditional street related with how far the elements is known and how deep it is expose to the user. Base on Affendis research (2004), even though the familiarity is not an element that we can find it through environment characters, but it helps to emplacing the notable and ranking of the place from respondent perception. The fact of that matter is that, it will influence the user sensitive towards their environment. All the important meaning elements that have been mention in activity and physical elements have their own values that should be consider in every aspect of planning and development by all sectors. This is because the values of meaning element are distinctive for traditional street or old town character. Meaning element can intricate by the activities that create a unique setting and have a value of cultural aspect to the street environment. For example, stalls and hawkers along the street is one of our cultural values. Besides, all respondent have mention and recognize that elements easier (Qualitative methods). One of the attraction activities besides a night market that contribute to the meaning element is religion activity which creates a unique environment with unique culture. According to depth interview technique, the environment of celebration of Hari Raya at Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman is most memorable by the respondent. This lively environment in Ramadhan month creates a meaning (intrinsic) to the entire respondent even the environment are more crowded than normal. There are varieties of merchandise choices such as, Malay traditional clothes, traditional cakes and biscuits besides variety food for breaking fasting. While for Indian celebration, a Deepavali, Jalan Masjid India is the famous traditional street for preparing the celebration. This traditional street is well-known with Indian traditional clothes (such as sari and kurtaz) and also Indian foods. All this things showed specialist types of activity and at the same time its deal with the majority of races in certain traditional street. It enhances their cultural values appreciate by all types of user. These have been support by Kostof (1992) theory, where the different between traditional street and modern/contemporary street can be seen. Besides that, street also is a component that creates the image of the city (Lynch, 1960). 4.4 Transportation

The important of transportation element in attracting visitor cant be denied. According to the survey, these elements are divided into two categories which are mentioned by respondent, namely; (i) public transportation (ii) linkages (Table 1). According to Department of the Environment (1997), good accessibility contains enough public transportation with continuity of pedestrian. According to the survey, it was discovered that a good variety of public transportation (bus, taxi, LRT, etc) are very essential in attracting visitor to traditional street even to any space. One of the main reasons is time and cost budget. This has support that all respondent (21) prefers a by public transport as main transportation to the street. The reason they choose public transportation because it is cheap and there are a variety of public transportation choices surrounding the street (depth interview technique). There are also respondents whose choose walking as mod of transportation from one destination to other destination (Table 4). These have been mention by Shuhana and A. Bashri (2001) that priority should be given to the pedestrian in urban design especially in concerned of traditional street or old town area. This will minimize the using of private vehicles. So, the balancing between the street spaces for pedestrian and vehicles are very important in street design aspect (Project for Public Spaces, 1982). It was discovered that in encourage user walking and use

public transportation, it is influenced by a good linkages for pedestrian and an activities along the street. Besides, the distance of accessibility must be fitting between the locations of the street or place. The linkages are most important part in transportation element as mentioned by respondent. Both of them (nearest location for accessibility and linkages) are link to the nearest public station by providing a linkage to the destination. This will encourage variety of activity along it. This statement have been supported by perception research, The Heart of Auckland City; Focus Group Report (2000) is that the increase of public transportation is related with the necessary activities for all group of users (No Doubt Research, 2002). This is one of the way to provide a successful public space (Subodh A. Kumar, 1997) which including in macro and micro that have mention by Jacobs (1995), Alexander C. (1977) and Bentley et. al. (1995). The fact of that matter, it is not surprising in this study that linkages is the higher percent as mention by most of the respondent. 5.0 CONCLUSION

Taking everything into account, traditional street or generally old town area has a stronger unique character. It can be seen not only from physical aspect but also from visual aspect. On other word, this unique identity is known as kitsch. From the study, activity element was the most identified and attracting user to traditional street. All this elements that have mentioned in this study are mutual interaction and will create sense of sensory, colouring and unique setting. Traditional streets setting which situated in old town should be more strictly in conservation aspect because this setting will show space and time. So it will give an idea for a new development/city by maintaining or upgrade our cultural or character for future generation. These characters created a lively and vibrant environment of traditional street thus represent our culture and society need. So, traditional street in old town can be defined as exude its own identity of place compared to modern street. Perhaps the study of identity of traditional street in Malaysia can be done next. 6.0 REFERENCES

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