Cultural sustainability of Malay traditional metal craft in Malaysia

This research investigates the traditional Malay metal craft, a centuries-old practice deeply rooted in the community's culture and heritage. This craft encapsulates the Malay people's beliefs, aspirations, and resilience, originating in Kelantan, Malaysia. The significant value of design, function, and craftsmanship has its own identity, representing the Malay people's lifestyle, culture and practices. Aesthetically, the designs and motifs combine floral elements into beautifully balanced patterns of waves and spirals. Furthermore, the literature review shows that most traditional Malay metal craft designs and practices are correlated to the theory of biomimicry, which values nature through mimicking and learning. However, recent studies indicate a deterioration in the metal craft industry, particularly in silverware, raising concerns about its potential extinction. Modernisation in the current era requires the integration of new traditional approaches to support the continuity of this industry. This research aims to identify the development and strategies of potential practices in reviving traditional Malay metal crafts in Malaysia. Adapted by the Quadruple Helix Model, it concentrates on sustainable industrialisation and cultural heritage preservation. Methodologically, this study gathers data using qualitative research, consisting of literature reviews and ethnographic descriptive research. Observations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions were conducted to gather direct information to collect genuine and rich data. In addition, there is a list of expert informants with various backgrounds, including local artisans, practitioners, entrepreneurs, academicians, government agencies, and end users, who contributed direct information to strategies in an effort for the outcome of this research. A thematic analysis of each data collection provides significant findings in formulating a Framework of Sustainability-Centric Integrated Practices (SCIP) that potentially revitalises the metal craft industry and benefits local communities, government agencies, and academics. The results of this research were obtained by integrating traditional craftsmanship with technological trends through the concept of ‘moditional’ and Malay Biomimicry Design Spiral (MBDS). Through knowledge transfer, the research fulfils the encouragement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with focus on promoting learning opportunities, to preserve and to augment Malaysia's heritage in the metal craft industry.