By Liana Zulkifli
GOMBAK, 24 April 2018 – The Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED) has successfully launched a ‘Living Lab’ known as Rumah Perak, located in front of the Kulliyyah, as the Malay culture research centre.
The traditional house was officiated by IIUM President, Tan Sri Dr. Rais Yatim last Thursday (19 April) in a launching ceremony, accompanied by Dean of KAED, Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Sapian, and attended by KAED students and lecturers.
With the theme “Malay traditional environment” where the Malay traditional element and design have been included in KAED’s syllabus, the research centre will be open to all students both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, for learning purpose.
“Being a research centre, there are many research scopes we can find here such as in the designing technique, method and substance for construction, and the spiritual value from the design itself,” Dr. Abdul Razak Sapian told IIUMToday.
According to Dr. Abdul Razak, this centre was inspired by Tan Sri Dr. Rais Yatim himself to promote the Malay culture value and design as it was really close to his heart.
“I am really grateful for Tan Sri’s willingness to contribute to the Kulliyyah by buying this traditional house and making a restoration. This showed he was really confident in our ability and expertise, and the big impact from this investment,” explained Dr. Abdul Razak.
Moreover, Dr. Razak added, during his speech, he underlined four important functions of the Rumah Perak known as Key Research Areas (KRA) – Teaching Element, Research & Innovation, Internationality, and Sustainability.
“We hope KAED will be a ‘Jaguh Kampung’ for the university and spread the Malay value around the world from this traditional house,” Dr. Abdul Razak closed his conversation with IIUMToday, suggesting that the building would also be a source of income for the Kulliyyah.
The traditional house, estimated at RM160,000, was fully sponsored by Tan Sri Dr. Rais and it was considered one of the whole university’s planning.***