UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA 33 Alam Cipta Vol 12 (1) June 2019 THE ROLE OF CULTURAL ARTEFACTS AS A TOOLS TO MEDIATE COMMON CULTURAL PRACTICES IN A MULTI- ETHNIC SOCIETY Velu Perumal 1* , Khairul Aidil Azlin Abd Rahman 1 , Raja Ahmad Azmeer Raja Ahmad Effendi 1 , Mohd Shahrizal Dolah 1 and Santhidran Sinnappan 2 1 Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, , 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Malaysia 2 Faculty of Creative Industries, University Tunku Abdul Rahman - Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia * Corresponding author: velu@upm.edu.my ABSTRACT The concept of sustainability is not only associated with the environment, but includes cultural aspects. Whereby cultural artefacts help in the sustainability of any culture or cultural practice. Thus, cultural artefacts are believed to be the identity of a culture. On the other hand, cultural artefacts have become a mediator in developing common practices in diverse cultures. However, in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country like Malaysia, the plural and the autonomous cultural systems are seen as an obstacle in various common forms. As such this study aims to identify the commonly used cultural artefacts and the reasons for their preferences. The nominal group technique (NGT) was used in this study to identify the commonly used cultural artefacts. NGT is a qualitative data collection technique based on discussions among various categories of stakeholders and multi-ethnic group members. The study has justifed the existence of common elements in multi-cultural practices which could reduce ethnocentrism and promote social integrity and unity among Malaysia’s multiethnic society. Keywords: : Culture, Cultural Artefact, Cultural Practices 1. INTRODUCTION The daily practices and interactions of human being are sustained by culture; perhaps helps in forming new cultural practices. Grazuleviciute (2006) has highlighted that the concept of sustainable development is not only associated with the environment, but includes cultural aspects. Thus, it has proven that human interactions, daily routines and norms infuence their behavior and transform them into a culture (Hsu et al., 2012). Therefore Schein (2004) has expressed that culture undergoes adaptations and also merges with other cultures. On the other hand, Zivanovic (2014) and Bennett (2013) have claimed that culture is in form of fuid that keeps transforming. The daily practices of human beings are essential in determining the strong bound and integrations in a multiethnic society like Malaysia. Malaysians have been exposed to various cultures and practices but have maintained certain common cultural values since the colonial period (Rahman, 2010). Scholars have classifed cultural artefacts as instruments especially those that can be handled or carried by a person (Md Ishak, 2016; Kasim, 2004). The British colonials in Malaya clustered the cultural artefacts into nineteen types. However, currently the Malay Ethnography Museum and Department of Museums of Malaysia have divided these cultural artefacts into eight types (Ahmad, 2015; JMM, 2014). Cultural artefacts are believed to be a part of heritage and the identity of culture itself. It enhances the understanding of human behavior and preserves humanity (Ismail et al., 2014). The uses of cultural artefacts are similar within the various cultures in Malaysia. However, images of artefacts differ mainly due to materials and fabrication methods REGULAR ARTICLE