3. Methodology
The methodology of this study is through the listing of the information obtained from primary and secondary data on soft landscape and hard landscape elements. Primary data obtained from site visits to the areas of traditional Malay residential in Peninsular Malaysia. Secondary data were found from reading old manuscripts of the Malay community. Discussion will focus on the understanding how the Malay community currently planning and implementing their plans or strategies of applying the cultural landscape, as has been stated in the old manuscript sources.
3.1. Malay Old Manuscript
The old Malay community has recorded a variety of gardens in their manuscripts. The Hikayat Hang Tuah by Kassim Ahmad (1975) stated there was 52 species of ornamental plants, 41 species of fruit trees and 7 types of plants classified as herbaceous plants / medicines. In Sulalatus al-Salatin have told the story of a garden in Gunung Ledang. Referring to the Bustan al-Salatin, there are 48 different species of ornamental plants, 26 different species of fruit trees, 36 species of herbaceous plants and 4 different species of trees / logs. While the Hikayat Abdullah stated there are 3 types of ornamental plant species, 18 different species of fruit trees, 16 species of herbaceous plants and 4 different species of trees / logs. The Malay Medical Heritage mentions more than 200 species of plants used in traditional Malay medicine.
3.2. Malay garden concept today
Through the observation, there are some differences in the concept of the Malay community garden, in terms of geographical aspects, cultural of societal aspects, and the terrain aspects. Differences in terms of visible geographic distribution zones in Peninsular Malaysia divided into 4 zones which are the northern zone (Perlis, Kedah and Penang), middle zone (Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur), the southern zone (Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor) and the eastern zone (Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang). It shows that culture has played an important role in the design and arrangement of a garden in the Malay community. Refer photo 1- 4. Migration and boundaries factors greatly influenced the design and arrangement of the garden, it affected by movement of ethnic groups from different places in the Malay Archipelago at one time. Another reason is the terrain such as the eastern region is more significant to the coast, while the northern region is more significant in the paddy fields or the valley. Commonly, for the Malay community house compound, plants such as
Cocos nucifera
(Coconut),
Canangium odoratum
(Cananga),
Jasminum sambac
(Jasmine),
Areca catechu
(Areca nut),
Cymbopogon nardus
(Lemongrass),
Languas galanga
(Galangal),
Curcuma domestica
(Turmeric), and
Zingiber officinale
(Ginger) are founded.