Knowledge transfer and management among Malay traditional massage practitioners in the north of Malaysia

Abstract

Local knowledge is knowledge transferred across generations by individuals or community through experience in the environment they live in. This includes the knowledge and practices that are still practiced by a community or individual. Apart from trust, the willingness and capacity to share what they know and use what they learn plays an important role for local knowledge to be transferred and managed. In Malaysia, traditional Malay massage is a form of traditional healing among the Malay society that was recorded since the 19th century through Kitab Tib manuscript. This form of healing uses natural resources, wafak (letters, numerals and diagrams), Quranic verses and doa (prayers and supplications) in the healing practice. This paper attempts to explore on how the knowledge is passed down from expert to apprentice. This study involves interviews and observation on selected Malay traditional massage practitioners. In conclusion, knowledge transfer among Malay traditional massage practitioners only happens when there is trust trust. Knowledge is passed down within their family members and learned from observation and experience. The traditional Malay massage remains only within the individual or a limited number within the family community rather than the community as a whole.