BADAN WARISAN

What BADAN WARISAN does

Badan Warisan Malaysia (BWM) is Malaysia's leading national heritage NGO, incorporated in 1983 as a company limited by guarantee and registered as an independent charity with tax-exempt status. It operates the Heritage Centre at No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur — a restored 1925 colonial bungalow — and Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, an award-winning traditional Malay timber house relocated from Kedah in 1996. Its core offerings include guided tours and curated cultural programs at Rumah Penghulu, a specialized Chen Voon Fee Resource Centre housing over 9,000 heritage resources, conservation advocacy and policy influence, heritage education programs for schools and adults, and a 360° bilingual virtual tour of Rumah Penghulu completed in December 2022 with Yayasan Sime Darby funding.

BWM runs a community-led, membership-based go-to-market with no commercial sales motion. Revenue is generated from six streams: Ordinary (RM90/yr), Junior/Student (RM20/yr), Life (RM1,200 one-time after 5 consecutive years), and Corporate (RM2,500/yr) memberships; tax-exempt donations via JomPAY and bank transfer; guided tours (RM10–20 adult, RM5–10 student) and curated cultural programs (RM48–68/person); venue hire of the colonial bungalow; gift shop sales (in-store and via Carousell); and Chen Voon Fee Resource Centre individual/student memberships (MYR 60/30 per year). BWM receives no government funding and is governed by a volunteer Council led by President Lim Wei-Ling.

The organization has a small core staff (five-person operations team as of 2026) supplemented by a volunteer Sahabat Warisan network and a newly launched Docent Training Program. It is a member of the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO), enabling reciprocal access to 1,000+ heritage sites globally. Its advocacy directly contributed to the 2003 Amendment to the Town and Country Planning Act and the National Heritage Act 2005, and it has completed 40+ building conservation projects since 1985 across assets including Stadium Merdeka, Suffolk House, and Masjid Di-Raja Sultan Sulaiman.

Name

BADAN WARISAN

Legal name

Badan Warisan Malaysia 198301009532 (104789-A)

Website

https://badanwarisanmalaysia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Badan Warisan Malaysia is a heritage NGO operating since 1983 that runs guided tours, cultural programs, and a specialized library at its Kuala Lumpur Heritage Centre and Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman, serving members, students, corporates, and government bodies in Malaysia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Conservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums (71211), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAA

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYTHAJADAI

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJADAB

History Museums

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAKAOAK

Culture, Heritage & Arts Itinerary Planning

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Custom Itinerary Planning Services

Keywords

• Heritage conservation
• Cultural heritage
• Building preservation
• Heritage tourism
• Nonprofit advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: BWM generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions across multiple tiers: Ordinary Membership (RM90/year), Junior/Student Membership (RM20/year), Life Membership (RM1,200 one-time), and Corporate Membership (RM2,500/year). Membership year runs from 1 July to 30 June.
2. Donations: As a registered charity with tax-exempt status that receives no government funding, BWM relies on donations from the public and organizations. Tax-exempt receipts are available upon request. Donations are accepted via JomPAY and bank transfer.
3. Tours and Cultural Programs: Revenue generated from guided tours of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman (scheduled and group bookings) and curated cultural experience programs for children, youth, and adults. Group tours are priced at RM10-25 per adult and RM5-10 per student/child, with curated programs at RM48-68 per person. Fees are effective from 24 October 2023.
4. Venue Hire: The restored 1925 colonial bungalow at No. 2 Jalan Stonor and its grounds serve as a venue for exhibitions, meetings, product launches, and dinners, generating rental income. Members receive preferential rates.
5. Gift Shop Sales: The gift shop at No. 2 Jalan Stonor sells hand-crafted items including accessories, shawls, candles, books, maps, cards, reprints of 1921 maps, art prints, merchandise, and pre-loved items via Carousell. Members receive 10% discount.
6. Chen Voon Fee Resource Centre Membership: CVFRC offers individual membership (MYR 60/year) and full-time student membership (MYR 30/year) providing access to the collection, special rates for photocopying/scanning, member discounts on book sales, and invitations to special events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Badan Warisan Malaysia is a heritage NGO that operates two heritage properties in Kuala Lumpur—the Heritage Centre (a restored 1925 colonial bungalow) and the award-winning Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman—and delivers guided tours, curated cultural experience programs, heritage education, and conservation advocacy. It maintains the Chen Voon Fee Resource Centre (a specialized heritage library with 9,000+ resources) and funds its operations through memberships, donations, tour admissions, venue hire, and gift shop sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Badan Warisan Malaysia Membership
• Chen Voon Fee Resource Centre (CVFRC) Membership
• Guided Tours of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman
• Cultural Experience Programs at Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman
• Venue Hire at No. 2 Jalan Stonor
• Gift Shop at No. 2 Jalan Stonor Retail gift shop selling hand-crafted items including accessories, shawls, candles, books, maps, cards, reprints of 1921 maps, art prints, merchandise, and pre-loved items. Operates on-site at the Heritage Centre and also via Carousell online marketplace with delivery available. Members receive a 10% discount.
• 360° Virtual Tour of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman Interactive self-guided 360° digital tour of the traditional Malay timber house with English and Bahasa Malaysia narration options and informational 'i' icons on selected display items. Accessible globally via the BWM website, enabling remote educational access to the heritage property.

Quantifiable outcome

• BWM's advocacy directly contributed to the National Heritage Act 2005.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• ATSA Architects (Ar. Azim A. Aziz)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2026ATSA Architects, led by JWN-registered conservation architect Ar. Azim A. Aziz, has been appointed as the conservation architect for the restoration of Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman. The first phase focuses on the Rumah Tengah area, using traditional materials and time-honoured building techniques.
• Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015BWM partnered with MBRAS and Think City Sdn. Bhd. to launch THIS KUL CITY — a multi-dimensional programme comprising cultural mapping, youth engagement, and historical documentation over an 18-month period.
• Think City Sdn. Bhd.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2015Think City Sdn. Bhd. partnered with BWM and MBRAS on the THIS KUL CITY project — a cultural mapping, youth engagement, and historical documentation programme in Kuala Lumpur.
• Royal SelangorminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2015Royal Selangor created a collection of pewter pendants called 'MIA' (life in Hokkien) in aid of Badan Warisan Malaysia, with five Malaysian contemporary artists contributing designs. Proceeds supported BWM's operations.
• International National Trusts Organisation (INTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWM has been a member of INTO for a number of years. Through INTO, BWM participates in the global family of National Trusts to share ideas, resources, and experiences. The INTO Places reciprocal visiting scheme allows BWM members to access 1,000+ heritage sites globally and international INTO members to visit BWM sites. INTO has over 80 member organizations worldwide.
• Chen Voon Fee Charitable Trust FundcoreOthersThe Chen Voon Fee Resource Centre is supported by the Chen Voon Fee Charitable Trust Fund, which provides ongoing financial support for the operation of the specialized library and information centre housing over 9,000 resources on Malaysia's built heritage.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Trust of Australia: Australia's National Trust operates heritage properties, museums, and conservation programs across the country. It shares the same INTO-affiliated National Trust model as BWM with membership tiers, volunteer docents, and advocacy for heritage legislation.
• National Trust (UK): The UK's National Trust is the archetypal heritage conservation charity, operating historic properties, charging memberships, and running conservation programs. BWM explicitly modeled itself after National Trusts via INTO membership and operates a near-identical structure of heritage sites, membership tiers, and reciprocal visiting schemes.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation (US): The largest US private heritage preservation organization, running membership programs, advocacy, historic site operations, and publishing. BWM's combination of advocacy influence (National Heritage Act 2005), property stewardship, and member-based funding closely mirrors this model.
• Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH): India's leading heritage NGO, founded in 1984, runs heritage walks, conservation programs, and educational initiatives. INTACH is closely comparable to BWM in mission, structure, and emerging-market heritage NGO context.

Others

• ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites): Global professional body for cultural heritage conservation, of which BWM-affiliated professionals are members. Provides international standards and advocacy context that shape BWM's conservation methodology and policy work.

Emerging players

• Think City Sdn. Bhd. A Malaysia-based heritage and urban regeneration organization that partnered with BWM on the THIS KUL CITY cultural mapping programme. Comparable in its Malaysian heritage focus and grant-funded operating model.
• Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS): MBRAS is a long-running Malaysian scholarly society focused on history, heritage, and culture, partnering with BWM on cultural programming. Comparable as a Malaysia-based membership society running heritage talks, research resources, and publications.

Regional players

• Heritage Foundation of Pakistan: A Pakistan-based heritage NGO working on conservation, education, and advocacy in South Asia. Comparable emerging-market heritage nonprofit context, though operating in a different national setting with different scale.
• Singapore Heritage Society: A non-profit heritage advocacy and education body in Singapore running heritage tours, talks, and publications. Operates with a similar Southeast Asian urban-heritage focus and membership-driven model, though smaller and without BWM's flagship property.

Broad incumbents

• National Heritage Board of Singapore (NHB): Singapore's government statutory board overseeing museums, heritage institutions, and conservation policy. Represents the public-sector equivalent of BWM's mission, providing a benchmark for what an institutionalized heritage infrastructure looks like regionally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/heritagemalaysia
• Instagraminstagram.com/heritagemalaysia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/badan-warisan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BADAN WARISAN