https://gaexcellence.com/ijham/issue/feed 2026-09-10T16:04:27+08:00 Open Journal Systems <p>The <strong>International Journal of Heritage, Art and Multimedia (IJHAM)</strong> is published by <strong>Global Academic Excellence (M) Sdn Bhd (GAE)</strong> to serve academicians a platform of sharing and updating their knowledge and research outputs as well as information within the sphere of heritage, art and multimedia. <strong>IJHAM</strong> journal invites researchers, academicians, practitioners and students for the submission of articles either in English or Malay. The publication for this refereed journal are<strong> quarterly (March, June, September and December)</strong>. The journal aims to publish all quality submission in time to ensure the impact of heritage research quickly conveyed, examined, and disseminated worldwide. This journal uses <strong>double</strong>-<strong>blind review</strong>, which means that both the <strong>reviewer</strong> and <strong>author identities</strong> are concealed from the reviewers, and vice versa, throughout the review process. To facilitate this, authors need to ensure that their manuscripts are prepared in a way that does not give away their identity.</p> https://gaexcellence.com/ijham/article/view/8248 2026-09-10T16:04:27+08:00 Mohamad Murad Mahyudin Muheji ufl240003@umcced.edu.my

<p style="text-align: justify;">Kajian ini meneliti asam pedas Melaka sebagai teks budaya yang menyimpan makna simbolik dalam kerangka warisan tidak ketara. Walaupun asam pedas telah diiktiraf sebagai warisan kebangsaan, kajian tentang simbolisme komponen utama asam pedas Melaka masih terhad dalam literatur warisan kuliner Malaysia. Artikel ini bertujuan mentafsir simbolisme komponen utama asam pedas Melaka yang meliputi unsur pedas, unsur masam, herba aromatik, unsur manis dan kepelbagaian ikan dalam kerangka tafsiran simbolik. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif berasaskan analisis dokumen dengan menggabungkan analisis tema dan tafsiran simbolik. Pentafsiran dibuat berdasarkan ciri fizikal, fungsi gastronomi dan konteks sejarah Melaka sebagai pelabuhan kosmopolitan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa setiap komponen utama asam pedas Melaka dapat ditafsirkan sebagai simbol nilai kolektif masyarakat Melayu Melaka. Berdasarkan tafsiran pengkaji, unsur pedas dapat ditafsirkan sebagai lambang ketegasan dan keberanian, unsur masam sebagai simbol keseimbangan dan kebijaksanaan, herba aromatik sebagai cerminan kemurnian nilai dan kesihatan. Unsur manis pula sebagai lambang kesantunan dan kelembutan budi manakala kepelbagaian ikan sebagai simbol keterbukaan budaya masyarakat Melaka. Gabungan variasi rasa yang saling mengimbangi turut mencerminkan falsafah kesederhanaan dan harmoni dalam kehidupan bermasyarakat. Kajian ini menyumbang kepada pengembangan kajian warisan kuliner Malaysia dari sudut simbolik dan budaya serta menawarkan satu model tafsiran yang boleh diaplikasikan dalam kajian makanan warisan yang lain.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">This study examines <em>Asam Pedas Melaka</em> as a cultural text that embodies symbolic meanings within the framework of intangible cultural heritage. Although <em>Asam Pedas</em> has been recognised as a Malaysian national heritage, studies on the symbolism of its main components remain limited in the Malaysian culinary heritage literature. This article aims to interpret the symbolic meanings of the main components of <em>Asam Pedas Melaka</em>, namely spiciness, sourness, aromatic herbs, sweetness and the diversity of fish, within a symbolic interpretation framework. The study adopts a qualitative document analysis approach by integrating thematic analysis and symbolic interpretation. The interpretation is based on the physical characteristics, gastronomic functions and the historical context of Melaka as a cosmopolitan port. The findings indicate that each main component of <em>Asam Pedas Melaka</em> can be interpreted as representing the collective values of the Malay community in Melaka. Based on the researcher's interpretation, spiciness symbolises firmness and courage, sourness represents balance and wisdom, aromatic herbs reflect purity and well-being, sweetness symbolises courtesy and gentleness, while the diversity of fish represents the cultural openness of the Melaka Malay community. The combination of balanced flavours also reflects the philosophy of moderation and harmony in communal life. This study contributes to the advancement of Malaysian culinary heritage studies from symbolic and cultural perspectives while proposing an interpretive model that can be applied to other traditional food heritage studies.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

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