KESESUAIAN UNDANG-UNDANG UNTUK PERLINDUNGAN CORAK TRADISIONAL ORANG IBAN DI SARAWAK, MALAYSIA \n(The Suitability of Laws for the Protection of Traditional Design of Orang Iban in Sarawak)

Abstract

Iban’s traditional designs that are gaining attention have been copied, exploited and used without any authorisation, and in derogatory manners. This article intends to provide an overview of the laws suitable to be used to protect traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), especially traditional designs. This is due to the variety of laws used around the world to protect TCEs and the absence of international legal instruments that provide protection to the TCEs specifically. Besides, the objective of this article is also to suggest suitable laws to be used in Malaysia to protect the Iban’s traditional designs from the TCEs’ perspective. The literature review method was applied based on primary and secondary sources from books, research papers and legal documents which were implemented by means of electronic database and internet search using key terms such as protection of cultural heritage, protection of traditional cultural expressions,