Stakeholders' perception on sustainability indicators for urban heritage sites in Kuala Lumpur and George Town, Malaysia

Purpose To manage heritage cities for locals' needs, a contextualized indicator to measure the sustainability of urban heritage is needed because it is often neglected. This study aims to identify the stakeholders’ perceptions on sustainability indicators of urban heritage sites in Kuala Lumpur and George Town, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study applied a qualitative method by interviewing stakeholders (governmental, experts and communities) who are involved in urban heritage sites. A thematic analysis is used to group the data patterns into themes. Findings The existing site management and attention to heritage conservation are varied for both sites. The discussions of the stakeholders on the practicality of indicators, challenges in using indicators and suggestions to improve indicators monitoring provided a richness of concerns for monitoring the sustainability of urban heritage sites in the future. Thus, it is concluded that indicators cannot be generalized and require adaptation to diverse cultural contexts. Research limitations/implications Perceptions from local stakeholders can raise concerns when developing indicators in the future. However, this study is only related to two locations with a limited sample size. Deeper conversations or surveys are necessary to identify the criteria for sustaining heritage sites. Originality/value This paper reveals the importance of communities’ inclusiveness and their voices for a good urban heritage management policy. Subsequently, it supports the fulfillment towards Sustainable Development Goal 11.4 that highlights the protection of cultural and natural heritage.