Roofing in Malaysia

Malaysia spans the Malay Peninsula and the northern part of Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak). Its traditional Malay houses are timber buildings raised on posts under steep, well-ventilated roofs, originally thatched with palm-leaf atap.

Climate and hazards

The country is equatorial, hot and humid all year, with heavy rain and two monsoon seasons; the east coast of the peninsula receives intense northeast-monsoon rain and flooding. Roofs must shed heavy rain quickly, shade walls and let hot air escape.

Roofing history

The Malay word atap means "roof", and it also became the name for the palm-leaf thatch that covered traditional houses across what are now Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore. The thatch is associated with the nipa palm (Nypa fruticans), whose leaves were used for roofs and walls. Until the 19th century even significant public buildings such as temples were built in this way.

Malay roofs belong to a wider regional family. Gabled roofs are the basic form; pyramidal and crossed-corner roofs (limas) mark higher-status buildings; and on the east coast of the peninsula, carved gable-end boards resemble those of Thailand and Cambodia.

Traditional and vernacular roofs

The Malay house (rumah Melayu) takes many regional forms, often named after the roof:

• Rumah Bumbung Panjang ("long-roof house"): a long gabled roof, found in Kedah, Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Johor and Pahang.
• Rumah Perabung Lima ("five-ridged house"): in Kelantan and Terengganu.
• Rumah Limas: crossed-corner or pyramidal roofs, used for palaces and government buildings and also found in Terengganu and Melaka.
• Rumah Melaka: the Melaka and Johor house type.
• Rumah Kutai: an old Perak and northern Selangor type.
• Rumah Gajah Menyusu: a Penang type.
• Rumah Lipat Kajang: a roof with crossed edges forming an "x" pinnacle at each corner.

Roof ornaments include crossed "x"-shaped pinnacles at the gable ends and carved gable boards. The gabled form provides shade, rain protection and ventilation in the hot, humid climate.

Codes, standards and regulation

In Peninsular Malaysia, building control rests on the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133), which applies to West Malaysia and consolidates the law on streets, drainage and building in local authority areas. Detailed building rules are set out in the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (G.N. 5178/84), enforced by local authorities; consolidated editions are kept current (one is dated 10 January 2024). Because the Act applies only to West Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak are outside its scope.

Notable roofs

Traditional palaces and timber houses in Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Melaka preserve the regional roof forms.

Local roofing terms

• atap - roof; also palm-leaf thatch (English "attap")
• bumbung - roof
• bumbung panjang - long gabled roof
• perabung - ridge; perabung lima - five-ridged roof
• limas - hipped or crossed-corner roof

Sources and gaps

Census data on roof materials and industry information: published information is limited.