Lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), conducted an International Collaborative Community Service (PkM) program titled “Reviving the Historical Ties of Two Nations: Preserving Indonesian Cultural Heritage in Malaysia.”

The activity was led by Dr. Salmina Wati Ginting, S.T., M.T., along with a team of lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering, USU, and involved Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and the Perak Heritage Society as partners. The program focused on the preservation of the Raja Bilah Mansion in Papan, Perak, Malaysia — a historical site that symbolizes the deep-rooted connection between the Mandailing community of North Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula since the 19th century.

The main objective of this activity was to strengthen cultural ties between Indonesia and Malaysia through the preservation of Indonesian cultural heritage that continues to thrive in Malaysia, particularly among younger generations of Indonesian descent.

In addition to reintroducing cultural values, this initiative also aimed to foster pride in Indonesian identity among diaspora communities. Participants received training in cultural documentation, including methods for recording and archiving local traditions to prevent their disappearance amid modernization.

This program not only strengthened Indonesia–Malaysia relations but also reaffirmed the role of universities as drivers of cultural preservation and national identity reinforcement. With a spirit of kinship and shared heritage, USU Faculty of Engineering hopes this collaboration will serve as a concrete step toward sustainable cultural diplomacy between the two nations bound by history and shared values.