5. Malacca
Malacca is the historical state of Malaysia, rich with heritage buildings, ancient landmarks and colonial structures. It was here that colonial forces first made contact with Malaysia, which eventually shaped the country into its current economic and political system.
Malacca is a state in the southwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its capital, Malacca City has a colonial past and that is reflected in the preserved town centre with its historic churches alongside other ruins that attest to the earlier presence of the British, the Portuguese and the Dutch. To be precise, the Portuguese St. Paul’s Church that was built in the 16th century is a clear reflection of the Portuguese rule in the Malacca. On the other hand, the 18th century Christ Church that was built by the Dutch but later converted by the British to the Anglican denomination in the 19th century is a clear indication that both the Dutch and the British ruled the place.
Malacca was under the protection of the British between 1826 and 1946. First, the British ruled it through the British East India Company but later by a Crown Colony. During this period, Malacca, Penang and Singapore were part of the Straits Settlements. When the crown colony was dissolved, Penang along with Malacca became part of the Malayan Union. The Malayan Union later became the present Malaysia state of Malacca is approximately 642 square miles in size and according to the 2010 census; it has a population of 821,110. Of its total population, 63 per cent are Malays, 25 per cent are Chinese, and 6 per cent are Indians and other small communities of Kristang. Well, all of them have something in common; they are Malaccans.
Historical Places In Malacca
1. Malacca Sultanate Palace
The Malacca Sultanate Palace is actually a replica of the structure which was built by the already extinct sultanate of Malacca. The sultanate of Malacca was the ruler of the city before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1500s. The plan of the palace was based on the Malay Annals' account of Sultan Mansur Shah's palace. Sultan Mansur Shah was the nobleman who ruled Malacca from 1456 to 1477. The Malacca Sultanate Palace is one of its kind in Malaysia as it offers a rare glimpse of the ancient Malay kingdom which once flourished in Malacca.
The Malacca Sultanate Palace is the home of the Cultural Museum which celebrates the Malay side of the Malacca's history. The museum showcases more than 1300 items of Malacca's past. Their items include photographs, weaponry, drawings, musical instruments and gifts from foreign emissaries. All these items are displayed in eight different chambers and in three galleries on the three floors of the palace.
2. Bukit Cina
Bukit Cina is the ancestral burial ground of Malacca’s Chinese community. Also known as Chinese Hill, it is the largest and oldest Chinese graveyard outside of China itself with over 12,500 graves. Although it is primarily a graveyard for early Chinese settlers, the cemetery has about 20 Muslim tombs, too.
The oldest grave in Bukit Cina is that of Tin Kap, the first Chinese Kapitan (a mediatory position created by the Dutch East India Company which made it possible for them to rule the various ethnic communities). These days the 20ha hill is chiefly used as a jogging track
The burial ground’s fame began with a marriage: Until the 15th-century Chinese contact with the Malay Peninsula was vague; then in 1949, Emperor Yung Lo sent his envoy, Admiral Cheng Ho, to establish commercial relations with Malacca.
Instituting a promising settlement-with-vassal relationship, Sultan Mansur Shah of Malacca married the Ming emperor’s daughter, Princess Hang Liu to seal relations between the two countries.
3. Hang Jebat Mausoleum
Hang Jebat Mausoleum is the burial place of Hang Jebat, a martial artist and Malay hero who lived in the 15th century. This is the traditional grave of Hang Jebat, a high-ranking Malay warrior during the rule of Sultan Mansor Shah (r. 1456-77). An interesting tale is associated with his life. Legend says that he was appointed to a high position after Hang Tuah, his predecessor and sworn-brother, was wrongfully accused of having an affair with one of the King's maids. But rather than accepting his position, Hang Jebat rose to Hang Tuah's defence and exclaimed: "A fair rajah is to be revered, but a cruel rajah is to be despised." These words earned the wrath of the Sultan, who decided that Hang Jebat ought to be executed.
Various convoluted tales of palace intrigues, plotting, jealousy and betrayal surround all the five companions. Hang Jebat was accused of disloyalty to the Sultan and was eventually fatally stabbed with a kris by his friend Hang Tuah.
It is believed that this is his burial site and if so, it would be over 500 years old although there are seemingly no inscriptions remaining to evidence this. The grave is more extravagant and elaborate than a typical Malay grave and it is no doubt for someone of high standing.
4. A' Famosa
4. A' Famosa
A Famosa, or "The Famous" in Portuguese, is one of the oldest surviving remnants of European architecture in Asia. Once part of a mighty fortress, this tiny gate (called the Porta de Santiago) is all that history has spared.
In 1511 a Portuguese fleet arrived under the command of Alfonso de Albequerque. His forces attacked and successfully defeated the armies of the native Sultanate. Moving quickly to consolidate his gains, Albequerque had the fortress built around a natural hill near the sea. Albuquerque believed that Melaka would become an important port linking Portugal to the spice trade from China. At his time other Portuguese were establishing outposts in such places as Macau, China and Goa, India in order to create a string of friendly ports for ships heading to China and returning home to Portugal.
The fortress once consisted of long ramparts and four major towers. One was a four-story keep, while the others held an ammunition storage room, the residence of the captain, and an officers' quarters. Most of the village clustered in townhouses inside the fortress walls. As Malacca's population expanded it outgrew the original fort and extensions were added around 1586.
5. Stadthuys
The Stadthuys is a historical structure situated in the heart of Malacca City, the administrative capital of the state of Malacca, Malaysia in a place known as the Red Square. The Stadhuys is known for its red exterior and nearby red clocktower. It was built by the Dutch in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor. When Malacca was handed over to the British in the 19th century, the Malacca Free School was opened in the vicinity of the Stadthuys on 7 December 1826, by missionaries residing in the state, in response to a letter dated 19 April 1825, signed by a J. Humprey, J. W. Oversee and A. W. Baumgarten, which called for an English institutional education to be built in Malacca.
The school which the British provided free education to residents was eventually renamed Malacca High School in 1871 upon a takeover by the British government and moved out to its present site at Chan Koon Cheng Road in 1931. Situated at Laksamana Road, beside the Christ Church, the supposed oldest remaining Dutch historical building in the Orient is now home to the History and Ethnography Museum
The renovated main building houses the Museum of History & Ethnography which showcases Malaccan customs and traditions as well as the city’s rich history, from the great Malay Sultanate to the Portuguese, Dutch and British occupations. Meanwhile, just behind the Stadthuys is the Museum of Literature where historical accounts and local legends are detailed in maps, prints and photographs.
Just southwest of the Stadthuys on the river, is the Flor de Mar, a half-size replica of the galley that the viceroy of Portuguese arrived in. Also nearby the Stadthuys is the Tang Beng Swee Clocktower: built-in 1886, it was constructed by a wealthy Straits Chinese family but looks distinctly Dutch.
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