By 
Malacca’s historical past is alive today because of the continuing efforts to preserve its historical sites and buildings – an important commitment as a World Heritage Site.
Fort rubble and old colonial architecture are remnants of the interesting, colourful and bloody past of Malacca.
It is this rich history and multi-cultural landscape that earned the state one of the highest honours in heritage and historical fields.
Malacca was listed as a World Heritage City by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in July 2008, a feat achieved after four years of consecutive bids to the international body.
Areas such as the 17th century Dutch Stadhuys buildings, St Paul’s Hill, Jonker Street and its Dutch-era buildings, Kampung Morten and the Malacca River are all recognised as heritage sites as part of this prestigious title.
The Stadthuys and the Church Of Christ in Malacca.
Malacca’s international relations – foundation of cultural wealth
Malacca began as a small fishing village, which according to popular legend was founded by Parameswara, a Malay-Hindu prince. He was also known as Iskandar Shah who had ruled Singapore in the 1390s.
The state was located in a strategic location and was quickly established as a port for the maritime traders and commerce for the East and West.
Parameswara worked with the sea people or orang laut to promote Malacca as a reliable international port, luring the Chinese, Arab and Indian traders to use its facilities, while establishing the port to control sea lanes and the spice trade.
Malacca was an attractive port to foreign powers. The Portuguese led a massive invasion in 1511, aimed at expanding its empire in Southeast Asia, at the time known as the East Indies. The Malay sultanate took refuge in the interior areas, launching raids and attacks to reclaim Malacca, in defiance.
The Portuguese retaliated and built a fort, the A Famosa or Fortaleza de Malaca to defend its territory from enemies. The fort had four gateways and is believed to be among the older surviving European architectural remains in Asia. Only one of the gateways, the Porta De Santiago, remains today.
The Portuguese took hold of Malacca during a turbulent time in Asia, as it fought against the Chinese, Thais, Javanese, Aceh sultanate and finally lost to the Dutch, who destroyed most of the A Famosa.
The Dutch paid less attention to Malacca, concentrating instead on its main base Jakarta, then known as Batavia.
The Dutch subsequently ceded Malacca to the British under the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824. The British ruled Malacca and other states in Malaysia (then known as Malaya) until the country achieved independence in 1957.
A Famosa.
Admiring architecture
The evidence of this rich history is in Malacca’s architecture, some of which still stands today like the A Famosa and St. John’s Fort. The latter had cannons built to face inland rather than at sea, due to the many threats faced in the state’s interior.
The remains of St Paul’s Church, or formerly know as Our Lady of The Hill now sits as part of the Malacca Museums Complex.
The impressive red buildings in the centre of Malacca, called Stadthuys was built by the Dutch and used as an administrative centre. Today it houses a Museum of History and Ethnography, displaying artefacts throughout Malaccan history.
Other notable sites with historic value are the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and the Kampung Kling Mosque, both believed to be the oldest places of worship in Malaysia.
UNESCO had recognised Malacca as a deserving city for the prestigious title, not only because of a culmination of cultural traditions but for its commitment to conservation efforts, which began in the late 1970s.
The state government had drafted and enforced a Preservation and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Act in 1993 and formed a Conservation Trust Fund under this legislation.
This fund helps finance selected conservation projects in the city. In 2011, hoteliers were required to impose a 5 % heritage tax on visitors, which is used to help finance preservation work by the state government.
Treasures today
Malacca’s roots continue to excite historians as more treasures are discovered in recent times. Archaeologists found a watch tower at the site of Dataran Pahlawan in 2003, while construction workers unveiled laterite blocks, which is believed to be part of an ancient wall that formed the great fort built by the Portuguese.
A row of restored 17th century Dutch-era buildings line the The Malacca River.
Preservation work has also been done along the city’s historic river, offering visitors a chance to learn how the founders of Malacca used this river as settlement and as a trade channel.
Today, many cafes and homestays line the river, occupying the old Malaccan houses. These houses are narrow in the front, but are more than 100 metres in length. The houses were built this way because taxes were collected based on the width of the front of the house, so owners improvised their living area to pay less taxes. These housing style is unique to Malacca and can be found along Jonker Street.
Visitors in Malacca can not only appreciate the cultural offerings of the state, but also its responsibility towards maintaining, restoring and preserving an important piece of Malaysian and Southeast Asian history.
