REGISTERED MELAKA BASED TOUR GUIDE

Mr. Low who is a registered tour guide based in Melaka has agreed to be part of our team at Tourism Melaka to promote Melaka to visitors. He is an English speaking tour guide.
Mr.Low has been tour guiding tourists from Star cruise ships into Melaka from Singapore which ply into Melaka fortnightly.

Mr. Low can provide private tours to tourists in groups or in smaller groups.
His services are available on demand and can be contacted at lowkianchye@gmail.com or on his mobile at +6012-2091187.

NEW COASTAL FROM LIMBONGAN TO KLEBANG BESAR

A 4 lane coastal road is opened from Limbongan to Klebang Besar.

NEW ROAD WORKS AROUND MELAKA

They are going to build a flyover at Perringgit Point Traffic light and widen the road from GH to Sirim and Manipal Collage. 

Another flyover will be built at MITC traffic light. 

Two more flyovers are to be built at Pantai Hospital traffic light and Bukit Baru waterfall traffic light.

When all these flyovers are completed, the road from Ayer Keroh toll to GH will be  a 6 lane highway. This will solve the traffic jam problem especially during the weekends.

At the same time, a new coastal road from Limbongan to Klebang has opened to traffic. Less jam from Limbongan to Klebang now. Hopefully, in the future, this coastal road will link to Port Dickson.

HERITAGE CITY STATUS - A GAIN OR A CURSE

November 23, 2015 11:00 am JST

Sustainable tourism

Melaka highlights pros and cons of World Heritage listing

Tourists take a picture in front of the popular A' Famosa in Malaysia's historical town of Malacca. © Reuters

BANGKOK -- Arguably, no city in Asia is more evocative of the meeting of East and West than Malaysia's Melaka, also known as Malacca -- founding principality of the Malay peninsula, coveted and conquered by numerous European powers for its location on the strategic shipping lane of the Malacca Straits. But since 2008, when Melaka was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in a joint bid with George Town, in Penang state, the fragile outpost has succumbed to more modern foes: a surge in tourism from 7.5 million visitors annually to more than 12 million, a steep rise in property values and rents, and the construction of towering hotels, malls and new towns teeming with high-rises around its periphery.

     "Before the inception of Unesco World Heritage, our town was rustic and unpretentious, full of unique flavors, hybrid races, the smell of incense, wood houses, the muddy river, the sounds of craftsmen at work," said Bert Tan, head of the local Malaysian History and Heritage Club, and a resident of Melaka. "But World Heritage status has changed Melaka from a quiet community to the monstrosity of tourist commercialism and business. Old traders have been replaced by fancy bars and hotels. We have cartoon heritage, monstrous mega-projects, Hello Kitty buildings."

     Melissa Chan, curator of the historic Baba Nyonya House, noted: "The positive impact of World Heritage status has been an increase in visitors to Melaka. However, it seems to attract visitors who come primarily for the entertainment
value rather than the appreciation of a heritage town." Chan added, "There definitely isn't enough effective check-and-balance on new development projects. By the time the community knows about a pending development, it is too late and foundation work has already started.

     The World Heritage program, launched in 1972 and run by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was meant to safeguard the obviously great achievements of humanity -- "the 100 or so landmarks like the Pyramids [in Egypt]," explained Unesco program officer Montira Horayangura Unakul. But it has now expanded to include more than 1,000 sites around the globe. With hundreds more clamoring to win similar recognition (China and India have each proposed around 50 candidates), Montira acknowledged an ongoing debate within the U.N. about the program's reach.

     Unesco officials argue that World Heritage status helps focus outside funding, attention and the aid of world-class specialists on preserving endangered cultural patrimony. But in 2008, a "process of reflection" about the future of the World Heritage Convention, an international agreement on the protection of natural and cultural heritage sites, was approved to facilitate discussion of issues such as geographic balance and a possible narrowing of the criteria for selection.

Help and protection

The program can boast many successes, such as designation this year of the first
World Heritage site in Myanmar -- the so-called Pyu Cities, abandoned ruins of the cradle of Burmese civilization, which desperately need renovation, study and
robust safeguards. There are also many other sites that are crying out for help and protection, such as Chandigarh, the capital of the Punjab, India, which was planned by the great architect Le Corbusier. While it awaits World Heritage designation, as part of a worldwide bid for many Le Corbusier works, Chandigarh's magnificent state buildings suffer from a poor state of maintenance.

     However, even a casual survey of the World Heritage program's impact in Asia shows that it can be a double-edged sword. Nearly everywhere, the global branding that accompanies designation spurs a growth in tourism and investment, often leading to the cultural dilution or destruction of the communities it seeks to preserve.

     In Melaka, "people have been driven out as the housing market has skyrocketed," said Ee Soon Wei, heir to the 19th-century Royal Press, a printing house that is now a museum and has become a major icon of restoration within Melaka's Old City. Residential market prices rose by 10% last year and the cost of terraced houses has increased by just over 50% since 2010. "There's no regulation of speculators, and the highest bidders win. There's no aesthetic, no feeling for the past," said Ee. "Where's the governance? Who is accountable?"

     Lijiang, in China's Yunnan Province, was a tiny, traditional mountain hamlet, interlaced with clear waters flowing in stone canals -- until, marketed as the real "Shangri-La," it became flooded with 4 million Chinese tourists in the first year after receiving its World Heritage listing. Almost overnight, the canals were lined with restaurants and tacky souvenir shops.

     The glittering temples and surrounding scenery of Luang Prabang, ancient capital of Laos, also saw a huge increase in tourism after it won World Heritage status in 1995. While temples and antiquities are well tended, the modern town has been made more uniform by a proliferation of hotels conforming to a "Unesco-approved" design.

     Major monuments of the historic, British-built center of George Town, on Penang Island, are now protected. But here, too, longtime preservation advocates such as Clifford Liang, head of the Penang Heritage Trust, complain about the dominance of tourist priorities. Garish hotels have helped to fund the expensive restoration of traditional shop houses, but have also led to the gradual disappearance of inner-city residents and their traditional way of life. "Most of the older generation has vanished," said Liang. "It seems the only model of preservation is painting up old buildings until they are moneymakers."

     Pierpaolo De Giosa, an Italian anthropologist who wrote a thesis on the inhabitants of Melaka's core World Heritage zone, noted, "While the UNESCO World Heritage program claims to empower local communities, the latter are not really empowered -- since the only way to nominate a site for World Heritage is through each nation-state." While countries make the case for selection, local authorities often end up charged with the task of supervising and maintaining the sites.

     In Melaka, "the repeal of the Rent Control Act means many residents of the World Heritage area have left," said De Giosa. "And it does not make any sense to preserve buildings if the local inhabitants are displaced by processes of commercialization, gentrification and so on."

Mundane condominiums

Meanwhile, the small historic core of the city has become overwhelmed by surrounding modernization, proceeding seemingly without limits. "Heritage villages and the old Portuguese settlement, the habitats of coastal fishermen, are all being surrounded by new high-rises," said De Giosa. Mundane condominiums now line the once-atmospheric banks of the Melaka River.

     Singapore's Hatten Group has become a major shaper of the city's landscape, with its Hatten Hotel and Square megamall covering more than 1 million sq. meters. A new project will add a 45-storey tower, two hotels, eight floors of retail space, a theater and a "Time Tunnel" featuring miniature replicas of Melaka's historic sites. In a statement, Hatten chief executive Colin Tan remarked, "In order to maintain our historical relics, we need to boost and sustain tourism."

     Many of the issues arising from World Heritage status are beyond Unesco's legal reach. As a consultative entity, it cannot use the force of law to coerce local or national governments into abiding by certain practices. Its main leverage is to label sites as "in danger" or, in extreme cases, to remove the World Heritage designation. However, only two locations have been delisted in the history of the program, and both were natural refuges whose integrity as environmental sanctuaries had been undermined. Of the 48 sites currently listed as "in danger" of being seriously damaged or destroyed, the only entry in Asia is the Sumatran rainforest.

     Along Melaka's historic Jonker Street, neon signs and billboards aimed at tourists provide a jarring contrast to the restored traditional shop houses on whose roofs they sit. Soon, the problems of over-development may worsen as direct flights to the city begin from Guangzhou, China, adding hordes of tourists on package tours to the existing visitor burden, much of which arrives from Singapore.

     In an effort to fight back, Chan and Tan helped to mount an exhibition (New Old Malacca, Nov. 27-Dec 31, Daily Fix, 55 Jonker Street) at a local gallery, in Chan's view to "create awareness that the soul of Melaka is getting lost." Even when it comes to economics, she noted, "if a heritage city loses its unique identity, it becomes another generic 'me-too' and loses its value."

     Chan and others can only continue to apply pressure on local authorities and developers to stop the relentless trend toward commercialization. Said De Giosa, "World Heritage status is for most Malaysians a source of pride. But I would say that it is a blessing but at the same time a curse."

CHINESE PM VISITS MELAKA

Xinhuanet 

Spotlight: Chinese premier visits Malacca to send message of peace amid U.S. meddling in South China Sea

English.news.cn 2015-11-23 06:10:08

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L, front) interacts with old friends and representatives of local people at San Shu Gong specialty shop in Malacca, Malaysia, Nov. 22, 2015. Li, accompanied by his wife Cheng Hong, visited Malacca on Sunday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

by Xinhua Writers Quan Xiaoshu, Shang Jun

MALACCA, Malaysia, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday squeezed several hours out of his tight schedule in Malaysia to visit Malacca, a port city about two hours' drive from Kuala Lumpur.

The tour, quite distinctive in an itinerary crammed with multilateral and bilateral meetings, featured a diversity of activities from visiting museums to chatting with local folks.

However, it was well beyond a regular travel to get to know the local customs and conditions. More importantly, it was an explicit gesture of China's commitment to peaceful development and common prosperity in East Asia.

China has been playing a leading role in promoting all types of regional cooperation and integration, as the premier demonstrated in the 18th ASEAN-China (10+1) leaders' meeting, the 18th ASEAN-China, Japan andSouth Korea (10+3) leaders' meeting, and the 10th East Asia Summit.

He pledged to offer loans totaling 10 billion U.S. dollars for ASEAN infrastructure as well as free assistance worth 3.6 billion yuan (around 563 million U.S. dollars) to underdeveloped ASEAN nations in 2016.

He also called on China and ASEAN to speed up the upgrade of their free trade area (FTA), and conclude the negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by 2016.

Although most of the nations in the region aspire for closer ties with China, a few countries have been hyping up "China threat" theories and wrongfully accusing China of bullying its neighbors.

Hegemony is never within China's culture and policy, as proved by ancient Chinese navigator Zheng He's great expeditionary voyages during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Li reiterated the message during his stay in Malaysia.

Li made a particular stop at Zheng He Museum in Malacca, a place to commemorate the erstwhile intercontinental voyager, who is also believed to be the initiator of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.

Starting his expeditions more than eight decades earlier than Christopher Columbus, Zheng made seven sea voyages to Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and East Africa from 1405 to 1433, and brought silk, tea and chinaware either as commodities or as gifts to the local people wherever he traveled.

Historical records revealed that Zheng visited Malacca for at least five times, and deepened the friendly exchanges between China and Malaysia in a significant way. Actually, he remains widely admired today for bringing nothing but friendship and prosperity to the places on the route with his big fleets.

However, maritime disputes have been simmering in recent years in the sea area where Chinese ancestors used to sail around. TheUnited States, with its high-profile strategy of rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, is meddling in regional affairs and stoking tensions.

Prior to the meetings, U.S. President Barack Obama labeled the South China Sea as "a major topic," and U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice dubbed it "a central issue of discussion."

Last month, Washington infuriated China and alarmed the region by sailing a naval vessel very close to China's Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.

Earlier Sunday, before he went to Malacca, Li urged countries from outside the region to play a positive and constructive role and refrain from taking actions that may cause tension in this region.

In a five-pronged proposal for peace and stability in the South China Sea, he also suggested that sovereign and jurisdictional disputes in the region be settled through friendly consultation and negotiation.

"Only by expanding our common interests and seeking common ground can we narrow our differences," he told ASEAN nations in an earlier meeting.

SPIRIT PASSED DOWN FOR CENTURIES

Six months before Li's visit to Malacca, Zhai Mo, a well-known Chinese navigator, also made a stop at the famous port city while leading his fleet of unpowered sailboats to retrace the ancient Maritime Silk Road in a bid to pass down Zheng's spirit.

They encountered heavy rain at the Strait of Malacca. "The sea water turned into dark green in the storm, and we approached the shore in rafts," Zhai said while recalling his first landing on Malacca.

"What struck me most is the sharp contrast -- how small the strait is and how huge Zheng He's fleets would have appeared," Zhai said.

Zhai could not even find a proper berth to anchor his boat, which has a draught of only 2.5 meters. It is just beyond his imagination how Zheng's hundreds of vessels and some 28,000 boatmen on board managed to swarm into the strait 600 years ago.

Looking around the exhibits, including boat models and porcelain remains said to be excavated from an ancient warehouse left by Zheng, the premier said he believes it was also the sharp contrast between what Zheng's powerful fleets could have done and what he actually did that won him the everlasting reputation.

As the museum displays, Zheng asked his people to help local soldiers and civilians build city walls, drive away pirates, settle conflicts and keep peace at sea in Malacca. They also passed agricultural and manufacturing technologies and medical skills to the local people.

Commanding the largest and most advanced fleets in his time, Zheng did not bring hostility and conflicts. That embodies the very essence of the traditional Chinese philosophy, where peace and good-neighborliness always come first, Li noted.

Following this spirit, China's development today will never sacrifice the interests of other countries and will always pursue mutual benefit and common development of all its partners, he said, stressing that China is willing to solve maritime disputes through negotiations and dialogues.

Another of Zheng's legacies lies in the bloodline of a very special community in Malaysia -- Baba and Nyonya. They are descendants of Zheng's followers who decided to stay and married the local residents between the 15th and 17th centuries.

In Malacca, Li also visited a museum about these natives of mixed blood, who have inherited both Chinese and Malaysian traditions and formed their own cultures in food, clothes, chinaware and building.

The Baba and Nyonya community is "a vivid example of the friendly exchanges and cultural blending between the two countries," Li said. "They also showcase the openness and tolerance of Zheng He's spirit, which allows different ethnic groups, cultures and religions to live in harmony."

"Learning from the history, we shall further promote cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia," he said.

FUTURE CARRIED BY NEW INITIATIVE

The premier, who also met with the Malacca governor and inspected a miniature of an industrial park, did not come here only to recall the past glory.

Malacca, located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, not only plays a critical role in China-Malaysia friendship since ancient times, but also stands at a key point along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinpingin 2013.

In an early step to put the initiative into action, the Malacca State established a friendly partnership with South China's Guangdong Province in September, and the industrial park is a major project currently under construction by companies from both sides.

Listening attentively to the introduction about the industrial park, Li said he is pleased to know that Malacca has worked out detailed planning for the project and launched a series of preferential policies.

"The industrial park, with distinct geographical advantages and vast development prospects, will not only stimulate the local economy, but also boost a cluster of industries and promote practical cooperation between China and Malaysia," Li said.

The park was associated with the grand Malacca Gateway project. After China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, which also comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt, the Malaysian government has decided to expand it as an active response to the proposal.

The project, covering more than 610 acres with two man-made islands and a natural one, was originally planned to comprise a cruise ship port, a service department, hotels and theme parks to invigorate the tourism and service industries.

After the expansion, it will turn into a center of tourism, logistics and high-tech marine industries, with a deep sea port, a ship yard and a duty-free trade zone added to the construction list.

More than 300,000 ships pass through Malacca every year, but due to a lack of related facilities, these ships have to wait for a long time to be served, which shows the urgency to build a new seaport terminal, Idris Haron, chief minister of Malacca State, once explained.

Haron said he had met more than 50 delegations, most of which came from Guangdong, since he took office about two and a half years ago, and he had visited China for at least seven times for the purpose of promoting cooperation.

The Chinese premier, who will hold talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday, said he hopes that what is going on in Malacca serves as an example for future bilateral cooperation and for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative among Southeast Asian countries.

The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering a population of 4.4 billion people, will connect markets along its route and produce enormous economic potential.

"I hope the initiative will bring more markets and jobs to the local people and enterprises in Malacca," Haron said.

That is exactly what it is meant to do.

"China's development will first benefit its neighbors, including Malaysia, and I expect that everyone can seize the opportunity to contribute to the friendship and common development between China and ASEAN nations," Li said.

(Qu Ting and Zhao Bochao also contributed to the story.)

PANGGONG BANGSAWAN OPENS

The former Cathay cinema has been opened as Panggong Bangsawan Melaka.
Patrons can watch bangsawan live shows and performances at this new premises.
Hopefully, with the opening of this panggong, we can keep our songs, music and performances can be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Besides bangsawan, this panggong can also be used to show case other cultural heritage such as Chinese opera and music and Indian cultural shows as well.

CHINA PM VISITS MELAKA

China PM to make historical visit to Malacca

Warm welcome: Li (right) being escorted by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai upon his arrival in Kuala Lumpur for the 27th Asean summit. — Bernama
 
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is in town for the Asean Summit, is making a detour to historical city Malacca.

The visit tomorrow is set to be a momentous one, cementing ties between the city-port and China, which began when Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) sailed to Malacca more than 600 years ago.

Li’s trip will begin with a briefing by Chief Minister Datuk Seri idris Haron on development projects in the city.

Together with his wife Cheng Hong, the premier will get to experience Malacca’s unique Chinese-Malay heritage at the Baba Nyonya heritage museum.

He will visit the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum, built on top of the site where the admiral’s warehouse once stood, and also the Sky Tower observatory deck on the 43rd floor of The Shore shopping complex.

Sky Tower CEO Chew Chert Fong was delighted when told that he would escort the Chinese Prime Minister to the pinnacle of The Shore’s building, currently the tallest structure in the state.

On Monday, Li will attend the Malaysia-China High Level Economic Forum and meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya.

CHINESE TO INVEST IN MALACCA GATEWAY

RM43bil investment in Malacca Gateway a boost to Malaysia, says Liow
BY R.S.N.
Ambitious project: KAJ Development Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Michelle Ong (fourth from right) briefing Liow (fourth from left) and Yang (fifth from left) on the Malacca Gateway project at Pulau Melaka. With them are Malacca state secretary Datuk Wira Naim Abu Bakar (sixth from left) and state Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong (third from left).
MALACCA: China’s investment of US$10bil (RM43bil) in the Malacca Gateway project can further spur the growth of seaports in the country to be on par with harbours in the region, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
“China is recognised for its top 10 seaports in the world and Malaysia can anticipate its very own top-notch seaport with the expertise and fiscal commitment from China in unveiling a high-value harbour here,” he said.
Liow was accompanying his counterpart from China, Yang Chuantang, on a tour of Pulau Melaka yesterday.
The Chinese Transport Minister and his entourage checked out the development at Malacca Gateway, a project with an estimated gross developmental value of RM40bil spanning 246ha, including on a reclamation site.
Launched on Feb 7 last year, the project is set to become the largest private marina in South-East Asia upon completion by 2025 with 12 precincts, including residential, commercial, cultural, entertainment and lifestyle elements.
Liow said the Federal Government had in principal agreed to the Chinese initiative in developing a deep-sea port and Ocean Park at Malacca Gateway as part of its backing for the “One Belt, One Road” vision by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We are talking about a huge investment by the Chinese,” he said, adding that it would be a win-win situation for both nations.
“Malacca will be recognised as the largest port in this region,” he said.
Liow said Malacca Gateway would see the development of three man-made islands where China would play a pivotal role in the project.

NEW EXCITING ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS TO MELAKA

Explore life and lies at Melaka’s latest hotspots

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Tourists make beelines for Melaka to admire its distinctive historical architecture and unique, generations-old traditions. But a recent mushrooming of new attractions with modern – even futuristic – enticements is affording visitors a novel perspective on one of the oldest cities of the Straits of Malacca. So, if you’re planning a visit to the city centre soon, consider extending your stay and expanding your itinerary to include the following destinations:

The Shore Oceanarium Melaka
Oceanarium Melaka affords visitors an interactive, 3D experience of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Its innovative, fun and educational showcases include an Interactive Touch Pool, live jungle and marine exhibits, a Scheduled Feeding Show, and a 3D Interactive Theatre.

Where: 2F-01, The Shore Shopping Gallery
Hours: 10.30am-9pm daily
Tel: +606 282 9966
Website: www.oceanariummelaka.com

Upside Down House Melaka
It’s a topsy-turvy world at the Upside Down House! Experience what Spiderman feels like and explore different parts of a realistic modern home – including its fully-furnished living room, kids’ bedroom, toilet and kitchen – while walking on the ceiling.

Where: G12 & G14, Jalan PM 7, Plaza Mahkota
Hours: 10am-7pm (Mon-Thurs); 10am-9pm (Fri-Sun, public & school holidays)
Tickets: RM15 (adult); RM10 (child)
Tel: +6011 1072 2260
Website: www.facebook.com/upsidedownhousemelaka

Magic Art 3D Museum Melaka
Have fun messing around with optical illusion art that makes for great picture backdrops. Showcases are divided by themes – such as ‘Angkor Wat’ and ‘the Arctic’ – and visitors can perform great feats such as ‘battle giant marine monsters’ and ‘leap over deep crevices.’

Where: G19 Bayou Square, Bayou Lagoon Park Resort
Hours: 10am-7pm (Mon-Thurs); 9am-9pm (Fri-Sun, public & school holidays)
Tickets: RM25 (adult); RM20 (child & senior citizen)
Tel: +606 231 1604
Website:www.facebook.com/1st.In.Melaka.MagicArt3DMuseum

Photographfie Art Gallery Melaka
A fun mixture of the Upside Down House and the Magic Art 3D Museum, Photographfie (a combination of ‘photograph’ and ‘selfie’), this ‘3D Illusion Gallery’ lets visitors ‘lose their heads’, be ‘stabbed’ by metal rods, climb living room walls and ‘shrink’ their partner.

Where: 10 & 10-1, Jalan Plaza Merdeka, Plaza Merdeka
Hours: 10am-8pm (Mon-Thurs); 10am-10pm (Fri-Sun)
Tickets: RM25 (adult); RM12 (child & senior citizen)
Tel: +606 281 2941
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Photographfie-Art-Gallery/1398226487148981

From an article published by celebrated photographer, blogger and social media strategist, David Hogan Jr, in the award-winning travel website http://blog.malaysia-asia.my.

HAPPY DEEPAVALI TO ALL HINDUS GLOBALLY

Deepavali will be celebrated on 10th. November this year.

Tourism Melaka want to express our best wishes to all Hindus around the world in celebrating this auspicious occasion.

HAPPY DEEPAVALI or DIWALI

MELAKA ART FESTIVAL FROM 27 TO 29 NOVEMBER 2015

MELAKA ART & PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL IS BACK!

Seventh Instalment Features Over 35 Global Artists to Enliven the Historic City of Melaka

The world’s largest and only site-specific art and performance festival on a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Melaka Art and Performance Festival (MAPFest), returns to Melaka for its seventh instalment from 27 to 29 November 2015. More than 35 local and international artists will muster around the vicinity of St. Paul’s Hill and transform the heritage city into a piece of art. The 3-day festival is a free and accessible event for all.

“MAPFest is a platform created for the artists. We saw tremendous growth in interest towards the arts and performing arts industry within the region over the years. We strongly believe that MAPFest will continue to pave the way in nurturing and cultivating artists for the country and the world,” said Andrew Ching, founder and producer of MAPFest.

Over the years, the festival has attracted tens of thousands of foreign and local festival-goers to the historical site.  This year, artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, France, Poland, Singapore and Russia collaborates to present international quality performances from various practices of arts including dance, performing art, visual arts installation, film and music.

Andrew added that over the years, MAPFest grew into a world-renowned brand amongst the global art community. “The festival was nominated and won multiple awards by various local and international bodies. Our achievements today would not be possible without the continuous and restless support from our artists, partners and fans.”

MAPFest 2015 keeps it fresh with specialty components such as Cerita Pendik (Short Works) Visual Arts Installation, film screening as well as forums and workshops. Other highlights include collaborative performance – ‘Eulogy for The Living’, MAPPING programme, fine and contemporary arts display at local galleries around Melaka City, and a Children’s Art Festival at SMK Canossa Convent Malacca.

“The festival remains free for all and this gives the artists a freer range of expression. This was what made the festival unique. Artists freely collaborate, learn and experiment in the fundamental creative spirit. We have contemporary dancers, musicians, visual and new media artists alongside shamans from rural Java. We voice stories of transformations, rites of passages and concerns of the inner conscience. We have highly accomplished artist to work with young and emerging from all social-economic and cultural backgrounds. The profundity of themes and artistic relationships have grown, given birth to many further collaborations, networks and exchanges,” said Tony Yap, Creative Director of MAPFest.

He added that the festival is hard to fund but the wealth is beyond the entertainment and industry of spectaculars. “This is the message we get from the artists and audiences, and this is what kept us going.”

MAPFest 2015 is directed by Tony Yap in his capacity as Festival Creative Director. He was one of the principle performers with IRAA Theatre from 1989 to 1996, and has worked extensively in Australia and internationally, including the Agamemnon Festival, Colline Torinese in Italy and The Trojan Woman at the Vienna International Art Festival. As the founding Artistic Director of Mixed Company (now the Tony Yap Company) in 1993, he has made a commitment to the exploration and creation of an individual dance theatre language that is informed by psy-physical research, Asian Shamanistic Trance Dance, Butoh Voice and Visual Design.

MAPFest 2015 is produced by Arts & Performance Festival Melaka Sdn Bhd, initiated by E-Plus Entertainment Productions, and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Visit Malaysia Year 2015, Jabatan Warisan Negara, Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB), Bandar Warisan Malaysia, Tony Yap Company, Perbadanan Muzium Melaka (PERZIM), the Australian High Commission, the Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia, the Embassy of France, Alliance Français de Kuala Lumpur, Estadia by Hatten, Institut Français and iM4U (Official Volunteer Platform).

For more information and updates about MAPFest 2015, please visit:

Website                         : www.melakafestival.com

Facebook                      : Melaka Art & Performance Festival

Instagram                      : mapfest