Melaka wants to promote Penarikan Portage as tourist product, where history comes alive
The state government will look into promoting the historical Penarikan Portage (Laluan Penarikan) as part of the state’s tourist attraction. Pic by NSTP/ Jane Raj
MELAKA: The state government will look into promoting the historical Penarikan Portage (Laluan Penarikan) as part of the state’s tourist attraction.
State secretary Datuk Seri Naim Abu Bakar said the Penarikan Portage, a route which was used by Malay traders in ancient times for easy access between Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor, could be made an attractive tourism product.
“It is exciting to see and experience the re-enactment of the historical Penarikan Portage through this expedition. It has helped us understand our history.
“The expedition has helped deepen the relationship of the four participating states,” he said after the closing the Penarikan Portage expedition at the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum in Banda Hilir on Friday.
The five-day expedition saw the involvement of 100 crew members and 45 participants, which began from Sungai Pekan, Pahang.
Participants from all four states boarded several boats and undertook a river journey, similar to the route plied by Malay traders from olden days, which covered 600 kilometres.
Naim is proposing for the expedition to be held yearly to provide more opportunity for Malaysians to learn more about the history of Melaka.
Playing the role of Hang Tuah was 31-year-old Pangiran Nurdian Shah, who works in Kuala Lumpur, while playing the role of Tun Teja was played by 28-year-old Murni Safinaz Abu Salim.
“I am honoured to play the role of a historical warrior, where acting as Hang Tuah for the period of five days has not only taught me self-confidence but I’ve managed to immersed myself and learned about the rich history of Malaysia.
“Like myself, I hope that the younger generation will be curious to learn more about our history,” said Pangiran Nurdian.
As for Murni Safinaz, she said the expedition had given her a chance to do an in-depth research on Tun Teja.
“I took weeks to prepare ahead of the expedition. I did a lot of reading on how to talk and walk and gesture to make the experience as real as possible,” she said.
A student from University College of Islam Melaka, Muhammad Nurfaiss Sarif said that the expedition has instilled in him a love for history.
“It was an eye-opening experience for me. I have never been a fan of history but now, I am starting to love history because it was such a great journey and I got to learn about Hang Tuah’s history on the ground,” he said.
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