ENJOY A SPLASHING TIME IN MELAKA

Published: Monday July 14, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 
Updated: Monday July 14, 2014 MYT 11:43:50 AM

Have a splash in Malacca

BY R.S.N. MURALI

Bayou Lagoon in Bukit Katil Melaka is the state’s newest water park.

   

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THE hot weather is driving more tourists to seek respite in Malacca’s water theme parks.

Strategically situated midway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore along the North-South Expressway, the state government is eager to promote its three theme parks to those looking for an aquatic holiday.

All three theme parks have come up with ideas in keeping guests comfortable beyond the water rides.

Newer attractions are being planned with more thrilling rides and shaded places to please the thrill-seekers and their families.

Nusantara tourist magazine editor Vincent Low said water parks was a big business in Malacca with some two million holidaymakers registered visiting these parks, annually.

“A good water park will have thrilling rides and slides and side attractions.

“Water theme parks are another reason why tourists flock to the historic Malacca,” he said.

Malacca’s water theme parks are trying their best to keep their customers’ interested in what they have to offer as new innovations and design are being put in place to offer the ultimate water park experience.

A’Famosa and Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort are expected to unveil new attractions at the end of this month while the new kid on the block, Bayou Lagoon Resort is stepping up marketing and branding efforts to lead theme park visitors to the latest attraction by promoting its proximity to Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza.

A’ Famosa Water World

A’Famosa Water World is the oldest water theme park in Malacca and is part of a 520ha ‘integrated resort’ where its Water World attracts the bulk of visitors.

Fun is taken to dizzying heights with seven-storey high-speed slides at A'Famosa Water World.

 

The park, dubbed the ‘Largest Water Theme Park in Malaysia’, is surrounded by vast tropical gardens.

There are 12 types of slides and water-based recreational activities, namely — Lazy River, Wave Pool, Body Slide, High Speed Slide, Inner Tube Slide, Family Raft Slide, Kids Adventure Pool, Arabian Village and Sand Beach.

The latest attractions, Big Ice Cream and Aqua Extreme, will debut on July 25.

The main highlight at the park is the Family Raft Slide, which is a giant inflatable ring capable of holding three adults and two children.

Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort

Melaka Wonderland opened its doors in 2010 and is an attraction for families wanting to experience a wholesome water park experience and high-speed water slides.

The park consists of several slides catering for both children and adults with added features for those keen indulging in adrenaline-rush activities.

The adventure island and children's playground at Melaka Wonderland.

 

The park features 16 attractions, among others Tornado Chaser, Lazy cum Crazy River, Big Wave Pool, Adventure Island while surrounded by 360ha of natural recreational forest.

The park’s management is expected to unveil more attractions when the facelift is completed by end of this month.

Bayou Lagoon Resort

Located a mere 15 minutes away from the historic city and a stone’s throw away from the Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza, Bayou Lagoon Park Resort is an award-winning development, comprising an exclusive water theme park hotel.

Less than a year since making its debut, the water-theme park is poised to be the top holiday destination in the state once the total development at the site is completed.

The park’s management is going all out to design a water theme park resort that will appeal to children.

Currently, the park in Bukit Katil consists of waterslides, children’s pool, shooting water cannons, spiral slides and an adult pool.

MALACCA FIRST CHINATOWN

Published: Friday June 27, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 
Updated: Friday June 27, 2014 MYT 10:34:03 AM

Malacca's first Chinatown

BY M. VEERA PANDIYAN

The back of most shophouses in Kampung Pantai are painted with colourful murals depicting scenes of Malacca.

   

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THIS is one place where business has gone on as usual, from as early as the 17th Century.

Kampung Pantai, located along the west bank of the Malacca River has never ceased being a hectic trading hub.

It was Malacca’s original Chinatown during Dutch rule between 1641 and 1845 before the shophouses spread east across the river.

The choice was not by coincidence.

The river bank (pantai in Malay, or pantei as the Peranakan folk pronounce it), provided easy access for goods to be loaded into the godowns at the back of the shophouses.

The word, godown, by the way, can be traced to the Malay word gudang and earlier to the Tamil kitangu or gadangu in Kannada, both of which mean store or warehouse.

Most of the early merchants, from the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, and the island of Hainan imported rice, flour, salt, preserved vegetables, textiles, traditional medicines and Chinese wine.

A view of the Malacca River and pedestrian walkway behind the street.

 

Kampung Pantai’s business ties to mainland China is arguably the oldest in the country.

Even during the Communist insurgency and after independence when restrictions were placed on business links with China, traders here continued to import goods from the country as usual, thanks to the roles played by local Chinese associations and guilds.

By the early 1920s, Kampung Pantai was so chock-a-block with shophouses, and hawker stalls that the then Crown Colony’s resident councillor closed it to motorised traffic.

Not that there were that many cars then, save for the occasional Wolseley, Humber, Maxwell or Nash.

Most people moved about on horse carts called gharries, bullock carts or rode on rickshaws.

Hwee Hean, whose grandfather started the Koh Beng Huat teashop, packing tea into smaller packs.

 

But the early types of buses, called charabanc — featuring seven rows of seats, canopy tops, luggage rails and roll-up side curtains — were already in service in Malacca.

By 1912, there were seven such vehicles — three Dennis, two Belhaven and a Daimler and an Albion.

Motor traffic was allowed to re-enter the street in 1925, after more than 70 Chinese shopkeepers sent an appeal to the councillors, stating that their businesses had been badly affected by the barring.

But the street remained the most congested and also most densely populated up to the late 1930’s, so much so that it was described as a “town planner’s nightmare”.

Not much has changed since then.

It is still crammed, no thanks to the continuous number of trucks loading and unloading goods along the street.

It is also one of the few places left where the tricycle cart is still used to move goods for short distances.

A wholesale shop worker sorting freshly arrived dates.

 

Many of the old shophouses, built in the 1920s and 1930s, still stand today with businesses that can be traced to between three or four generations.

This is where you can buy a mind boggling array of things — from rattan and bamboo goods, lion dance paraphernalia, traditional Chinese gift baskets, second-hand books, lanterns in all shapes and sizes, fruits — fresh, dried or pickled, Chinese wine and tea.

The most famous tea shop on the road is Koh Beng Huat, which offers a wide variety of teas from China and from elsewhere in Asia.

The third generation descendants of founder Koh Beng Jin, runs the business today.

Visitors are likely to see Beng Jin’s friendly granddaughter Koh Hwee Hean, keeping herself busy by packing tea into smaller packets in the middle of the narrow shop lined with teaboxes.

Like in most nearby streets, many of the pre-war shophouses have now been converted into budget hotels and backpacker lodges but Kampung Pantai is also famous for its old coffeeshops and food stalls.

Among the popular eateries include Long Fatt which serves traditional Teochew porridge accompanied by scrumptious side dishes.

The assam fish is the favourite of friends who frequent the place.

Among the things that make Kampung Pantai a fascinating place is the two contrasting views it offers to visitors.

While the front is a bustling business hub, the riverside of the street provides beautiful sights and serenity.

The back walls of the former godowns are now painted with colourful and dramatic murals, making this the loveliest stretch for those taking a boat ride on the river.

This is the place where tourists taking the 5km-long Malacca river cruise, take most of their pictures during the 45-minute ride.

The cruise has become a popular tourist attraction.

Last year, it recorded 1.2 million passengers, generating revenue of RM8.1mil for the state.

ERL EXTENSION TO MELAKA?

Putrajaya Mulls RM8b ERL Extension From KLIA To Malacca

Published on Monday, 26 May 2014 11:11

 

PIC: railwaygazette.comKUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is considering extending the current express rail link (ERL) service from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang to Malacca.

Citing unnamed sources, The News Straits Times said in a report today that the possible ERL extension plan will cost RM8 billion and will require the purchase of new train sets, construction of a new alignment and  communications and signalling system.

Government sources were quoted as saying that could be two to four stations, including a confirmed stop in Seremban and that the KLIA-Seremban stretch could be about 45km, with another 45km to 55km from Seremban to Malacca.

The project's go-ahead would depend on a feasibility study to be undertaken by the Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERLSB) currently operates the ERL services between KL Sentral in Brickfields and KLIA. ERLSB is a joint-venture company between YTL Corp Bhd, Lembaga Tabung Haji and Trisilco Equity Sdn Bhd, with a 50, 40 and 10 per cent interest in the company respectively.

The company was awarded a 30-year concession in August 1997 to finance, build, maintain and control the operations.

The original RM2.4 billion 57km ERL line was financed through equity mergers (RM500 million), loans from Development and Infrastructure Bank of Malaysia (RM940 million) and import credit from four German financial institutions.

ERLSB chief executive officer Noormah Mohd Noor told the NST that the proposed ERL extension to Malacca would help ease congestion on major highways in the Klang Valley.

"It is a good idea as it would help ease the burden of passengers travelling daily from Seremban and Malacca to Kuala Lumpur. Instead of building more roads, the government should channel the funds for railway development," she said.

-The Malay Mail

SIKHS CONVERGE AT MELAKA SOLE GURDWARA

Published: Sunday May 25, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Sunday May 25, 2014 MYT 7:58:04 AM

50,000 Sikhs converge at Malacca’s sole gurdwara

BY R.S.N. MURALI

Volunteers rolling out chapati during the anniversary of revered missionary Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji at Malacca’s sole gurdwara.

   

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MALACCA: Over 50,000 Sikhs from all over the region turned the historic city into a sea of turbans when they converged at Malacca’s sole gurdwara to commemorate the anniversary of revered missionary Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji.

The commemoration that began on Friday reached its climax yesterday when devotees and pilgrims made a beeline for the temple at Jalan Temenggong here.

The temple also witnessed daily recitals of the Kritan (holy verses), chanting and singing of religious hymns and reading of the holy scriptures a day before the three-day festival.

The annual commemoration that is observed in the third week of May was also attended by several renowned Sikh priests from India, as well as community leaders from Australia, Canada and Asian countries.

Over 50 stalls were also set up within the temple compound and along Jalan Temenggong, selling a host of merchandise ranging from traditional foodstuff to religious articles.

United Sikhs Malaysia, an NGO representing the local Sikh community, also completed a 300km goodwill walk from Singapore at 6pm yesterday.

The walk, which commenced on May 17, was led by Rishi Singh Randhawa from Singapore’s Silat Road Gurdwara Sahib.

MELAKA INTERNATIONAL RIVER FESTIVAL 2014

Melaka River International Festival 2014 Starts This May 22

Melaka River International Festival 2014MELAKA, May 14 (Bernama) -- Eleven world class events will be among 80 activities being organised during the one-month long Melaka River International Festival 2014 which starts this May 22.

Malacca River and Coastal Development (PPSM) chief executive, Baharom Majid said these events included a remote boat control competition and Melaka River international seminar.

He said among the events that were expected to attract the people's attention was the international dragon boat race, which would be participated by 50 groups from 25 countries, including Hong Kong, China, Brunei, South Africa and England.

"This competition will start on May 31 and participants will row for 200 metres from Melaka river mouth to vie for the Melaka Tuan Yang Terutama trophy," he told a media conference here Wednesday.

On that day, Baharom said spectators would also have the opportunity to witness 50 decorated boats competition at the opening of the festival at the Melaka River Square at 8.30 pm on May 31.

"We are aiming for about 20,000 people at the festival's opening ceremony and 1.2 million during the one-month long festival that ends on June 22," he said.

Free boat service would also be provided for those, who parked their vehicles at Taman Rempah starting from 6 pm, he added.

-- BERNAMA

ARE THESE COINS THE MALACCA TREASURES AT PULAU NANGKA

Published: Friday May 2, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Friday May 2, 2014 MYT 6:53:01 AM

Salvage company makes discovery one hour before contract expires

by r.s.n. murali

Hole in one: The copper coins said to be found during excavation work at Pulau Nangka, Malacca.

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MALACCA: The Pulau Nangka treasure hunt may have hit paydirt.
Workers of the salvaging company were said to have discovered two copper medallions, believed to be part of the billion ringgit wealth buried in the tiny island from the time of the Malacca Sultanate.
The discovery was made at 11pm on Wednesday, just an hour before the contract awarded to Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd, the company commissioned since January to detect and salvage the treasure, expired.
The relics were discovered as the workers drilled through the wall of the cavern to search for the remaining bounty, which was believed to be stored in 20 chambers inside the cave.

Malacca Museum Corporations (Perzim) general manager Datuk Khamis Abas said the inscriptions on the relics revealed that they had different characters and symbols.
One had inscriptions in Arabic or Jawi while the other had Sanskrit or ancient Pallava Tamil, indicating that they could date back to the Majapahit Kingdom era.
“After initial sighting of the relics, we believe the items are medallions based on their size but further research is needed before we can actually confirm which era the medallions are from,” he said yesterday.
On Wednesday, State Works, Public Utilities, Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghafaar Atan had announced that Smart Partnership International, which was given a four-month contract beginning last January, had until Wednesday midnight to locate the treasure.
The Malacca Government was planning to commission another Kuala Lumpur-based firm, Legend Treasures Sdn Bhd, to continue the search and excavation.
Yesterday, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron confirmed the finding but wanted the relevant authorities to determine the authenticity of the relics and if it was deliberately planted there.
“Carbon dating will be conducted to determine the finer details of the relics.
“One of the coin (medallions) will undergo laboratory test by certified archaeologists,” he said.
Idris said that if the coins were found to be authentic, Smart Part­nership would have its contract extended.
The Star, on its front-page exclusive on the treasure island on Apri14, reported that the state government had given permits to two local companies to carry out excavation work under strict conditions set by Perzim.
There has been talk about treasure on the island for a long time and there have been many attempts by treasure hunters to find it, with some even using dynamite to blow up boulders to get to the cavern.
According to villagers, the buried cave is protected by a curse or by spirits.
A small group of people managed to get into the cave about 30 years ago but none could take out any of the treasure. They reportedly came out dazed and in a trance-like state after seeing, among other things, more than 80 chests of gold inside.
It was learnt that representatives of the company appointed by the state government had sought spiritual help before undertaking their venture.