Malacca (dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after

Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. Sultanate of Malacca Before the arrival of the first Sultan, Malacca was a fishing village inhabited by local Malays. Malacca was founded by Parameswara, also called Iskandar Shah or Sri Majara, the last Raja of Singapura (present day Singapore) following a Majapahit attack in 1377. He found his way to Malacca around 1400 where he found a good portit was accessible in all seasons and on the strategically located narrowest point of the Malacca Straits.[3] According to a popular legend, Parameswara was resting under a tree near a river while hunting, when one of his dogs cornered a mouse deer. In self-defence, the mouse deer pushed the dog into the river. Impressed by the courage of the deer, and taking it as a propitious omen of the weak overcoming the powerful, Parameswara decided on the spot to found an empire on that very spot. He named it 'Melaka' after the tree under which he had taken shelter. Another version of the story says that Parameswara chose the name 'Malacca' from the Tamil word 'mallakka' which means upside down or on ones back. Old illustrations of the scene where the mousedeer kicks the dog shows the dog falling on its back into the river, hence the inspiration.

In collaboration with allies from the sea-people (orang laut), the wandering proto-Malay privateers of the Straits, he established Malacca as a major international port by compelling passing ships to call there, and establishing fair and reliable facilities for warehousing and trade.[3] Mass settlement of Chinese, mostly from the imperial and merchant fleet occurred during the reign of Parameswara in the vicinity of Bukit China ("Chinese Hill") , which was perceived as having excellent Feng Shui (geomancy). Sultan Iskandar Shah died in 1424.

The prosperity of Malacca attracted the attention of the Siamese. Attempts at invasion made in 1446 and 1456, however, were warded off by Tun Perak, the then Bendahara (a position similar to Prime Minister). The development of relations between Malacca and China was a strategic decision to ward off further Siamese attacks. pore) and was succeeded by his son, Sri Maharaja also called Sultan Muhammad Shah.

Because of its strategic location, Malacca was an important stopping point for Zheng He's fleet. To enhance relations, Hang Li Po, a princess of the Ming Emperor of China, arrived in Malacca, accompanied by 500 attendants, to marry Sultan Manshur Shah who reigned from 1456 until 1477. Her attendants married the locals and settled mostly in Bukit China (Bukit Cina). (See Zheng He in Malacca). Scholars have disputed Hang Li Po's status, as the Ming Chronicles in China do not mention her as a princess in the Chinese court of the Ming Dynasty. At the time of the arrival of the Sultan's envoy, the reigning Ming Emperor was Jingtai Emperor. Since records of his reign were expunged following Tianshun'a ascension to the throne in 1457, it is likely that records of Hang Li Po's status might no longer exist. Other historical texts do mention that she was a princess in the court of the Yongle Emperor(14021424). A cultural result of the vibrant trade was the expansion of the Peranakan people, who spread to other major settlements in the region. During its prime, Malacca was a powerful Sultanate which extended its rule over the southern Malay Peninsula and much of Sumatra. Its rise helped to hold off the Thai's southwards encroachment and arguably hasten the decline of the rival Majapahit Empire of Java which was in decline as Malacca rose. Malacca was also pivotal in the spread of Islam in the Malay Archipelago. After Vietnam destroyed Champa in the 1471 Vietnamese invasion of Champa, they proceeded to engage in hostilities with Malacca with the intent of conquest. The Chinese government sent a censor, Ch'en Chun, to Champa in 1474 to install the Champa King, but he discovered Vietnamese soldiers had taken over Champa and were blocking his entry. He proceeded to Malacca instead and its ruler sent back tribute to China.[4] Malacca again sent envoys to China in 1481 to inform the Chinese that, while returning to Malacca from China in 1469, the Vietnamese attacked them, castrating the young and enslaving them.

The Malaccans reported that Vietnam was not in control of Champa but sought to conquer Malacca, but the Malaccans did not fight back due to lack of permission from the Chinese to engage in war. The Chinese Emperor scolded them, ordering the Malaccans to strike back with violent force if the Vietnamese attacked.[5]
European colonization

In April 1511, Afonso de Albuquerque set sail from Goa to Malacca with a force of some 1200 men and seventeen or eighteen ships.[6] They conquered the city on August 24, 1511. It became a strategic base for Portuguese expansion in the East Indies. Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Sultan of Malacca, took refuge in the hinterland, and made intermittent raids both by land and sea, causing considerable hardship for the Portuguese. In the meantime, the Portuguese built the fort named A Famosa to defend Malacca (its gate is all that remains of the ruins at present). "In order to appease the King of Ayudhya (Siam), the Portuguese sent up an ambassador, Duarte Fernandes, who was well received by Ramathibodi." in 1511. Finally in 1526, a large force of Portuguese ships, under the command of Pedro Mascarenhas, was sent to destroy Bintan, where Sultan Mahmud was based. Sultan Mahmud fled with his family across the Straits to Kampar in Sumatra, where he died five years later. It soon became clear that Portuguese control of Malacca did not also mean they controlled Asian trade centred there. Their Malaccan rule was severely hampered by administrative and economic difficulties.[7] Rather than achieving their ambition of dominating Asian trade, the Portuguese had disrupted the organisation of the network. The centralised port of exchange of Asian wealth had now gone, as was a Malay state to police the Straits of Malacca that made it safe for commercial traffic. Trade was now scattered over a number of ports among bitter warfare in the Straits.[

The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier spent several months in Malacca in 1545, 1546 and 1549. In 1641, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in an effort to capture Malacca, with the help of the Sultan of Johore. The Dutch ruled Malacca from 1641 to 1798 but they were not interested in developing it as a trading centre, placing greater importance to Batavia (Jakarta) on Java as their administrative centre. However they still built their landmark, better known as the Stadthuys or Red Building. Malacca was ceded to the British in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 in exchange for Bencoolen on Sumatra. From 1826 to 1946 Malacca was governed, first by the British East India Company and then as a Crown Colony. It formed part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Penang. After the dissolution of this crown colony, Malacca and Penang became part of the Malayan Union, which later became Malaysia.

The state of Malacca covers an area of 1,664 km2 (642 sq mi).[1] The state is divided into 3 districts: Central Malacca (Melaka Tengah) (314 km), Alor Gajah (660 km), and Jasin (676 km). Malacca sits upon the southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula opposite Sumatra, with the state of Negeri Sembilan to the north and Johor to the east. Malacca is also situated roughly two-thirds of the way down the west coast, 148 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia and 245 km north of Singapore and commands a central position on the Straits of Malacca. The state capital, Malacca Town. It is strategically located between the two national capitals of Malaysia and Singapore, and connected with excellent roads and highways. Malacca still harbours no train station, though the terminal at Tampin, Negeri Sembilan is easily accessible. However, a domestic airport terminal rests in Batu Berendam.The offshore Pulau Besar, Pulau Upeh and the exclave Tanjung Tuan are also parts of Malacca.

Malacca is administered by its local State Legislative Assembly and Executive Committee (EXCO). The State Assembly represents the highest authority in the state and decides on policy matters. The EXCO is responsible to the State Assembly and comprises members who are appointed every five years by the political party in power. It is headed by the Governor (Yang Di-Pertua Negeri) who is appointed by the Yang diPertuan Agong of Malaysia. The Chief Minister's Department is responsible for the overall administration of the State, as well as its political interest. The administrative complex houses the Chief Minister's office, as well as theoffice of the State Secretariat. For administrative purposes, Malacca is divided into three districts under separate jurisdiction:

Malacca Central District & Land Office Alor Gajah District & Land Office Jasin District & Land Office

These offices render various services and facilities to the people in their daily lives.

District and Local Authority

Malacca is divided into 3 districts and 4 local authorities.

Rank District Area (kmsq) Population (2008) District Seat Local Government Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya

Central Malacca

279.85

473,700

Malacca City

Alor Gajah

660.00

167,600

Majlis Perbandaran Alor Gajah Alor Gajah Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya

Jasin District

676.07

128,000

Jasin

Majlis Perbandaran Jasin Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya

The tourism and manufacturing sectors are the two most important sectors in the state economy. Tourism contributes almost 3/4 of Malacca GDP per annum[citation needed]. Malacca has adopted as its slogan, "Visiting Malacca Means Visiting Malaysia" ("Melawat Melaka Bererti Melawati Malaysia"). It is rich in cultural heritage and bears several places of historical interest. Malacca is home to several modern shopping complexes, hypermarts and department stores. Apart from tourism, Malacca is also a manufacturing centre for products ranging from food and consumer products, through high-tech weaponry and automotive components

to electronic and computerparts. Industrial areas are centred along the edges of the city proper in suburbs which include Batu Berendam, Cheng, Ayer Keroh and Tasik Utama, while outside Malacca city industrial areas include Alor Gajah. Malacca GDP growth rate has always been higher than Malaysia overall GDP growth rate[citation needed], due to the fact that tourism is always least affected by the economic crises.

The establishment of the Malacca Manipal Medical College in Bukit Baru provided quality medical education. It has produced many doctors who are serving the country or working abroad since its inception in 1997. The state has a number of reputable colleges, universities and other higher learning institutions. Malacca has a boarding school, Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Selandar (SBPIS). The Ministry of Education of Malaysia enrols students based on their Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR). A center for juvenile convicts, Henry Gurney Prisoners School, is also situated in Telok Mas, Malacca. Established in 1949 as High Moral School, it was renamed School of Henry Gurney at 15 May 1950. This center runs rehabilitation programs for male juvenile criminals in which they are exposed to living skills such as sewing and cooking and vocational skills such as mechanical repairing. Malacca also has one international school called Melaka International School, which caters to the expatriate community in Malacca.

The historic centre of Malacca was inscribed on the World Heritage List on 7 July 2008 together with George Town, the capital of Penang. The Malays, settled in Malacca since 1400, form the largest community and have a distinctive culture. Two of the most important museums in Malacca are the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum and the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum.

Malacca is well-known for its food; Malay dishes include ikan asam pedas, sambal belacan and cencaluk. Belacan, a Malay variety of shrimp paste, is prepared from fresh shrimp of a species known as keragu in Malay. These are mashed into a paste and dried in lumps, pounded and formed into large balls, dried again for a week or so, wrapped in plastic and stored for future use. It is in this form that most of these blachan balls are sold. Belacan is used as an ingredient in many dishes, or eaten on its own with rice. A common preparation is sambal belacan, made by mixing belacan with chili peppers, minced garlic, shallot paste and sugar and then fried. The aroma from the frying mixture can be unpalatable to Westerners who have not become accustomed to it, but is an absolute delight to the Asian connoisseur. Malacca is also famous for satay celup. Raw fish and meat are skewered onto sticks which is then cooked in a peanut sauce; this is often sold in individual sticks. NyonyaBaba cuisine is a fusion of Chinese (mostly southern Hokkien or Fujian influence), Portuguese, Dutch, Indian, British and Malay cooking with most dishes being spicy in nature. Peranakan dishes include Itik Tim (a soup containing duck and salted vegetables), Ayam Pong Teh (chicken casserole with salted brown-bean sauce usually served with potatoes) as well as the famous Nyonya Laksa. Chicken Rice Ball is another dish popular with domestic Chinese tourists.

Malacca's ethnic Portuguese population are the descendants of Portuguese colonists from the 16th and 17th centuries. Even to this day, many of the traditions originating with the Portuguese occupation are still practised, i.e. "Intrudu" from Portuguese word "Entrudo" (a water festival that marks the beginning of Lent, the Catholicfasting period), "branyu" (traditional dance), "Santa Cruz" (a yearly Festival of street celebrations). The Portuguese colonists contributed dishes like Devil's Curry and Portuguese egg tarts to the town's cuisine. Ikan Bakar (roasted fish) restaurants in Umbai, Serkam and Alai are also popular. There is also a sizeable amount of Sikhs residing in Malacca, and Sikhs from Malacca and abroad congregate in the gurdwara (Sikh temple) situated in Jalan Temenggong during the last weekend of May, to commemorate the death of its former priest, Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji, who was elevated to a saint upon passing away. Visitors are

welcome but are advised to follow rules and common practices within the premises. Typical vegetarian punjabi cuisine will be served to everyone visiting the gurdwara.

BABA NYONYA HOUSE IN MELAKA

Pulau Sebang in Alor Gajah district, 30 km north of Malacca, is the nearest train station that serves Malacca. There were railway tracks from Pulau Sebang to Malacca before World War II but these were dismantled by the Japanese for the construction of the Burmese Death Railway. It was never rebuilt after the war, though traces of the line remain.

Malacca has a bus station, Melaka Sentral which has inter and intracity bus lines. Batu Berendam Airport in Batu Berendam mainly serves chartered flights from around the region. It also serves as a flight school for Malaysia Flying Academy. The Ayer Keroh exit at the North-South highway is the main entry to Malacca. There are two additional exits along the North-South highway, namely the Simpang Ampat and Jasin exits.

Fort A Famosa: Constructed by the Portuguese in 1511, it suffered severe structural damage during the Dutch invasion. The plan by the British to destroy it was aborted as a result of the intervention of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1808.

St. John's Fort: Reconstructed by the Dutch in the third quarter of the 18th century, the cannons in this fort point inland because at that time, the threat to Malacca was mainly from inland rather than the sea.

St. Peter's Church: Constructed in 1710 under the Dutch administration, the church is the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia. Its facade and decorative embellishment is a mix of both eastern and western architecture. Its bell was delivered from Goa in 1608. St. Paul's Church: Constructed by the Portuguese captain, Duarte Coelho, this church was named "Our Lady of The Hill", but was later turned into a burial ground by the Dutch for their noble dead, and renamed "St. Paul's Church". Currently the church is part of the Malaccan Museums Complex. The body of St. Francis Xavier was interred here temporarily before it was taken to Goa, India. Christ Church: Constructed in 1753, the structure reflects original Dutch architecture. The building houses hand-crafted church benches, jointless ceiling skylights, a copper replica of the Bible, a headstone written in theArmenian language, and a replica of "The Last Supper".

Francis Xavier Church: This Gothic church was built by a French priest, Rev. Fabre, in 1849, to commemorate St. Francis Xavier who is also known as the "Apostle of the East". St. Francis Xavier is credited for his Catholic missionary work in Southeast Asia during the 16th century. Stadthuys: Constructed in 1650 as the residence of the Dutch Governor and his deputy, the structure reflects Dutch architecture. It is today the "Museum of History and Ethnography". The museum exhibits traditional wedding clothes and artifacts of Melaka, dating back to its days of glory.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple: Located along Jalan Tokong (formerly Temple Street) in the core zone of the Malacca Unesco World Heritage Site. It is the oldest functioning temple in Malaysia and grandest temple in Malacca. Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat): This street is known for its antique goods. Portuguese Square: Located within the Portuguese Settlement, the square is the culmination of Portuguese culture in its full splendour and colours. Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple: This is the oldest Hindu Temple in Malaysia. It was built in 1781 on land given by the Dutch to the Chitty community. Tranquerah Mosque: The oldest mosque in Malacca. Kampung Kling Mosque: Kampung Kling Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia. It was built around 1784 with the influence of Sumatran architecture. Firstly, theres no Byzantium dome around. It was replaced by a tiered pyramidal

roof. Secondly, just look at the minaret which is structured like a pagoda. There's even Chinese Character carved on the side roof of the mosque.

Statue of St. Francis Xavier

Parameswara was a prince from Palembang. In 1390, he married a daughter of the

Emperor of Majapahit and be loyal to the father-in-law's support. Soon, Parameswara renege on their promises loyal to the Emperor of Majapahit, which continues to send the commander of the drive Annals of Sumatra.Parameswara fled to Tumasek, the old name for Singapore with his family and followers. At that time, Singapore in order by the Governor of the Patani Malays who are appointed by the King of Siam. The Governor has given proper treatment, but Parameswara Parameswara had massacred the governor a few days later and declared himself as the Singapore Government and the islands around it. Annals has ruled Singapore for five years by the reign of such a pirate chief.

In the mid-14th century, the Siamese is currently developing the territory in the northern Malay Peninsula to the state of Pahang, had failed to extend its authority in Singapore, although some attempts have been made to attack Singapore. This is because at that time Majapahit kingdom in the zenith of its power and its strength is feared by other Governments in the Malay Archipelago. Several states along the Straits of Malacca, including Tumasek or is currently Singapore, under the authority of Majapahit. A Javanese of Majapahit navy attacked Singapore during the reign of Parameswara. After beating Singapore, they have returned to Java. It is believed that the attack by Majapahit on the Canadian government is not seen as the fall of Singapore and the flight from Singapore but Parameswara Parameswara continued to rule his kingdom which has deteriorated.

When Parameswara failed to establish a government in two places in Muar, in biawak rotten and the City of Evil, he led his followers to a place called Sening Edge or now known as Sungei Ujung. Annals continue his journey to reach the estuary Bertam, where he founded the Malacca and became the first government circa 1394. However, at that time, Parameswara still Hindus. Therefore, the establishment of the Malay kingdom of Malacca is a continuation of the Malay government in Singapore has fallen . After Malacca was established, Parameswara started developing the area and ordered residents to gardening with plants banana, sugarcane, yam and other crops as a food source. He himself was doing business in Singapore. In a short time, news of the city of Malacca has spread throughout Malaya, Sumatra, Java and India, which led many traders came to Melaka to trade. Two years after opening Parameswara of Malacca, the population has grown about two thousand people.

Soon, news about the city of Melaka became a center of trade has come to China. Yung-Lo, the Chinese emperor who ruled from 1402 until 1424, had sent ambassadors named Ying Ching to Malacca in 1405. Arrival Ching Ying has opened the way in establishing friendly relations between Singapore and China. Chinese traders began calling at the port of Malacca, and they can be considered among the earliest traders to set up base in Singapore. When delegates from Singapore visits homage to the Emperor of China, he praised the Parameswara Parameswara and recognize as legitimate rulers in Malacca. Emperor Yung Lo Parameswara then presented with an insignia, silk and yellow umbrella as a sign of royalty, as well as letter of appointment Parameswara as the ruler of Malacca. Next Malacca recognized as a government by the Emperor of China. The delegation was returning to Malacca with a fleet led by Admiral Cheng Ho, the Chinese, who first sailed and traveled to the south.

During the reign of Parameswara is, many Javanese, Indian, Chinese, Burmese and others came to settle in Singapore. In 1409, Parameswara converted to Islam and the name Iskandar Syah Parameswara. Two years later, in 1411, Parameswara Iskandar Syah with queens, princes and the royal entourage of 540 people have been left for China to follow Admiral Cheng Ho to visit homage to the Emperor Yung Lo. In 1414, Parameswara died and the tomb believed to be located on a hill in Tanjung Tuan, also known as Cape Rachado. Parameswara, Malacca was a major trading post along the pemerintahanannya for twenty years. He has also developed strong relationships with the Emperor of China by sending six delegations / representations to China.

Incorporated into

Date

Malacca Sultanate

1400

Portuguese Empire

1511

Dutch Empire

1641

British Empire 1824

Straits Settlements

1826

Crown Colony 1867

Japanese occupation

15 January 1942

Malayan Union 1 April 1946

Federation of Malaya

31 January 1948

Independence

31 August 1957

Malaysia

16 September 1963

STAMBORD RAFFLES

LOPEZ DE SEQUEIRA

1511 : Alfonso d'Albuquerque arrived in Singapore on

August 10 and made a request to build a headquarters of the Portuguese, but the demands are rejected by the sultan. After 10 days with the help of traitors from among the chiefs and people in the palace of jealousy and envy over pemashuran Tun Fatimah and worry about the seed line, the Portuguese managed to encircle and capture the city of Malacca on August 24 and built A Famosa within six months. With penewasan Sultan Mahmud Shah of Malacca, the Portuguese rule for 130 years.

1513 : Patih Unus from Java , a warrior who became the Sultan of Demak Java in Indonesia invaded Malacca. One thousand five hundred and eighteen - one thousand five hundred nineteen : Sultan Mahmud Shah had deployed people to build high walls around Singapore within three months. 1521 : Church of St. Paul built by the Portuguese Captain by the name of Duarte Coelho and named "Our Lady of The Hill", but later changed by the Dutch to the resting place of the aristocracy and was named "Church of St. Paul". 1523 : Mahmud failed again in the conquest of Malacca. 1525 : Admiral Hang Nadim has surrounded the City of A Famosa. The Portuguese make a ration of Goa. 1526 : generation of large ships under Pedro Mascarenhaas sent by Portugal to destroy the city covering Bentan Sultan Mahmud Shah. Sultan Mahmud was forced to flee across the Straits to Kampar, Sumatra.

1528 : Sultan Mahmud Shah died in Kampar, Sumatra. 1537 : The Aceh attacked the Portuguese in Malacca on the first. 1545 : For the first time, Fr. Francis Xavier arrived in Malacca. On the whole, he made five visits to Malacca as to make Singapore a center of operations in the East. 1548 : Elections St. Paul (St. Paul's College), the first school in Malacca, was built by St. Francis Xavier to the Catholic Portuguese and local people who converted to Islam. 1551 : The combination of Johor , Japara and Silver sector has captured Malacca and besieged for three months. 1553 : Fr. Francis Xavier died on the island of Sancian near Canton , China , and brought to the church St. Paul persemadiannya for nine months before his body was brought back to Goa , India . 1568 : Portuguese Malacca Johor help break the attack Acheh. Acheh was controlling the Straits of Malacca for sixty years. 1582 : The Portuguese help Johor attacks from Aceh, and the Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Sultan of Johor Riayat first visit to Malacca. 1587 : Johore to attack the Portuguese on a large scale by land masses and sea attack but failed when forces come from Goa, the Portuguese. 1588 : The first English visitor, Ralph Ritch has arrived in Malacca. 1597 : The Dutch made the Netherlands the first attack on Portuguese Malacca City. 1606 : The Dutch under Admiral Matelieff de Jonge cooperate with the Sultan of Johor to Malacca. Three-month trial failed when the Portuguese for help from Goa. One thousand six hundred fifteen - 1,616 : Acheh attack Malacca. 1628th - 1 629 : Acheh ruled city for eight months before the Portuguese took Malacca again. 1636 : Dutch ship had destroyed the Portuguese ships in the harbor.

]Government of the Netherlands

Kota in Melaka in 1604.

1641 : The Netherlands (1641-1795) defeated the Portuguese on 14 January and conquered Malacca by aiding the Sultan of Johor. Portuguese Governor, Manuel de Souza Couthinho, surrendered to Captain Minne Williemson Kaartokoe. 1645 : Cheng Hoon Teng Temple was built by Captain Lee Wei King and it was a temple, the Chinese are the oldest in Malaysia . In 1645 - 1 670 : The war between the Netherlands - Naning . 1650 : Stadthuys built as an official settlement of the Dutch Governor and his deputy, and made the administrative center of the Dutch. 1710 : Church of St. Peter , the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia, built after the Dutch to give freedom to Catholics to practice their religion. 1753 : Christ Church, which represents the art of Dutch design, fully completed twelve years after construction. 1756 : Bugis under the Home Cambodia attacked Malacca. 1784 : Raja came to Malacca to conquer, but was killed during clashes in the Gulf of Ketapang. 1795 : East India Company control of Malacca for a while during the Napoleonic Wars .

1807 : The British under William Farquar began to destroy the influence of the Portuguese fort and drove the Portuguese from Malacca. Then the Dutch plan to convert the traders who came to Malacca moved to Penang and intend to weaken the strength of the destroyed city of Melaka.Kerja work is costing around 70.000 pounds sterling .

1808 : The arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles had saved from destruction with the consent of Malacca Lord Minto . Evacuation plan is canceled. 1818 : Singapore is returned to the Netherlands under the Alliance of Vienna after the Napoleonic Wars. 1819 : Sultan Husin Shah handed over Singapore to the British East India Company . His tomb is in the Lamb .

1824 : A British-Dutch Alliance (also called the Alliance of London) made that the British gave Bencoleen (Bengkulu) in Sumatra to the Dutch in exchange for Malacca. The Alliance was signed to separate the British and Dutch colonies. The British controlled the area north of the Straits of Singapore , while the Dutch in the South (Islands of Indonesia).

1826 : Malacca, Penang and Singapore combined to form the Straits Settlements . 1849 : Church of St. Francis Xavier was built for warned. 1867 : Straits Settlements became a British Crown Colony. Government Office of the Governor-General, based in India moved to the Central Government in London . 1895 : Cultivation of rubber plantations by Tan Chay Yan in Bukit Lintang , Melaka. 1941 : World War 2 occurred. the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor (Marine Base in Hawaii is important for the United States ). 1942 : Melaka fell to the Japanese . 1945 : The British regained control of Malacca after Japan surrendered to the British in Singapore. 1948 : Communists attack and control of Malaya for 14 days. The British declared an emergency and the situation ended in 1960. 1956 : Tunku Abdul Rahman , Prime Minister of Malaysia the first to announce the date of independence (August 31, 1957) upon arrival from London. In the same year, Singapore became part of the Federation of Malaya as an independent nation.

British-Dutch Alliance

On May 2nd, 1511, Alphonso dAlbuquerque sailed from Cochin, India, for Malacca with 19 ships, 8oo Portuguese and 6oo Malabaris. After sinking Muslim shipping en route and raiding Pasai and Pedir, he reached the harbour of Melaka on the evening of July 1, to the sound of trumpets, cannons and bedeckked with flags. Sultan Mahmud sent a messenger to enquire whether it was to be peace or war. dAlbuquerque, demanded the surrender of the captive Portuguese from de Sequeiras fleet and compensation. The Sultan erected stockades decked with war flags and made a show of his fleet of riverboats. , Alphonso dAlbuquerque bombarded the town, which terrified its inhabitants, being the first time it had ever been shelled by modern heavy artillery. With fires blazing in many parts of the town, he then set his cannon on the ships and burnt every one, except for those belonging to Chinese and Hindus. In desperation, the Sultan surrendered the Portuguese prisoners and agreed to some of his demands for compensation even agreeing to a Portuguese fortress being built near Melaka. But after seeing the wealth of trade in the harbour and the splendour of the city, the Portuguese had by now no intention of letting Melaka be ruled by anyone else other than themselves.dAlbuquerque tested the Malay stockades by ordering a small raid with armed boats and two barges with heavy bombards in order to discover the enemys numbers, where their artillery was stationed and how they planned their defence. The defections already began. The Chinese merchants offered the services of their crews and their five junks. dAlbuquerque learned from them that the Sultan had more than 20,000 fighting men in the town most of them Javanese, Persians and Turkish mercenaries. There were also twenty war-elephants and at least 3,000 artillery pieces though almost all of them were small-calibre guns with little range and firepower. Melaka was divided into two by the Melaka river. The northern part of the town housed the commercial quarters where the Javanese, Indian and Chinese merchants had their godowns and homes. To the south of the river was the Royal Quarter where the Sultan had his Palace, his Royal Household and the citys main mosque. A single bridge near the mouth of the river linked the two parts of the city and both sides knew that the Malays losing that bridge would effectively split their forces in two. Whoever held the bridge would hold the city.

Devoted to the Apostle James, dAlbuquerque mounted his first major assault on that Saints day July 18. He ordered half his forces to disembark south on the side of the mosque, while he led the other half ashore on the north or city side. As morning broke, the attack on the bridge began. As soon as the first fury of the Malay artillery was spent, the trumpets blew and with the war-cry St. James! the Portuguese fell upon the Malay stockades on the bridge. The Sultans forces charged at them with bows and arrows, blow-pipes and lances and shields. The battle ebbed and flowed over that bridge for most of the morning the Malays withdrawing, pursued by the Portuguese, then the Portuguese retreating as their rear flank was attacked by waiting Malays in the sidestreets and alleys of the main road leading up to the mosque. At a crucial point, the Sultan and his son, Ahmad, mounted on war-elephants and led yet another drive which drove the Portuguese back to the bridge but they were pushed back again by another charge from Portuguese pikemen. Seven hundred Javanese then attacked the Portuguese rear from the northern part of the city but they were scattered before they could reach the stockades on the bridge. Some fleeing Javanese jumped into the sea only to be slaughtered by Portuguese in boats. Reinforcing their position in the stockades, the Portuguese threw back another assault by the Sultan war elephants, stabbing them with their lances so that they turned tail and charged through the Malay ranks. Ahmad had his own elephant killed under him and was wounded in the hand. By 2 p.m. the Portuguese had advanced up to the mosque and large parts of the city were already set to fire. But the Portuguese attack was spent. They had many killed and wounded, they were suffering greatly from the heat and they were exhaused building stockades and fighting off counter-attacks. At dusk dAlbuquerque withdrew in boats, under the fire from Malay guns, matchlocks, spears, arrows and blowpipes. He took away with him at least fifty large bombards captured from the Malay stockades, and seventy of his wounded of those struck by poisoned arrows, only one survived. The Malays now repaired the stockades on and around the bridge and redeployed most of their artillery there. The bridge was divided into sections with stout palisades and two more palisades were constructed on the river banks mounted with guns to command the approaches to the bridge from city and mosque. The leader of the Javanese mercenaries, Utimutira, had by now decided to throw in his lot with the attackers and sent presents to dAlbuquerque, promising him secret support. AlfonsodAlbuquerque now heavily armed a very tall junk that would overlook the bridge and ran it aground on on a sand-bank, where, like a seige tower, it rained artillery fire, crossbow arrows, darts, fireballs and stones onto the the Malays on the bridge for nine days. The Malays sent down barges of firewood, pitch and oil on the falling tide to set the junk on fire, but these attempts failed to destroy it.

Two hours before dawn on Friday August 8th, the day of the martyr St. Lawrence, the Portuguese again set out for the city on the high spring tide. While the junk was being grappled and secured to the bridge, two Portuguese boats with heavy guns took up positions on both sides of the bay, to protect with their fire the flanks of the Portuguese attacks.Alfonsa dAlbuquerque with all his remaining force landed on the north or city side of the river in the Javanese quarter of Upeh. Having secured a bridgehead there, he ordered a force of his soldiers to seize the mosque while another was ordered to capture the Malay barricade that blocked the main street in the south. The Portuguese stormed the bridge, the Malays withdrawing to the stockades between it and the mosque. These stockades were soon engulfed by gunfire from the boats, and the defenders retreated to the mosque, where was the Sultan and 3000 shieldsmen were entrenched. With too few forces to pursue the Sultan, Alfonsa dAlbuquerque was content to hold the bridge and not advanced beyond the mosque. He furiously fortified with bridge with barrels of sand and mounted cannon, with gunboats patrolling under the bridge and posted at both bridgeheads. Malay artillery then started firing on the bridge from the housetops of the northern part of the city. The Portuguese started to clear the streets there, with orders not to give mercy to anyone man, woman or child and thousands were butchered All through the night the gun-boats and warships in the bay bombarded the city. But it was needless. Sultan mahmud had by then gathered all the treasures in his Palace and fled with his family and followers. Melaka had fallen. The next morning, the Portuguese advanced towards the Sultans Palace, only to find it deserted and emptied of the loot they had been promised. Enraged, they put the palace to the torch and, for the next few days, looted the city. The mosque was demolished stone by stone the material being used for the new Portuguese fortress that was to be built upon the site of where the Sultans Palace had originally been. The fortress A Famosa preserved Portuguese power in Melaka for the next 130 years.It had taken exactly 40 days for the Portuguese to put an end to the Melaka Empire.

Dutch Malacca (1641 - 1825) was the longest period of Malacca under foreign control. The Dutch ruled for almost 183 years with intermittent British occupation during the Napoleonic Wars ( 1795 - 1818 ). This era saw relative peace with little serious interruption from the Malay kingdoms due to the understanding earlier on forged between the Dutch and Sultanate of Johor in 1606. This time also marked the decline of the importance of Malacca. The Dutch preferred Batavia (present day Jakarta) as their economic and administrative center in the region and their hold in Malacca was to prevent the loss of the city to other European powers and subsequently the competition that would naturally come with it. Thus in the 17th century, with Malacca ceased to be an important port, the Johor Sultanate became the dominant local power in the region, due to the opening of its ports and the alliance with the Dutch. In the early 17th century, the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC) began the campaign to destroy Portuguese power in the East. At that time, the Portuguese had transformed Malacca into an impregnable fortress (the Fortaleza de Malaca, controlling access to the sea lanes of the Straits of Malacca and the spice trade there. The Dutch started by launching small incursions and skirmishes against the Portuguese. The first serious attempt was the siege of Malacca in 1606 by the third VOC fleet from Holland with eleven ships, led by Admiral Cornelis Matelief de Jongethat lead to the naval battle of Cape Rachado. Although the Dutch were routed, the Portuguese fleet ofDon Martin d'Alphonso de Castro, the Viceroy of Goa; suffered heavier casualties and the battle rallied the forces of the Sultanate of Johor in an alliance with the Dutch and later on with the Achehnese. The Dutch with their local allies assaulted and wrested Malacca from the Portuguese in January 1641. This combined Dutch-Johor-Acheh efforts effectively destroyed the last bastion of Portuguese power, removing their influence in the Malay archipelago. As per the agreement with Johor in 1606, the Dutch took control of Malacca and agreed not to seek territories or wage war with the Malay kingdoms.

British intrusion in the local affairs and exploitation of their national wealth and resources by British in Sindh and India resulted in armed freedom struggle in 1857. The people of Melaka also for same reason initiated their struggle for freedom. The people of Naning fought with British invaders in 1831 - 32. Though they did not succeed, their armed struggle does exemplify similarities between their struggle for the freedom and the struggle of the people of Indian Subcontinent for their freedom from their colonial invaders. The evidence of opposition and resistance from Negeri Sembilan and Perak can be found in the books of the history. The killing of the British resident J.W.W. Birch at Pasir Salad on November 02, 1875 provides firm evidence of similarities between the freedom struggle of Malays and the freedom struggle of Sindh is against their common colonial ruler. This was the time when the Hurl freedom movement was strengthening its root in Sindh. Except Selangor, who opposed colonial power only covertly, the opposition from Pahang and other areas like Kelantan, Terengganu, and Sabah and Sarawak was quite open. Although there are many similarities between the freedom struggles of Sindh, India and Malaya, there are some dissimilarities as well. The students of history know that when the Indian National Congress initiated freedom struggle on political front, it comprised both Hindus and Muslims of India. Only later, after World War II, the 'Divide and Rule' policy of the British colonials was successful in dividing India on religious lines. The Muslim League got, in a way, the status of the representative party of Muslims in Muslim majority areas of India, including Sindh, only after the elections of 1946 and that too with a very thin majority. In contrast to this, the Malaya freedom movement, as far as I know, started with Malay nationalism, which in turn began as Islamic reformism espoused by Kaun Muda group of Malay intellectuals who were influenced by the religious reformism in the Middle East which was being promoted by Jamaluddin alAfghani (Iran), Muhammad Abduh (Egypt) and Abdul Wahab (Saudi Arabia). Islam was seen as complete way of life and not just religion of mere piety and devotion.

Syekh Tahir Jalaluddin and other reformists, after return from Middle East spread their ideas and influenced Malay society. While reformist movement in Malaya was able to

influence Malay society and founded the basis of Malay nationalism towards the beginning of 20th century, the religious movements, e.g. Khilafat Movement, which aimed at restoration of the Muslim Caliphate after the fall of Turkish Ottoman Empire, at the hands of the British, failed to generate any kind of nationalism among the Muslims of India. Later on, the All India Muslim League, in a way, did attain status of representative political party of Indian Muslims, it failed to generate sense of Muslim nationalism probably because Indian Muslims were not ethnically homogenous whereas Malay Muslims were linguistically and ethnically homogenous with same religion and culture over Malaya Peninsula. The World War II and the Japanese invasion of Malay was the turning point in the history of this region. Although Japanese occupation was shot lived, it did prove that British colonialists are not invincible. The declaration of Malay Union on April 01, 1946 was enough a pretext for Malay population to rejuvenate their freedom struggle. Under the Malay Union administration, most of the powers of Malay rulers were cut and transferred to the Governor of Malaya Union. The powers of the local rulers were limited only to the extent of having some say over Islamic religious matters.

STEPHEN FOSTER

Forces of Sultan Ahmad and Mahmud defeated Portuguese soldiers when they first arrived at shores of Malacca on July 25, 1511 .

Although the rulers had given consent to Malaya Union, the people refused to accept this kind of administration, especially because the new constitution offered equal citizenship in both Malaya Union and Singapore, which was seen as threatening the position of Malays in Malaya. The increased resentment among Malay, almost all of which were Muslim, led to the formation of United Malay National Organization (UMNO), under the leadership of Dato` Onn Jaafar on May 11, 1946. Malay Muslims were able to recognize the importance of their demography and their leaders tried to do their best to safeguard their interests. The Malay Muslims perceived realization and maintenance of their 'Bumiputra' status as their freedom, which they could only achieve if the colonial rulers leave their land.Dato` Onn bin Jaafar (1895-1962) was a staunch Malay nationalist who emerged as 'savior of Malay race' and defender of Malay rulers. He opposed Malaya Union because in the Union, the citizenship rights were thrown open to all races of the people who were born in Malaya, irrespective of whether they were born before, during or after Malay Union. He believed that the appointment of the Government of Malay Union would cause extinction of Malay rulers. To oppose Malaya Union he called Malay National Congress. The UMNO was founded in its third meeting.

The British government was forced to give up the idea of Malaya Union who agreed to change it to the Federation of Malaya on January 21, 1948. Later on August 23, 1951, he left UMNO when his suggestion that UMNO's membership be opened to non-Malays as well. He, in the later stage of his political life had realized to carry along the other races with him. He seems to had evolved from staunch Malay nationalist to a kind of nationalist who, in the later stage of his political career, wanted to carry with him the other races and religion (Buddhist Chinese and Indian Hindus) in UMNO. It is clear that the peace and progress in the multi-racial, multi-ethnic societies is directly proportional to the level of flexibility and respect offered by the constituent groups and individuals to one another within the parameters of decency and civility. In 1951 Municipal elections, UMNO formed alliance with Malaya Chinese Association (MCA). This UMNO-MCA Alliance was able to defeat Dato onn Jafaars Independence Malay Party (IMP). The victory of Alliance made Tunku Abdul Rehman realize the importance of taking other communities together. He thus offered Tun Tan Cheng Lock of MCA to extend the alliance to national level. The Federation of Malay was found on February 01, 1948 consisting nine states viz. Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Johore, Pahang, Terengganu and Kealantan and two Strait Settlements of Melaka and Pinang. The Malaya Union set up in 1946 was finally annulled on January 21, 1948. The administration of the Federation of Malaya was made up of British High Commission and assisted by Federal Executive Council. The Rulers Council was formed as an advisory council to the High Commissioner. The post of the British Resident in each state was abolished and replaced by Chief Minister.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH (February 8, 1903 December 6, 1990) was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister afterSabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the federation in 1963 to form Malaysia. He is widely known simply as "Tunku" (a princely title in Malaysia) and also called Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) or Bapa Malaysia (Father of Malaysia), After his return to Malaya in 1949, Abdul Rahman was first posted at the Legal Officer's office in Alor Star. He later asked to be transferred to Kuala Lumpur, where he became a Deputy Public Prosecutor. He was later appointed as president of the Sessions Court. During this period, nationalism was running high among the Malays, with Datuk Onn Jaafar leading the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the struggle against Britain's Malayan Union(see History of Malaysia). Abdul Rahman joined UMNO and became active in Malayan nationalist politics. He was popular and later became head of the Kedah branch of UMNO.In August 1951 an internal crisis in UMNO forced Datuk Onn Jaafar to resign as party president. Abdul Rahman was elected as the new president, eventually holding the post for 20 years.

Road To Independence
In 1954, Abdul Rahman led a delegation to London to seek independence for Malaya, but the trip proved to be unfruitful. The British were reluctant to grant independence, using the excuse that there needed to be evidence that the different races in Malaya were able to work together and cooperate before independence could be obtained. Race relations was the cause of Onn Jaafar stepping down. He wanted UMNO to be open to the Chinese and Indians but UMNO members were not ready to accept this. His successor, Abdul Rahman saw a way around this by forming a political alliance with the Malayan Chinese Association called the Alliance Party.

The coalition proved to be popular among the people. The Alliance was later joined by the Malayan Indian Congress (MIC) in 1955, representing the Indian community. In the same year, the first federal general election was held, and the Alliance Party (Perikatan) won fifty-one out of the fifty-two seats contested. Abdul Rahman was selected as Malaya's first Chief Minister. Later in 1955 Abdul Rahman, along with Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V. T. Sambanthan, made a trip to London to negotiate Malayan independence, and 31 August 1957 was decided as the date for independence. When the British flag was lowered in Kuala Lumpur on independence day, Abdul Rahman led the crowd in announcing "Merdeka!" (independence). Photographs of Abdul Rahman raising his hand, and recordings of his emotional but determined voice leading the cheers, have become familiar icons of Malaysian independence. Abdul Rahman dominated the politics of independent Malaya (which became Malaysia in 1963), and led the Alliance to landslide wins in the1959, and 1964 general elections. The formation of Malaysia was one of Abdul Rahman's greatest achievements. In 1961 he made a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southeast Asia in Singapore, proposing a federation Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. On 16 September 1963, with the federation of all these states except Brunei, Abdul Rahman was formally restyled Prime Minister of Malaysia. However, the racial factor was worsened with the inclusion of Singapore, which increased the Chinese proportion to more than 40%. BothUMNO and the MCA were nervous about the possible appeal of Lee Kuan Yew's People's Action Party (PAP, then seen as a radical socialist party) to voters in Malaya, and tried to organise a party in Singapore to challenge Lee's position there. Lee in turn threatened to run PAP candidates in Malaya at the 1964 federal elections, despite an earlier agreement that he would not do so (see PAP-UMNO relations). This provoked Abdul Rahman to demand that Singapore withdraw from Malaysia.

On 7 August 1965, Abdul Rahman announced to the Parliament of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur that it should vote yes on the resolution to have Singapore leave the Federation, choosing to "sever all ties with a State Government that showed no measure of loyalty to its Central Government" as opposed to the undesirable method of repressing the PAP for its actions. Singapore's secession and independence became official on 9 August 1965.

At the 1969 general election, the Alliance's majority was greatly reduced. Demonstrations following the elections sparked the May 13 racial riots in Kuala Lumpur. Some UMNO leaders led by Tun Abdul Razak were critical of Abdul Rahman's leadership during these events, and an emergency committee MAGERAN took power and declared a state of emergency. Abdul Rahman's powers as Prime Minister were severely curtailed, and on 22 September 1970, he was forced to resign as Prime Minister in favour of Abdul Razak. He subsequently resigned as UMNO President in June 1971, in the midst of severe opposition of the 'Young Turks' comprising party rebels such as Mahathir Mohammad and Musa Hitam. The duo later became Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia respectively. In 1977, having acquired substantial shares in The Star, a Penang-based newspaper, Abdul Rahman became the newspaper's Chairman. His columns, "Looking Back" and "As I See It", were critical of the government, and in 1987 Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad banned the newspaper. This led to a split in UMNO, with Abdul Rahman and another former Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn, setting up a new party called UMNO Malaysia, but its registration was quashed by Mahathir Mohamad, who set up his own UMNO Baru ("New UMNO"). Abdul Rahman later supported Semangat 46, a splinter group of UMNO led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He campaigned actively for the latter in the General election of 1990, but was already in very poor health. The well-educated, visionary Tunku clashes with Mahathir's brand of nationalism that was meant to help the economically and socially stunted Malays of Malaysia (allegedly due to the effect of colonial British 'divide and rule' system).Tunku Abdul Rahman died on 6 December 1990 at the age of eightyseven, and was laid to rest at the Langgar Royal Mausoleum in Alor Star.

Parameswara (13441414), also called Iskandar Shah or Sri Majara, was a MalayHindu prince from Temasek (modern-daySingapore) who founded the Malacca Sultanate around 1402. In the 14th century, Srivijaya was losing its influence and faced threats from various corners of the Maritime Southeast Asia. The Majapahit empire, centered in Java, was expanding its borders beyondJava. The Srivijayan empire had previously controlled parts of Java but it was driven out of in 1290 by the increasingly powerful Singhasari, a predecessor to Majapahit. Singhasari later attacked the Sriwijaya palace in the Malayu. As a result, Srivijaya had to move its court from Palembang, on the bank of Musi River in southern Sumatra, to Malayu (now Jambi province) on Batang Hari River bank. Although the royal court had moved to Malayu, Palembang remained an important imperial city. Some time in the later half of the 14th century, Singhasari sent its navy towards Palembang and Malayu, thus conquering the city. This invasion ended the 1000-year old empire. According to the Malay Annals, after the sacking of Palembang, the descendants of the Srivijaya ruling house took refuge on the island of Bintan. Although the empire have been destroyed and its capital sacked, Malay and Orang Laut populations inhabiting the surrounding islands and the Malay peninsular remained loyal to the Srivijayan royalties. In 1324, a Srivijayan prince, Sang Nila Utamaremoved himself from Bintan to Temasek where he defeated and killed the Ayuthaya-appointed local ruler, Temagi Sang Nila Utama later founded Singapura Lama: Old Lion Island. He maintained control over the island for 48 years and recognized as ruler by an envoy of the Chinese Emperor in 1366. He was officially styled Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tri Buana (meaning: "Lord Central King Batara of "Sri Tri Buana" 'Three world Realm'" signifying Lordship over Palembang, Bintan and Singapura).

Sang Nila Utama was succeeded by son Paduka Sri Pekerma Wira Diraja (13721386) who was in turn succeeded by grandson, Paduka Seri Rana Wira Kerma (13861399). In 1401, his great grandson, Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara fled from Singapura after a retaliatory invasion by Majapahit.[2] This younger Parameswara fled north to found a new settlement. At Muar, Parameswara contemplated establishing his new kingdom at either Biawak Busuk or at Kota Buruk. Finding that the Muar location was not suitable, he continued northwards. Along the way, he reportedly visited Sening Ujong (former name of present day Sungai Ujong) before reaching a fishing village at the mouth of the Bertam River (former name of the Malacca River). This evolved over time to become the location of modern day Malacca Town. According to the Malay Annals, it was here that he witnessed a small white mouse deer outwitting a chihuahua while resting under an Indian gooseberry tree. He took this as a good omen and decided there to establish a kingdom called Malacca, building and improving facilities for the purpose of trade. More credible accounts argue the name "Malacca" was a local folk-adaptation of the Arabic word 'mulaqa' meaning 'meeting place': which the port of Malacca indeed was. The Sultanate of Malacca ultimately succeeded Srivijaya as the next most important Malay political entity of the Maritime Southeast Asia.[3][4] Marriage It was generally believed that in the year 1409 he married princess of Pasai and he adopted the Persian title Iskandar Shah after his son's conversion to the faith.

Supposed conversion to Islam

Parameswara's conversion to Islam was unclear so far with no evidence as to whether Parameswara had actually converted. According to a theory by Sabri Zain [1], Parameswara became a Muslim when he married a Princesss of Pasai and he took the fashionable Persian title "Shah", calling himself Iskandar Shah. There are also references that indicate that some members of the ruling class and the merchant community residing in Malacca were already Muslims. The Chinese chronicles mention that in 1414, the son of the first ruler of Malacca visited Ming to inform them that his father had died. Parameswara's son was then officially recognised as the second ruler of Malacca by the Chinese Emperor and styled Raja Sri Rama Vikrama, Raja of Parameswara of Temasik and Melaka and he was known to his Muslim subjects as Sultan Sri Iskandar Zulkarnain Shah or Sultan Megat Iskandar Shah, and he ruled Malacca from 1414 to 1424.

Negeri Melaka (Tulisan Jawi: ;juga dikenali sebagai Melaka Negeri Bersejarah atau Negeri Hang Tuah). Pada tahun 2008 Melaka diisytiharkan oleh UNESCO sebagai Bandar Warisan Dunia (World Heritage). Negeri Melaka juga diisytiharkan sebagai 'Melaka Maju' pada 20.10.2010 pada jam 20:10 di Stadium Hang Jebat yang disempurnakan oleh Perdana Menteri Malaysia langsung dari Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur. Melaka juga dinyatakan sebagai Negeri Bandar Teknologi Hijau. Melaka adalah sebuah negeri yang terletak di barat Semenanjung Malaysia dan bersempadankan (lihat peta): Negeri Sembilan di utara; Johor di tenggara; dan Selat Melaka di barat. Kedudukan Melaka dalam persekutuan Malaysia yang terdiri daripada 14 negeri (termasuk Wilayah Persekutuan) adalah seperti berikut: Keluasan: keempat terkecil di Malaysia (tangga ke-11), serta di Semenanjung Malaysia (tangga ke-9) Penduduk: kedua terkecil di Malaysia (tangga ke-13), serta di Semenanjung (tangga ke13) Kepadatan penduduk: ke-4 terpadat di Malaysia serta di Semenanjung. Ibu negerinya Bandaraya Melaka. Walaupun merupakan negeri pertama mengasaskan Kesultanan Melayu, Melaka kini tidak mempunyai seorang Sultan, sebaliknya negeri ini diketuai oleh seorang Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT) Yang di-Pertua Negeri. Negeri Melaka terletak di pantai barat daya Semenanjung Malaysia, serta bertentangan dengan Sumatera. Berkeluasan 1,650 kilometer persegi, ia bersempadankan Negeri Sembilan di utara dan Johor di timur. Pulau Besar, Melaka juga termasuk dalam sempadan negeri. Jumlah penduduk Melaka pada tahun 2001 ialah 648,000. Penduduk-penduduk negeri Melaka terdiri daripada:

Bangsa Melayu: 50%

Bangsa Cina dan Peranakan (Baba dan Nyonya): 40% Bangsa India, termasuk segolongan kecil bangsa Chitty Lain-lain bangsa, termasuk bangsa Papia Kristang, iaitu bangsa Serani yang berketurunan daripada bangsa Portugis dan yang bertutur dalam bahasa Cristao (sejenis dialek Portugis yang lama).

Bandar-bandar utama di negeri Melaka ialah Bandaraya Melaka, Alor Gajah, Masjid Tanah, Jasin, Merlimau, Tampin/Pulau Sebang, Ayer Keroh dan Asahan. Bandaraya Bersejarah Melaka juga berkembar dengan lima buah bandar terkemuka yang lain iaitu - Lisbon, Portugal (16 Januari 1984), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (15 April 1989), Hoorn, Belanda (8 November 1989), Valparaiso, Republik Chile (24 June 1991) dan Nanjing, China (2001).

Kesultanan Melaka
Rencana utama: Kesultanan Melaka Sejarah kesultanan Melaka bermula dengan kedatangan Parameswara, seorang raja Srivijaya dari Palembang, yang memerintah pada tahun 1400hingga 1424. Nama Melaka diambil sempena nama pohon tempat Parameswara berteduh. Pada ketika itu, satu perkara aneh berlaku di mana seekor kancil putih telah menendang anjing-anjing raja. Melihatkan kejadian itu Parameswara merasa kagum dan memerintahkan agar kawasan tersebut dibuka dan dinamakan sebagai Negeri Melaka. Kesultanan ini memerintah Melaka selama 110 tahun sehingga ditewas oleh pihakPortugis pada tahun 1511. Empayar Melaka mencapai kemuncak kuasanya semasa pemerintahan Sultan Mansur Shah, dan terdiri daripada Tanah Melayu, (kini,Semenanjung Malaysia), Singapura, dan sebahagian besar Sumatera. Pesaing utama Melaka ialah Siam di utara dan Majapahit di selatan (pulau Jawa). Semasa zaman kegemilangan Kesultanan Melaka, lahirlah nama-nama besar seperti Tun Perak, Hang Tuah lima bersaudara yang merupakan pahlawan besar ketika itu. Sultan Mahmud Shah, sultan terakhir Kesultanan Melaka, merupakan mangsa keadaan disebabkan Portugal pada awal abad ke-16 sedang meluaskan kuasanya ke luar negara bagi merealisasikan impiannya iaitu 3K (Keagamaan, Kekuasaan, Kekayaan).

KESULTANAN MELAKA [[Imej:{{{gambar}}}|frames|center|300px]] Tempoh 1400 1424 1424 1444 1444 1445 1445 1458 1458 1477 1477 1488 1488 1511 Sultan Parameswara Sultan Muhammad Shah Raja Ibrahim (Sultan Abu Syahid) Sultan Muzaffar Shah Sultan Mansur Shah Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah Sultan Mahmud Shah

Pemerintahan penjajah Rencana utama: Sejarah Melaka Melaka dikuasai oleh pihak Portugis di bawah pimpinan Alfonso de Albuquerque pada 24 Ogos 1511. Ia menjadi suatu pangkalan strategik bagi pengembangan pihak Portugis di Hindia Timur dan diperintah oleh mereka selama 130 tahun. Pada tahun 1641, pihak Belanda menguasai Melaka dengan menewasan pihak Portugis melalui bantuan Sultan Johor. Walaubagaimanapun, pihak Belanda tidak berminat menjadikan Melaka sebagai sebuah pusat perdagangan di antara Timur dan Barat tetapi lebih mementingkan pembangunan Batavia (Jakarta) di Indonesia sebagai pusat pentadbiran mereka. Mereka menyerahkan Melaka kepada pihak British mengikut Perikatan British-Belanda pada tahun 1824. Dari 1826 hingga 1867, Melaka diperintah oleh V.O.C. (British East India Company), dan kemudiannya menjadi sebuah tanah jajahan British. Kemudian, pada tahun 1946, ia menjadi salah satu Negeri Selat (Straits Settlement), bersamasama dengan Singapura dan Pulau Pinang. Selepas pembubaran tanah jajahan, Melaka dan Pulau Pinang telah menjadi sebahagian daripada Malayan Union yang kemudiannya menjadi Malaysia pada tahun 1963.Melaka diisytiharkan sebagai "Bandaraya Bersejarah" pada 15 April 1989 oleh Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke-4, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad

Kerajaan negeri Negeri Melaka ditadbir oleh Dewan Undangan Negeri dan Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Melaka (Exco) sendiri. Dewan Undangan Negeri merupakan kuasa tertinggi dalam menetapkan polisi di dalam negeri. Exconya bertanggungjawab kepada Dewan Undangan Negeri yang diwakili oleh pelbagai orang yang dilantik setiap lima tahun. Ia diketuai oleh Yang di-Pertua Negeri yang dilantik oleh Yang di-Pertuan Agong Malaysia. Jabatan Ketua Menteri adalah tiang pentadbiran negeri yang meletakkan pejabat Ketua Menteri, Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri serta lain-lain jabatan. Bagi pentadbiran, Melaka dibahagikan kepada tiga daerah di bawah majlis daerah masing-masing, iaitu:

Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah Majlis Perbandaran Alor Gajah Majlis Perbandaran Jasin Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya

Sektor pelancongan dan pembuatan adalah sektor utama dalam menjana ekonomi negeri. Melaka telah mengamalkan slogan "Melawat Melaka Bererti Melawat Malaysia". Melaka kaya dengan tempat-tempat yang menarik dan bersejarah. Melaka juga terkenal untuk makanan, terutamanya gaya masakan Baba dan Nyonya yang terdirinya daripada gaya masakan Cina dan Melayu. Kebanyakan hidangannya adalah pedas dan berempah.

Rumah baba-nyonya di Melaka. (Gambar oleh: Andrew Lih) Sehingga hari kini, kebanyak adat-adat kuno yang berasal daripada pendudukan Portugis masih diamalkan, termasuknya "Intrudu" (sejenis perayaan air yang menandakan permulaan musim Lent, iaith musim puasa bagi orang Katolik), "branyu" (sejenis tarian tradisional) dan "santa cruz" (sejenis perayaan jalan tahunan) Selain daripada pelancongan, Melaka juga menjadi pusat pengeluaran barangan tempatan daripada makanan dan barangan konsumer kepada barangan komponenkomponen senjata dan automotif berteknologi tinggi, elektronik serta komponenkomponen komputer. Terdapatnya sekurang-kurang 23 kawasan perindustrian yang

merangkumi lebih kurang 500 kilang Amerika Syarikat, Jerman, Jepun, Taiwan dan Singapura. Perkhidmatan perubatan swasta di Melaka semakin dicari oleh pesakit-pesakit sejauh Indonesia dan Singapura. Hospital Straits, Hospital Putra(dulu dikenali sabagai Hospital Southern), Hospital Melaka dan Pusat Perubatan Pakar Pantai merupakan pusat perubatan swasta yang amat popular. Mereka menyediakan perkhidmatan perubatan yang setaraf dengan kebanyakan negara maju yang lain. Kerajaan Negeri Melaka ialah pemegang saham utama Hospital Putra. Tarikan

bersejarah utama
Destinasi pelancongan terutama ialah:

Kota A Famosa: Dibina oleh pihak Portugis pada tahun 1511 sebagai kubu pertahanan, ia telah mengalami kerosakkan struktur yang agak teruk semasa pencerobohan Belanda. Pihak British telah bercadang untuk memusnahkannya tetapi campurtangan Sir Stamford Raffles pada tahun 1808 telah menyelamatkan apa yang tertinggal sebagai A' Famosa pada hari ini.

Kota St. John: Dibina semula oleh pihak Belanda semasa suku ketiga abad ke-18, kubu ini mempunyai meriam yang mengadap ke tanah besar kerana pada masa itu, serangan ke atas Melaka datang terutamanya dari tanah besar dan bukan dari arah laut. Gereja St. Peter: Dibina pada tahun 1710 semasa pemerintahan Belanda di Melaka, ia merupakan gereja Katolik tertua di Malaysia. Dinding depan dan perhiasannya adalah penggabungan seni rekabentuk timur dan barat. Locengnya di bawa khas dari Goa pada tahun 1608. Gereja St. Paul: Dibina pada tahun 1521 oleh Kapten Portugis yang bernama Duarte Coelho, gereja ini yang dinamakan "Our Lady of The Hill" kemudiannya ditukar oleh pihak Belanda kepada tempat persemadian bangsawan dan di namakan "Gereja St. Paul". St. Francis Xavier telah dipelihara di dalam perkuburan terbuka gereja ini pada tahun 1553 sebelum dibawa dengan kapal keGoa, India. Gereja Christ: Dibina pada tahun 1753, struktur gereja ini melambangkan seni rekabentuk Belanda yang tulin. Bangunan ini mengandungi bangku gereja yang dibuat dengan tangan, siling cahaya matahari yang dibina tanpa sambungan, kitab Injil tembaga, batu nisan yang ditulis dalam bahasa Armenia dan lukisan "Last Supper". Gereja St. Francis Xavier: Dibina pada tahun 1849 oleh Paderi Farve, seorang rakyat Perancis, menara gereja ini dibina khas bagi memperingati St. Francis Xavier.

Dikenali sebagai "Mubaligh Sulung di Timur" (Apostle of the East), St. Francis Xavier dikenang dengan kerja-kerja dakwah menyebarkan agama Katolik di Asia Tenggara pada abad ke-16.

Bangunan Stadthuys: Dibina pada tahun 1650 sebagai penempatan rasmi Gabenor Belanda dan Timbalan Gabenor, struktur bangunan ini melambangkan seni rekabentuk Belanda. Ia kini menjadi "Muzium Sejarah dan Etnografi". Paparan harian muzium ini ialah pakaian pengantin tradisional dan artifak dari zaman kegemilangan Melaka. Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street): Terkenal untuk barangan antiknya.

Dalam usaha menambahkan daya tarikan, kerajaan negeri telah menubuhkan pelbagai muzium sebagai gedung koleksi peradaban.

Pengangkutan Rencana utama: Pengangkutan di Melaka Pulau Sebang yang terletak 30 kilometer ke utara Bandaraya Melaka dan 10 kilometer dari Bandar Alor Gajah merupakan stesen keretapi yang terdekat bagi Bandaraya Melaka.Dahulu stesen keretapi ini dikenali Tampin oleh sebab kedudukan dari segi geografinya berada di wilayah Negeri Melaka dalam daerah Alor Gajah dan arahan Kerajaan Negeri Melaka serta saranan rakyat Melaka maka nama stesen ini dikenali sebagai Stesen KTM Pulau Sebang.Sebuah lagi stesen keretapi dalam daerah Alor Gajah stesen Tebong tetapi tren antara bandar tidak berhenti di stesen ini. Walau bagaimanapun stesen ini turut dinaiktaraf berikutan pembinaan landasan berkembar antara Seremban ke Gemas yang turut melalui stesen ini. Bagi penduduk di daerah Jasin terutamanya di kawasan Selandar,Asahan (dahulunya Bukit Asahan), Simpang Bekoh, Nyalas boleh menggunakan perkhidmatan keretapi di stesen keretapi Batang Melaka yang terletak 22 kilometer ke utara Bandar Jasin. Stesen ini bersempadankan Melaka dan Negeri Sembilan. Projek landasan keretapi berkembar elektrik antara Seremban dan Gemas akan berlakunya perpindahan stesen Pulau Sebang dan Batang Melaka. Stesen KTMB Pulau Sebang yang baru akan dipindahkan kira-kira 300 meter ke arah selatan stesen sekarang dan dilengkapi dengan perhentian bas dan teksi. Apabila siapnya kelak kemungkinan akan dinamakan Pulau Sebang Sentral. Manakala stesen

Batang Melaka akan dipindahkan beberapa meter sahaja ke arah utara dari stesen sekarang supaya stesen yang baru itu terletak dalam Negeri Melaka.Pernah adanya landasan keretapi dari Pulau Sebang ke Bandaraya Melaka sebelum Perang Dunia II, tetapi ia telah dibuka oleh tentera Jepun untuk pembinaan Landasan Keretapi Maut di Burma dan tidak pernah dibina semula selepas peperangan walaupun bekasnya masih tertinggal. Pihak KTMB sedang menjalankan kajian yang serius atas permintaan Kerajaan Negeri Melaka untuk membuka semula laluan keretapi dari Tampin/Pulau Sebang ke Bandaraya Melaka melalui program landasan berkembar elektrik. Pada dasarnya pihak KTM bersetuju untuk membina landasan keretapi elektrik ke Melaka sehingga Batu Berendam sahaja. Laluannya dari Pulau Sebang melalui Kg. Arongan, Tg Rimau, Gadek, Seri Pengkalan ,Alor Gajah, Melaka Pindah, Durian Tunggal, Kg. Gangsa dan berakhir di Batu Berendam berhampiran Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Melaka (LTAM). Kerajaan negeri Melaka lebih tertarik jika landasan ini dapat dipanjangkan sehingga Melaka Sentral. KTM tidak mempunyai masalah untuk memanjangkan landasan ke Melaka Sentral sejauh 5 kilometer lagi dari Batu Berendam asalkan pihak kerajaan negeri dapat menyelesai isu pengambilan tanah yang mempunyai kepadatan penduduk yang tinggi antara Batu Berendam ke Melaka sentral, sistem jalan raya yang sedia ada perlu diubah suai. Laluan antara Tampin/Pulau Sebang ke Batu Berendam tidak menghadapi masalah kerana tanah-tanah itu merupakan tanah rizeb KTM dan penduduk sepanjang bekas laluan keretapi itu tahu status tanah yang didudukinya itu merupakan Tanah TOL. Projek ini jika diluluskan kerajaan pusat akan dimasukkan dalam Rancangan Malaysia ke-10. Kerja-kerja mengukur tanah bekas jalan keretapi lama antara Pulau Sebang dan Bandaraya Melaka sudah dilakukan oleh Pejabat Tanah Daerah Alor Gajah dan Melaka Tengah. Bandaraya Melaka mempunyai sebuah Terminal Pengangkutan antara bandar yang moden yang dikenali Melaka Sentral dengan perkhidmatan pengangkutan yang tetap ke Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahrudan lain-lain bandar-bandar utama di Semenanjug Malaysia.Melaka Sentral merupakan sistem pengangkutan bas dan teksi yang tercanggih di Malaysia hari ini. Tiada perhentian bas dan teksi di manamana bandar utama di Malaysia selain Melaka Sentral. Melaka juga mempunyai sebuah lapangan terbang di Batu Berendam yang melayankan penerbangan carter dari kawasan sekitar.Lapangan Terbang Batu Berendam dalam proses naik taraf dijangka siap pada tahun 2009. Apabila siap kelak peswat yang lebih besar

seperti Boeing 737 boleh mendarat di lapangan terbang ini.Jalan keluar Ayer Keroh di Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan (PLUS) merupakan jalan masuk utama ke Melaka. Terdapatnya juga dua jalan keluar tambahan di Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan, iaitu di jalan keluarAlor Gajah dan Jasin.