Khamis Abas – MALAYSIA WORLD HERITAGE TRAVEL SITE

18 June 2013| last updated at 11:55PM

Tourists to enjoy free guided tours in Malacca

By HANIS MAKETAB | news@nst.com.my

BOOSTING TOURISM: Money from Heritage Tax Fund will finance programme

MALACCA: THANKS to the state’s Heritage Tax Fund, which now has RM2.9 million since it was introduced in April last year, tourists will enjoy free guided tours of Malacca’s heritage trail.

Malacca Museum Corporation general manager Datuk Khamis Abas said the corporation would be organising the tours, which would be funded by the money collected from the heritage tax.

“The tours will take place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

“Forty thousand ringgit has been allocated for them, which is for a one-year period from this month.
“It pays the allowances of our tour guides.”

The tours would cover the state’s famous and popular attractions within the World Heritage site, such as the Malacca River, Stadhuys, Porta de Santiago, the Malacca Sultanate Palace and the Proclamation of Independence Memorial.

He said the heritage tax was collected by local city and municipal councils, and went towards initiatives related to tourism and heritage, such as publishing a directory of places to stay in Malacca, organising courses under the Malacca Tourism Academy and contributing to the state’s hotel and homestay operators associations.

“Last year, RM2.3 million was collected, while this year about RM657,000 has been collected up to May 15,” Khamis said after giving state Heritage and Youth Committee deputy chairman Datuk Norpipah Abdol a tour of the Malacca Conservation Centre in Jalan Bunga Raya yesterday.

He said the centre, which began operating last Monday, was open to the public.
It focused on the conservation of historical buildings and artefact.

Khamis also said the centre would be used as a venue for lectures, talks and workshops.

The centre is managed by the corporation with the cooperation of the state World Heritage Office, Malacca Historical City Council, Merlimau Polytechnic and Malacca Islamic University College.

– See more at: http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/tourists-to-enjoy-free-guided-tours-in-malacca-1.302305?cache=%253Fpage%253D0%252F7.197525%3Fkey%3DKuala+Lumpur%3Fkey%3DKuala+Lumpur%3Fpage%3D0#sthash.KFq9q6DZ.dpuf

27 January 2012 | last updated at 02:48am

‘Existence debate is irrelevant, focus should be on values’

MALACCA: Malacca Museums Department director Datuk Khamis Abas said the world can debate whether or not Hang Tuah existed “until the cows come home”, but it would not benefit anyone even if the contention was proven either way.

Datuk Khamis Abas says whether Hang Tuah is fictitious or not is irrelevant. Pic by Mohd Jamah Nasri
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“I believe that Hang Tuah exists, and my beliefs are based on historical facts. This is true for Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu; but it really does not matter,” he said when contacted by the New Straits Times yesterday.
Khamis said what the people know of Hang Tuah today was that he was a great commander, warrior and friend who stood for loyalty to duty above all else.

“Hikayat Hang Tuah (metaphorically or historically) spelled an archaic Malaccan landscape, which was prosperous but also under threat from rival nation states at the same time.

“The values held by Hang Tuah illustrate how having certain values could ensure order and peace, and how after his departure Malacca’s condition worsened.”

Khamis said it was irrelevant whether Hang Tuah was fictitious or not.

“We can juxtapose the highly regarded values held by Hang Tuah then, with the challenges faced by modern Malaysians today.

“If we look into what Hang Tuah can teach us, we can find valuable guidance which can improve us as individuals and then collectively as a nation.”

Khamis said the public should adopt a more “progressive” approach in thinking, and should not limit their scope of study.

“We should explore the various qualities Hang Tuah is said to possess, for example understanding Hang Tuah not only as a warrior, but as a manager, politician or strategist.

“Debating on whether Hang Tuah was real or fictitious, handsome or ugly, or whether he preferred one colour over another, will not benefit Malaysians much.”