Tag: Datuk Khamis Abas

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Cuisine in Melaka

TOURISTS TO ENJOY FREE GUIDED TOURS IN MELAKA

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

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Cuisine in Melaka

INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY TO BE SET UP IN MELAKA

12 September 2012 | last updated at 08:46AM
Malacca to set up archaeology institute

KUALA LUMPUR:

Heritage-rich Malacca plans to set up an institute of archaeology, with the help of the Institute for Conservation and Restoration (ICR) of Rome, in an effort to produce skilled manpower in the restoration of museum artefact.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the institute would be allocated an initial grant of RM2 million from the Heritage Fund to carry out its operations.
“In Malaysia, we have yet to have such an institute to train skilled workers in repair work and restoration of museum artefact. It is time that Malacca set up this institute with the help of the ICR.

“For a start, the institute will operate as an academy before being upgraded to a skills institute in repair work and restoration of artefact, painting and pottery for public display,” he said after visiting the ICR in Rome on Friday.

ICR director Giseela Capponi was on hand to brief the Malaysian entourage, led by Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

Other members of the entourage included Malacca Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Wira Latiff Tamby Chik and Malacca Museum Corporation general manager Datuk Khamis Abas.

After visiting the Vatican City, Khalil and Ali had a discussion with Professor Leigh Robinson of Scotland’s Stirling University on sports development.

Ali also attended a product update event organised by Tourism Melaka. Bernama

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Cuisine in Melaka

SUBMARINE MUSEUM TARGETS 500,000 TOURISTS

March 18, 2012 12:57 PM
Submarine Museum In Melaka Targets 500,000 Tourists, Visitors By Year End

MELAKA, March 18 (Bernama) — The submarine museum featuring the French made SMD Ouessant (Agosta 70 class) submarine, is expected to attract about 500,000 tourists and visitors to Melaka by end 2012.

The submarine museum project in Melaka, costing RM12.5 million, had come under heavy criticism and deemed a waste of money by some.

Melaka Museum Corporation general manager Datuk Khamis Abas said from Jan 1 to March 14, the
museum had attracted 53,737 tourists and visitors and the figure could reach 500,000 by year end.

“Among them were 10,000 tourists,” he told Bernama here.

He added that based on the popularity and returns generated, the cost of bringing the SMD Ouessant Agosta 70, a submarine formerly owned by the French navy, from Brest, France to Melaka at a cost of RM12.5 million has become irrelevant.

Apart from being a museum, the submarine museum also acts as an information centre for visitors who are interested to know about submarines, in detail.

— BERNAMA

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Cuisine in Melaka

HANG TUAH EXISTENCE DEBATE IS IRRELEVANT

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.”