Sunken Treasure

Latiff Thamby Chik's recent announcement in the mass media about the sunken treasure is gaining attention rapidly and the find is going to add more historical value to Heritage Malacca. Datuk Latiff Thamby Chik is the chairman of the Malacca State Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee.

Believing that the shipwrecks could include the famous Malayan king, Raja Haji, the age of the sunken vessels could be as far back as 400 to 500 years ago. Raja Haji had at one time, occupied the Cape of Ketapang in the southern part of Malacca and the Malay forces from Selangor and Rembau joined him there. History recorded that Raja Haji fought a battle against the Dutch in 1874.

Latiff said, "Some of these vessels could be from the era of the Malacca Empire". The Malacca Empire ruled almost 500 years ago, was founded by Parameswara, in 1401, who hailed from Palembang, Sumatra. Arriving at Malacca from Temasek, (the old Singapore), he saw what happened between a fleeing mouse-deer and his hunting dogs. He was resting near a tree called the Malacca Tree, during that event of the mouse-deer and the hunting dogs. He built a settlement in the vicinity of the Malacca Tree and soon Malacca became the most important port in the East between the Mediterranean Sea and the South China Sea.

As many as 80 languages were spoken in this heritage city during that time and this means vessels of ancient trades of historical treasure is now yielding artefacts. When these artefacts make their ways to the museums of specialties in Malacca one day, this heritage city history reshape again and takes a new cover. To revisit Malacca can thus rebuild answers already in hands.

The Portuguese and the Dutch descended first on Malacca in the 1400s before they discovered other places in Malaya. The voyage of Admiral Cheng Ho also took place about that time when the Malacca Empire knitted a relationship with the Ming Dynasty of China. Many ships were sailing through the Straits of Malacca by 1511.

" I hear from the experts, who come through our doors. And, they come from all over the world asking to see the treasure. From their eyes, we realised that this is really a very valuable treasure. ", said, one lady in the YouTube above.

Heritage Malacca will not only present you historical value but also educational value. Admist your stays in the many hotels of your choice, romancing history in Malacca is getting lovelier in time to come.