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A Bit of Malaysian History:Kuala Lumpur & Malacca

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Kuala Lumpur

• Kuala Lumpur began as a mining settlement in the late 1800s with the discovery of tin by Chinese miners.

• Under the British, Kuala Lumpur was made the administrative centre. Uniformed British officers and bureaucrats administered Malaya from the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

• This building is a beautiful fusion of Moorish and Victorian architecture designed by AC Norman in 1894. The City Hall next door also has similar architecture.

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Kuala Lumpur (cont’)

• Masjid Jamed, located behind the Abdul Samad building is a stunning display of Indian Muslim architecture designed by AB Hubbocks as British in 1909.

• It has onion shaped domes, arched colonnades and polished marble floors surrounded by palm trees.

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Malacca

• Malacca was the centre of the ancient East-West spice route.

• The oldest trading port in Malaysia, it has undergone Portuguese, Dutch and English rule during the past 500 years.

• The Portuguese influence is most visible in the city's architecture. The Portuguese taxed buildings based on frontage width, resulting in the construction of narrow façade and deep shops along the ancient streets.

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Malacca (cont’)

• The Chinese influence is felt most on the streets where they advertise their business using bright red signage. On the fringe of the city is Bukit China, the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China.

• Over the centuries, the Chinese and local Malays in Malacca assimilated, producing a unique society and culture, now known as the Baba-Nyonya.

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Malacca (cont’)

The must-see places in Malacca include:

• Portuguese Fort de Santiago – A Portuguese fortress constructed in 1511.

• St. Paul's Church – the former burial ground of St Francis Xavier.

• The 'Antique Shops' in Jonker Street.

• Cheng Hoon Teng Temple - oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia with commemoration for Admiral Cheng Ho.

• Kampong Kling, a typical Malay village in ancient Malacca.

• Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum