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| Work in progress : Heritage Department workers conducting excavation works on part of the newly found bastion next to the Malacca riverside opposite the St. Francis Xavier church in Malacca [Credit: The Star] |
Last month, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam announced that the Federal Government has disapproved a proposed multi-storey car-park project at the site following the discovery of the bastion underneath the site.
He said that the Information, Communication Culture and, Arts Ministry has asked the state government to source for another alternative area after soil test at Padang Nyiru confirmed there was a fort with historical values buried underneath.
The site, neighbouring Malacca’s Little India and St Francis Church,is currently a car park managed by a private concessionaire.
Mohd Ali said the state government has received an official letter from the ministry, a few days ago requesting us to repeal the proposed project in a bid to conserve and unearth the relics.
He said the remains of the ancient fort dating back to the era of Portuguese rule in Malacca (1511-1641) was discovered in the middle of a core zone of the heritage city.
Mohd Ali said the state government also has expressed hopes that a replica of the fort could be re-enacted if the ruined of the bastion is unable to be fully restored to its past glory after the completion o fexcavation works by the relevant agencies.
“As for the state government, we have no qualms although our proposalhas not be accepted as ancient fort cannot be damaged by a modernproject and definitely would become another tourist attraction oncethe site has been restored”, he said.
Mohd Ali said from feedback gathered it was known the ministry wants to re-construct some of the vital portions of the fort and conduct more research at the site.
In 2007, parts of the bastion and the wall s an extension to the A’Famosa fortress left by the Portuguese were discovered during construction of the RM24.5mil Taming Sari viewing tower in Jalan Quayside next to the Malacca River.
Following the find, the Federal Government issued a stop-work order to preserve the 17th century Dutch-era fortress and the 110m revolving tower project was relocated to another site.
Middleburg Bastion, estimated to be 1.5km long, was a strategic military landmark in Malacca, built 250 years ago.
It was built as an extension to the A’Famosa fortress left by the Portuguese.
Source: The Star [May 22, 2012]