1 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum is located in Melaka and it declared as a World UNESCO Heritage Site. The house is a combination of three terrace lots that were acquired by the Chan family in year 1861. Before the house is opened as museum, there are four generations lived in the house in March 1985. The name of the museum is derived from the term Baba, an honorific manner of addressing a Straits-born gentleman and Nyonya which addresses a Straits-born lady. A long before, house No. 48 & 50 was used as the main homestead, while house No. 52 was the servant quarters. The house is divided into three sections basically which were Reception Hall (Thia Besar), Kitchen (Dapur) and Ancestral Hall (Thia Abu). The house was unique due to the interior design of the house gives many clues to Dutch, Portuguese, Malay, and Colonial influences. Peranakan Baba Nyonya identity began to form when Chinese traders intermarried with local women (Indonesia, Malays, and Siamese) and adopted South East Asian social practices and the local language. Chan Cheng Siew J.P (Justice of the Peace) was a second generation Straits-born Chinese and the first hybrid generation. He took over his father’s business and began his career as a planter and was commonly known as Towkay Cermin Mata (Boss with Glasses) in estate. Cheng Siew died in 1919, leaving his wife Chee Gee Geok Neo with three concubines and his only son Chan Seng Kee, who became trustee to his estate. Chan Seng Kee was the third generation and the second hybrid generation in this family. Today the museum is still managed by the family generations. The forth son of Chan Seng Kee was the founder to preserve the house becoming a museum. Their vision is to revive Malaysia’s Peranakan identity and heritage to the public by preserving the house for visitors to honour the Peranakan spirit and keeping it alive for many generations to come.
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Transcript
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum is located in Melaka and it declared as a
World UNESCO Heritage Site. The house is a combination of three terrace lots that were
acquired by the Chan family in year 1861. Before the house is opened as museum, there are
four generations lived in the house in March 1985. The name of the museum is derived from
the term Baba, an honorific manner of addressing a Straits-born gentleman and Nyonya
which addresses a Straits-born lady.
A long before, house No. 48 & 50 was used as the main homestead, while house No.
52 was the servant quarters. The house is divided into three sections basically which were
Reception Hall (Thia Besar), Kitchen (Dapur) and Ancestral Hall (Thia Abu). The house was
unique due to the interior design of the house gives many clues to Dutch, Portuguese,
Malay, and Colonial influences.
Peranakan Baba Nyonya identity began to form when Chinese traders intermarried
with local women (Indonesia, Malays, and Siamese) and adopted South East Asian social
practices and the local language. Chan Cheng Siew J.P (Justice of the Peace) was a second
generation Straits-born Chinese and the first hybrid generation. He took over his father’s
business and began his career as a planter and was commonly known as Towkay Cermin
Mata (Boss with Glasses) in estate. Cheng Siew died in 1919, leaving his wife Chee Gee
Geok Neo with three concubines and his only son Chan Seng Kee, who became trustee to
his estate. Chan Seng Kee was the third generation and the second hybrid generation in this
family.
Today the museum is still managed by the family generations. The forth son of Chan
Seng Kee was the founder to preserve the house becoming a museum. Their vision is to
revive Malaysia’s Peranakan identity and heritage to the public by preserving the house for
visitors to honour the Peranakan spirit and keeping it alive for many generations to come.
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2.0 SUB ATTRACTION NEAR THE BABA AND NYONYA HERITAGE MUSEUM,
MALACCA
Besides The Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, there are many other tourist
attractions along Malacca. Below are several interesting tourist attractions nearby the
museum that tourist can walk within 15 minutes from the museum.
2.1 Jonker Walk
Jalan Hang Jebat, formerly known as Jonker Street, is
known worldwide among serious antique collectors as one
of the best places to hunt and bargain for antiques. Many
authentic artefacts and relics, some dating as far back as
300 years with its history can be found here.
Recently, a new wave of cafes and craft shops has started
to grow on this street, due to the demand of the visitors
and lending it a cultured air of old-meets-new.
2.2 Stadthuys
The building was built in 1650 as the official residence of
the Dutch Governor and his officers. The Stadthuys is a
fine outstanding example of Dutch architecture of that
period. It is believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the
East. This large impressive building now houses the
History Museum and Ethnography Museum.
On the roadside, there are many colourful and attractive
Malacca traditional trishaw with some modern modification
towards the market views. Visitors can experience riding
around Stadthuys with interesting commentary from the
trishaw cycler.
Figure 1: Stall & shop at
Jonker Walk during night.
Figure 2: Front area of
Stadthuys and trishaw.
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2.3 Melaka River Cruise
The river was the main artery of trade for Melaka in its
prime when it was busy with traders from all around the
world. Some buildings from that era still stand by the river,
which is also lined by old villages, and modern day
buildings.
The 45-minute cruise is accompanied by an entertaining
and informative commentary for just RM14. Visitors can get
lesson about the riverside history in interesting ways.
2.4 St. Paul's Hill (A'Famosa)
The Portuguese colonised Melaka from 1511 to 1641. The
first thing they did was build a fort commanding view of the
coastline, calling it A'Famosa.
Within the fort walls were housing and food stores, a
castle, a meeting room for the Portuguese Council and five
churches. A seven-month attack by the Dutch destroyed
the entire fortress, leaving only the entrance façade and
the structure of a church at the top of the hill.
Visitors can almost imagine the glories and distress of the
besieged lives the Portuguese. That would have led right
here all those years ago. By a stroll up St. Paul's Hill on a
tepid late afternoon and wander among the splendid trees
and historical remains.
Figure 3: Night view of
windmill during river
cruising.
Figure 4: Church on top
of the St. Paul’s Hill.
Figure 5: A’Famosa with
cannon.
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3.0 STATISTIC OF TOURIST ARRIVAL
According to the linear chat for 2 years, we can see on year 2012 the total tourist arrivals
were 56,862. This is because there were many programs had been launched at Malacca
town centre. For example, concert event (Jom Heboh), cultural festival (Visit Malacca Year)
and campaign (Kempen Zon Bersih Melaka). With the external element of factor, most
visitors would like to visit attraction places nearby town centre including The Baba and
Nyonya Heritage Museum. Within 15 minutes walked from A’Famosa fortress (the icon of
Malacca), visitors would like to come and visit to The Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum as
their day tour. With the government supported on promotion activities, more tourist get notice
about the museum and decided to take a look of the museum for real.
For the year 2013, the total number of visitors that visit to The Baba and Nyonya
Heritage Museum is higher than year 2012 which is 70,705 visitors. In contrast, the
difference total number of visitors between these two years is 13,843 visitors. This is
because the promotional activities that had been held on The Baba and Nyonya Heritage
Museum were increased because of the preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
Furthermore, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Malaysia was aimed that tourism destination
in Malaysia should increase the number of visitors each year.
We got some information from the tour guide named Mr. Kamal, the visitors came to visit
The Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum were from domestic and international tourists. But,
international tourist received higher number of percentage of tourist arrival. Moreover, most
of the international tourists were come from Singapore, Japan, Thailand and other Asian
country. Our tour guide said that, the museum administrator estimate the total tourist number
will be increasing each year. In that case, the museum will receive more visitors for the next
years come.
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3.1 Linear chart of tourist arrival
Below are estimate tourist arrival at The Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum
Malacca on year 2012 and year 2013.
Table 1: Statistic of tourist arrival at The Baba and Nyonya Heritage
Museum on year 2012 and 2013.
Total tourist arrival on year 2012 : 56,862 tourists.
Total tourist arrival on year 2013 : 70,705 tourists.