Declare Malacca CM Ali Rustam As National Heritage

The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry should declare more buildings as national heritage to be restored and conserved for future generations, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

"There are many more buildings in Melaka which are on the heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) but have not been declared national heritage."

Mohd Ali told this to Bernama when reacting to Friday's announcement by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim on 50 buildings being declared as national heritage.

National heritage does not only comprise sites of buildings and nature spots, but also objects as well as songs and dances.

Mohd Ali hoped that buildings or structures which are on the Unesco's heritage list, like the Batu Berendam airport, Hang Tuah's well, Peringgit Mosque, Tengkera Mosque, Tun Teja's grave and Dataran Pahlawan could be considered national heritage.

He also welcomed efforts by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to get Melaka and Penang be recognised as world heritage cities by Unesco. (Bernama)

***** What hypocrisy! Here is the man who had a direct hand in disfiguring genuine historical sites. In Malacca, the state government has been experimenting with all kinds of gimmickry and unnecessary accessories and imported plastic plants and trees from China to 'beautify' the town. In the process it has destroyed or at least defaced a lot of the real historical sites with coats of garish paint and outlandish 'ideas'.

This included the on-off grand design of a 110m-high revolving tower which was supposed be built near the Stadhuys heritage zone here. Why? Because there is money to be made and someone is making it. And this was despite there being objections by conservationist groups, the Melaka Museum Corporation as well as the Museums and Antiquities Department to the project since it was announced. Conservationists had also feared that it would hamper Malacca's chances of being listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, but Mohamed Ali wouldn't listen. For him it was OK building a modern tower in order to 'preserve' a heritage site! Luckily the discovery of part of an ancient wall at the construction site of the proposed tower in Malacca put paid to that monstrosity, temporarily at least.

After having been given the "up yours" finger by Unesco, it looks like Rustam can now only depend on the tempatan version to get more Malacca sites into the list. But he himself should be declared as national heritage for single-handedly promoting Malacca in ways that others would think thrice about. One would be the gargantuan number of datukships that have been given away year after year under his watch. The other would be the international 'fame' and attention he got for Malacca by making a hue and cry about a new little-known virus named after the state. Thanks to him the whole world now knows about the Malacca virus!!

Such a man deserves to be preserved for posterity, if not as a mummy, at least by proclaiming him as national heritage. If he's a little coy about accepting the honour alone, then I suggest jointly declaring him along with that other national treasure, Mohd Khir Toyo(l).

If you have any more names of 'national treasures' please feel free to add them here.
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