Malacca travel infomation.
Resourceless Malacca with a Iand area of only 1,638 sq. metres practises a two-pronged development via industrialisation and tourism.
The state started inviting over foreign investors in the early 7Os and since then has met with commendable success. By end of 1997, the state had registered a total investment of over RM16 bil., leading about 80,000 job opportunities.
There are now 23 industrial estates with about 500 factories coming from the United States, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and also Singapore.
Their products range from rubber gloves and from footwear to computer parts.
The state is also keen on the development of small-scale industries and to accommodate these, a number of estates have been earmarked for them. The Tanjung Kling and Batu Berendam areas are Free Trade Zones where imported materials used in manufacture are tax-free.
Current projections include developing Malacca into a manufacturing haven to help achieve developed country status by 2020.
Over 140 acres in Pegoh, Alor Gajah, have been marked for the automotive industry for the production of defence trucks by DRH-Hicom.
This industry is expected to provide opportunities for supporting industries, like mould , metal stamping, plastic injection, alternators and many others.
People
Of the state of Malacca's 758,000 people, a majority of residents are Malay, with Chinese. Malaysians like Penang, is a center of Peranakan culture, which evolved from a mix of Chinese and Malay influences.
There is also a small community of Kristang people, Eurasians of Portuguese descent who practice Christianity and continue to speak their unique creole, known as Cristão or Kristang.
In addition, Malacca is home to a sizeable Indian Malaysian population.
Things to See in Malacca
1)Fort A Famosa:
Constructed by the Portuguese in 1511, it suffered severe structural damage during the Dutch invasion. In 1808, the fort was barely saved from destruction by the British as a result of the intervention of Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of the British colony in Singapore.
2)St. Paul's Church:
Constructed by the Portuguese in 1521, this church was named "Our Lady of The Hill," but was later turned into a burial ground by the Dutch for their dead and renamed St. Paul's Church. Although the church is now in ruins, you can still see the tombstones along the walls. The body of St. Francis Xavier was interred here in 1553 before it was taken to Goa, India.
3)Cheng Hoon Temple:
Built in 1645 by Kapitan Lee Wei King with building materials imported from China, Cheng Hoon Teng served as the main place of worship for the local Hokkien Chinese community and is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. The main hall was added in 1704 and was rebuilt in 1801 by Kapitan China Chua Su Cheong, who made magnificent structural additions to the building.
