A view of the Dutch square and the Stadhuys building in Melaka, which will be locations for the upcoming Melaka Heritage Festival. Photo: The Star/Filepic
The Melaka Heritage Festival will feature a series of public arts, culture, and heritage-related programmes in the Banda Hilir area, including Jalan Kota, over three days starting July 12.
State Deputy Exco for Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture, Datuk Zaidi Attan, announced the 'Warisan Kita, Kebanggaan Kita' (Our Heritage, Our Pride) festival theme, celebrating Melaka's 16th anniversary as a Unesco World Heritage City.
The activities include the Kebaya and Classic Attire Parade at the Stadthuys building on July 12, 'Malakka Dutch Week' including an exhibition on bilateral relations between Melaka and the Netherlands at the Melaka Art Gallery for seven days starting July 13, and the Hikayat Hang Tuah Theatre show at Encore Melaka on July 13.
"The highlight event is the Hikayat Hang Tuah Theatre, expected to attract 1,800 attendees including ambassadors. We estimate the three-day Melaka Heritage Festival will draw up to 70,000 visitors," said Zaidi at the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum today, where he officiated the closing ceremony for the Jejak Seni Exploration @ Melaka Museum and the 'Museum Heritage and Art Photography Competition.'
Reproductions and images of manuscripts and artefacts from the Maritime Museum in the Netherlands, including banners from the Selangor-Dutch war, will be exhibited during 'Malakka Dutch Week' in Melaka.
Zaidi added that the upcoming Melaka Heritage Festival also intends to showcase the rich arts, culture and heritage of the various ethnic groups in Melaka, not only to local and international tourists, but also to the younger generation so that they are not forgotten. - Bernama
