Debate hots up over proposed name change of St Paul's Hill to Bukit Melaka at state assembly

MELAKA: The proposal to change the name of St Paul's Hill to Bukit Melaka was hotly debated during the wind-up session at the state legislative assembly on Thursday (March 3).

Melaka tourism, heritage and culture committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis pointed to China which erased any links to its colonised history.

"The Chinese were proud of preserving their heritage and erased any links to colonial powers.

"Selangor has also changed the names of streets connected to the British and why can't Melaka change the name of a hill.

"We are not altering the facts of the history and the church on top of St Paul's Hill will remain having the same name," he told the assembly after Opposition assemblymen took a swipe at the proposal to change the name of the hill during the proceedings on Thursday (March 3).

Muhammad Jailani said the original name of the St Paul's Hill was Bukit Melaka during the Melaka Sultanate era and was later changed by the Dutch to St Paul's Hill in 1641.

He said the proposal to change the name of the hill was made as the state is proud of "Bangsa Melaka" where the Chinese, Indians, Javanese defended Melaka when it was attacked by the Portuguese in 1511.

"We are not talking about Malays defending Melaka but the history of Bangsa Melaka shows the involvement of various ethnics who fought the Portuguese.

"Hence, we are renaming the name of the hill to what was recorded in the Melaka Malay and Hang Tuan annals," he said.

Muhammad Jailani (Rembia-BN) said the name of the hill was also changed to Bukit Bendera during the British era.

"If colonisers can change the name of the hill as they wish, why can't we?" he asked.

He said he is looking into the proposal to change the name of the hill, which was made two years ago, and a decision would be reached soon.

Muhammad Jailani warned those who attempted to sabotage the state government on the proposed name change of St Paul's Hill by filing a complaint to Unesco to retract the status of Melaka as a World Heritage site would be labelled as traitors.