MELAKA: Renewed interest in a cemetery, thought to be connected to the Melaka Sultanate, at a Christian burial site in Bukit Serindit here opens new possibilities for strengthening cultural and tourism ties between Melaka and the Riau province in Indonesia.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Melaka Chapter chairman Goh Hock Gin said a recent video highlighting the gravesite, which social media users claim is associated with the bygone Melaka Sultanate, surfaced at a timely moment for the local tourism industry.
Inscriptions shown in the video indicate that the tombstones contain references to the Indragiri Kingdom, which was once connected to the Melaka Sultanate through historical relations.
"We had just completed an engagement session with Indonesian tour groups to promote Melaka when this video appeared,” he said in an interview on Wednesday (Nov 19).
Goh said the footage revealed the presence of Makam Puteri, a site many locals did not know existed until it was circulated on social media.
“Most of us were not aware that such a site was located here. This allows us to introduce a deeper layer of Melaka history,” he added.
Goh said group tours highlighting the Bukit Serindit gravesite can be curated to attract visitors from Riau, along with other heritage attractions connected to the Melaka Sultanate, such as Kampung Duyong, the birthplace of Hang Tuah.
“At the moment, many Indonesian visitors are coming to Melaka for medical tourism.
“This allows us to package a new historical trail that focuses on the legacy of the Melaka Sultanate,” he said.
He added that recent discussions with Indonesian tour operators were encouraging, especially since Malaysians are travelling to Bintan Island in Indonesia to visit a cemetery associated with a warrior believed to have links to Melaka.
"With this existing interest, the gravesite in Melaka can also become a strong attraction for tourists and history enthusiasts from neighbouring countries,” he said.
