Malay Heritage Centre

History museum in Sultan Gate, Singapore

1°18′08″N 103°51′37″E / 1.30222°N 103.86028°E / 1.30222; 103.86028Typehistory museumChairpersonNorshahril SaatWebsitewww.malayheritage.org.sg

The Malay Heritage Centre (Malay: Taman Warisan Melayu; Jawi: تامن واريثن ملايو‎) is a cultural centre and museum located at Sultan Gate off Beach Road in Kampong Glam, Singapore. It showcases the culture, heritage and history of Malay Singaporeans.

History

The building was once the Istana Kampong Glam, and was part of a larger original compound that led to the Beach Road frontage. Sultan Gate has been known as such since the 1950s. The Malay Heritage Foundation On the grounds of the Malay Heritage Centre are Gelam trees, a replica of a Bugis prahu boat, the Pinisi, and information markers on the history of the Bugis people and their trade. The centre itself preserves and showcases Malay culture and heritage in Singapore through historic artefacts, multimedia and diorama displays, and exhibits.

The centre also organizes Malay cultural programmes and workshops. Before 2008 these, together with other fund-raising activities, contributed two-thirds of the centre's operational costs. In 2008, the Government of Singapore announced that it would provide full funding of S$1.7 million a year to the centre, instead of just the one-third funding provided in previous years. The funding, and additional aid from the National Heritage Board, is expected to give the centre a boost to become a museum of international standard, and create opportunities for it to work with other top regional museums in Indonesia and Malaysia.^[1]

In August 2011, the Malay Heritage Centre was closed for extensive renovations. It reopened on 1 September 2012.^[2]

Gallery

Istana Kampong Glam at the Malay Heritage Centre
Istana Kampong Glam
Istana Kampong Glam
Istana Kampong Glam
Istana Kampong Glam with fountain at the Malay Heritage Centre
Perahu Bugis (Pinisi)

References

^ Ahmad Sumantri (1 October 2008). "Govt to fully fund Malay Heritage Centre's S$1.7m annual running costs". Channel Newsasia.
^ Saifulbahri Ismail (1 September 2012). "PM Lee calls on Malay Heritage Centre to reach out to all ethnic groups". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 9 September 2012.