03 June 2007 (New Straits Times) – Dr Rais Yatim, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister of Malaysia in an interview with the New Straits Times about the restoration of the Malacca Fort.
It takes time to get the job done
The man behind the National Heritage Act 2005 has embarked on a multi-million ringgit plan to restore the Malacca Fort. Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim speaks to TAN CHOE CHOE about the project and other topics close to his heart
Q: Recently, you announced that the cabinet had approved RM12.8 million for the reconstruction of the Malacca Fort. What is the objective behind this project?
A: Malacca is where our civilisation began, so anything that we can find via the window of heritage there is important. The fort shows that we have lived through some colonial periods and like most countries, we have survived well.
Some people don’t like to mention our history of colonialism but to me, the occupations of the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and the Japanese have taught us something. We didn’t simply explode and come into being. Our history and heritage are a salutary lesson in nationhood and a reminder to strengthen our resolve to build a better future.
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Read the full interview with Dr Rais Yatim here.
