Page 36 - The Guide To Malaysia 9th Edition

32 INTRODUCTION TO THE STATES OF MALAYSIA
Malaysia Maps
Melaka Negeri Bersejarah
(Melaka, The Historical State)
by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King). The State Legislative Assembly is the elected legislature. The State Executive Council (EXCO
or state cabinet) acts as
the executive, headed by the Ketua Menteri (Chief Minister). A professional Civil Service (under the State Secretary) administers and implements policy.
Labuan
Major Economic Activities
Melaka is the first state in
Malaysia to reach developed
status (in 2010). Bandaraya
Melaka is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site (jointly with
George Town in Pulau
Population: 932,700 Area: 1,652sq km
State Capital: Bandaraya Melaka (Melaka City) Website: melaka.gov.my
HOW TO GET THERE By Air: Melaka International Airport, Batu Berendam
By Road: The North- South Expressway from Kedah in the North runs through Melaka to Johor in the South.
By Rail: Malaysian Railway (KTM) Intercity North-South Line stations are in Pulau Sebang and Batang Melaka.
By Sea: Sungai Udang Port and Melaka Port have cargo and ferry terminals.
the Portuguese invaded in 1511. The Dutch ousted the Portuguese in 1641, then ceded Melaka to Britain
in 1824, in exchange for Bengkulu (Sumatra). It later became a Crown Colony, part of the Straits Settlement with Penang and Singapore. Melaka joined the Federation of Malaya in 1948, thereby gained independence in 1957, and joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
State Government
The Head of State is the
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
(Governor), currently Tun Seri Setia (Dr.) Haji Mohd. Ali Bin Mohd. Rustam (2020 - present), who is appointed
Pinang) and thus a tourist SARAWAK
MELAKA
Historical Background
The Sultanate of Melaka
was established in 1402
by Parameswara (Iskandar Shah). Strategically located between India and China, Melaka provided easy access to the Indonesian spice islands, with Ayutthaya (Siam) in the North, and Sumatra in the Southwest. It was centred on contemporary Bandaraya Melaka.
Parameswara constructed port facilities, suppressed piracy and set up an effective administration, transforming this former fishing village into the world’s greatest trading port. Melaka’s pre-eminence lasted over a century, until
magnet, attracting visitors
to its historical sites, cultural mix, unique cuisine and nearby beaches. Apart
from Malaysia’s largest oil refinery at Sungai Udang, manufacturing is mostly small and medium scale, (albeit with significant multinational participation), producing food products, footwear, surgical gloves, vehicle parts, electronic components and military equipment, amongst others.
Major Industrial Areas
23 industrial zones with nearly 500 local and international businesses are located in Tanjung Kling, Batu Berendam, Cheng, Ayer Keroh, Tasik Utama and Alor Gajah. The Tanjung Kling and Batu Berendam Free Trade Zones operate free of quotas, tariffs and other trade barriers.