RM12.8 million could buy more than 6 million plates of nasi lemak for a nationwide gathering. Or 1,280 World of Warcraft-friendly computers. Or support the Malay College for roughly two years at its current state. Or support more or less 29 full time students at the University of Michigan for four years. Or, it could be used to reconstruct the fort that was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, strengthened by the Dutch in the 17th and the 18t century and dismantled by the British in the 19th century, the Fort A Famosa. Come the 21st century, here comes the Malaysian to raise the dead fort!
Yes. The federal government of Malaysia is planning to reconstruct the old fort and it is allocating resources so huge that it could buy 6 million Malaysians with free nasi lemak:
MALACCA: The federal government has approved a RM12.8 million allocation for the reconstruction of Fortaleza D’Malacca or the mighty A’Famosa fort built during the Portuguese or Dutch colonial era in Bandar Hilir here.
Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said said the first phase of the rebuilding work was expected to begin in April or May. [The Star, Feb 18 2007]
It is an odd thing to see the federal government is more interested in rebuilding what has been lost and not save those that have yet to be lost. With that RM12.8 million, it might be possible to entice the owner of the land the Bok House once sat upon to sell it to the public for conservation purposes.
Would the dear minister think the reconstruction of the old fort would qualify Malacca entry into the UNESCO World Heritage list?
Well, whatever the answer would be, if the federal government goes through with the plan, I hope the reconstruction would not damage existing historical buildings.
