Got up pretty early at 6.30 am this morning and before anything else sms a “wake up call” message to Jason. Met up at MAM at 8.30am and proceed straight to the Town Council Exhibition Hall with bags full of coins and laminated copies of data…….
4 numbers of empty 4 ft x 4 ft display cabinet were waiting for us there where it took us approximately 30 minutes and it’s all done. Not bad at all!
We proceeded to the Dutch Square where His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Lody Embrechts had already arrived. His Excellency commented personally to Jason on MAM www.maritime.emalacca.com ‘s contributions towards this Holland Days and He mentioned again TWICE during his speech soon after. He cited the 27 cows displayed during Holland Days were to represent the 27 members of the European Union ( E.U. ) where the Netherlands acted as the transit point to these EU nations and a center of agriculture excellent.
Before our Chief Minister YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Bin Rustam declared opened the Holland Days exhibition; he touched on a few historical evident relating to Melaka Malay Sultanate, Johor Sultanate and Dutch VOC. In particular the Dutch expanded their influence in the Far East and got the co-operation of the Sultan of Johor to fight jointly Melaka governed by the Portuguese in 1640. The Portuguese finally surrendered to the Dutch in January 1641. For almost 150 years thereafter, the Dutch East India Company ( VOC ) monopolized trade in the Far East via Melaka, with little obstruction from other European powers. Last but not least, CM further encouraged the Dutch Authority to collaborate with Melaysian Government in general and Melaka in particular on agro-based and IT development industries where next year he had hoped that Melaka could send trade delegations and maybe Melaka cows too to the Netherlands instead!
Next our CM proceed to the Municipal Exhibition Hall and upon seeing MAM’s academic reports on Dutch-Melaka Numismatic Cultural Heritage and tin and copper coinage exhibits; he wondered why it wasn’t the governing Museum Authority ( PERZIM) but MAM – a private museum that had prepared this important document? To this our Jason just smiled and presented a VOC tin coin to our CM by saying “it’s our joined efforts with PERZIM too!”
When requested by Jason, CM proceeds to signed onto the prepared bunting thanking him for supporting and preserving Melaka’s cultural heritage.
After the press conference, CM and guest attended refreshments hosted by the organizers and before he left for other upcoming functions shortly after that.
Next, Dutch Deputy Ambassador Mr. Luc Schillings and Melaka City Mayor Datuk Zaini bin Mohd Nor came separately to MAM; expressing satisfaction over our contributions, both in exhibits and documentations towards the Holland Days in Malacca. Related photos of Holland Days in Malacca’s opening ceremony can be viewed at www.melakatoday.spaces.live.com .
On behalf of Maritime Archaeology Museum (MAM), we thank the Melaka Government, under the stewardship of our Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali bin Rustam, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Lody Embrechts and his delegation; Melaka City Mayor Datuk Zaini, PERZIM and all other relevant entities for various opportunities granted to MAM towards the Holland Days in Malacca.
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