Melaka Literature Museum


The Melaka Literature Museum is a museum about Malaysian literary works, located in Melaka City, Melaka, Malaysia.

History

The museum building was built during the British Malaya on St. Paul's Hill. It was formerly used for residence and it was also used as prison. After the independence of Malaya in 1957, the building used to house the Melaka State Development Corporation until 1974 before it was moved to Ayer Keroh as its current location.
The building was then transformed into the Melaka Literature Museum which was officiated by Chief Minister Mohd Zin Abdul Ghani in 1984. The museum building underwent renovation and upgrade from July 2008 until May 2009 with a cost of MYR1.7 million after Melaka was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site on 7 July 2008. The museum was then reopened to the public on 1 August 2009.

Architecture

The museum building has a structural design of a residence because the underground section had the resemblance of a living room.

Exhibitions

The museum exhibits material pertaining to the written history of Melaka, the writings of Munsyi Abdullah and local Malay folklore. It also displays the growth of literature in Melaka from the period of the Malacca Sultanate to contemporary literary scene. The front of the museum displays a mural that depicts of evolution of writing in Malaysia from the use of stone tablets, to the introduction of Arabic script, the precursor to Jawi, ending with the modern tools of the computer and keyboard. A large section is devoted to the tale of Hang Tuah. The museum also showcases the earliest known Malay letters, dating to the 16th century, the contributions of Malay authors, and the influence of Islam on the nation's laws. Displays are done using graphical panels, exhibition boxes, audio visual and kiosk information.
The museum has been criticized for marginalizing the influence of ethnic Indians and Chinese on the Malaysian literary heritage.

Opening time

The museum opens everyday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.