French Historian Calls Out Tourism Melaka Over Alleged Historical Mistakes in Their Latest Guidebook

Melaka is one of the whole historically significant places in Malaysia, with stories dating back centuries around every corner.

Hence, it is only fair for the city’s guidebook to filled with these historical facts, right?

A French historian, Serge Jardin, who currently resides in Melaka, took to his Facebook page to call out Tourism Melaka for allegedly filling their latest guidebook with historical mistakes.

He wrote, “Please, Tourism Melaka, you shouldn’t treat tourists like they’re stupid, thank you.”

Serge went on to correct the alleged mistakes in the guidebook. 

Here are his corrections: 

1. “The Emperor bequeathed Hang Li Poh to Sultan Muzaffar Shah” – She married Sultan Mansur Shah.
2. “The arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century under Alfonso de Albuquerque” – 1511 is the 16th century.
3. “The Portuguese ruled for the next 150 years” – 1511 to 1641 is 130 years.
4. “The European invasion came back in the 14th century” – 1511 is definitely the 16th century.
5. “After independence, a colonial building was built by the British, which was known as Melaka Club” – The new Malacca Club was built in 1912.
6. “Melaka is celebrating 750 years in history” – 1400 to 2024 is 624 years.
7. “Queen Victoria’s Fountain was built in 1901 to commemorate Her Diamond Jubilee” – It was built in 1904, to commemorate the death of a Great Queen, as Her Diamond Jubilee was commemorated in 1897.
8. “In 1574, St Francis Xavier died in a ship” – He died in 1552, on Shangchuan Island, China.
9. “Melaka Stamps Museum” – It has definitely been closed for 4 years already.
10. “Poh San Temple was built in 1754 at the foot of Bukit Cina” – It was built in 1795.

He added that his list only includes SOME corrections as there are many more alleged mistakes. 

“Just to name a few, not mentioning mistakes about Cheng Ho, A Famosa, Porta de Santiago, the museums and the Dutch bastions, St Paul Church and Cheng Hoon Temple, etc. Is there somebody in charge?” he asked.

We genuinely hope that Tourism Melaka comes up with an explanation to this as there truly is no point in pulling in more tourists through having Fan BingBing as Melaka’s Tourism Ambassador if those tourists are being fed with historical mistakes.

What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

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