MALACCA PRISON MUSEUM

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I refer to your report, "Prison life for Malacca tourists," (Star Nov.1). I must applaud the Malacca Chief Minister,Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustum
for answering my call to turn the Banda Hilir Prison into a museum, which will be opened in 2012,
The 140 year old H.M. PRISON as it was known before the second world war, was built by the British in 1860. After the war the prison was known as a Young Persons Prison, where prisoners below the age of 21 were confined, till it was gazetted in l964 as the Henry Gurney School II,to ease overcrowding of the main school in Telok Mas Melaka. One hundred years after it was built, I took over command of the prison from a British officer, who had retired under the Malayanazation scheme,in August 1960 .,and was the first Malayan officer, to take charge of the prison as its Officer in Charge. I served the School for ten years until I was transferred to Taiping Prison in 1970.
Some people think that the Malacca prison, which is now in the heart of the city is an eyesore,and should be removed, but older generations, who are heritage lovers and foreign soldiers who were interned in the prison during world war 2 and myself as the man in charge for ten years wanted the prison as a Heritage Building in a UNISCO declared World Heritage sight to remain, and be turned into a museum for posterity..
The .decision of the State Government is timely in view of the fact that many old prisons in the United Kingdom, France, Germany,Switzerland and nearer home Australia have been preserved and turned into museums, hotels, and other establishment to attract tourists from all over the world. This could be a plus factor for Malacca .