From: Badan Warisan Malaysia
17 June 2011
Melaka’s new tourism offering, the Hard Rock Cafe, is going to be built within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Jalan Hang Jebat, beside Sungei Melaka, and immediately facing the iconic Stadhuys (built 1650) and Christchurch (built 1753), both of which are gazetted National Heritage buildings. Directly opposite, close to these two buildings, is the collapsed embankment of the river which happened in late May 2011, and which is still in need of repair.
The restaurant is touted to become a new landmark, a focus for tourists from all over the world. The signboard at the site announces this as a single storey structure, with one level of sub-basement car-parking facilities. In most instances, a single storey new building in a historic site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, would not raise any red flags.
How well do Melaka’s cultural history with its built environment, and a cafe expressing an American rock ‘n’ roll sensibility, mix?
How well will the design and proportions sub-basement car parking facility and the single storey building which will obviously be elevated above the upper part of the car-park, coalesce with the existing historic environment? This is an issue for a Heritage Impact Assessment.
Will the presence of a Hard Rock Cafe draw larger numbers of visitors to this already congested area?
Recent media reports put these estimates at between 360,000 to 480,000 a year; daily 1,000 to 1,300 patrons a day, only a modest proportion of the daily visitors already coming to the area. Earlier reports had stated it would attract between 700,000 to one million patrons monthly, a daily patronage of 25,000 visitors.
Badan Warisan Malaysia has reservations that even if the presence of the Hard Rock Cafe Melaka draws in large numbers, both in terms of visitors and revenue generation, the authenticity of this unique historical city will be surely compromised. To achieve sustainability, is not limited to large profit margins; the sustainability of Melaka’s future is based on its ability continuing to draw visitors because of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its heritage values and cultural authenticity. Will visitors continue to flock to Melaka, seeking to experience its unique living cultural heritage, or instead for its well-rated, modestly priced, casual American fare and rock ‘n’ roll music and memorabilia?
Tun Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid
President, Badan Warisan Malaysia
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