Malacca

Malacca (Malay: Melaka), officially the Historic State of Malacca (Malay: Melaka Negeri Bersejarah), is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca. The state is bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to the south. The exclave of Tanjung Tuan also borders Negeri Sembilan to the north. Its capital is Malacca City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008.
Malacca has diverse tropical rainforest and experiences an equatorial climate. Situated immediately south of the Titiwangsa Mountains, the state is mostly level and dotted with inselbergs, with Bukit Gapis as the highest point.
Although it was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, namely the Malacca Sultanate, the local monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or Governor, rather than a sultan. Malacca is noted for its unique history and it is one of the major tourist destinations in Malaysia. With a highly strategic state position for international trade routes, Malacca was once a well-known international trade centre in the East. Many traders anchored in Malacca, especially traders from Arabia, China and India, traded at the port of Malacca and from there were born many of the descendants and tribes that exist in Malacca to this day.
A great diversity of races and ethnicities have long existed among the local community reflecting its history. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba Nyonya, Kristang, Chitty, Temuan and Eurasians are significant ethnic groups living in the State of Malacca in the present day.
The state's name dates to a popular legend surrounding the founding of the Malacca Sultanate by Parameswara, who sought a new location to establish a kingdom after fleeing a Majapahit invasion of Singapura. As the story goes, Parameswara was resting under a Malacca tree (Malay: pokok melaka) near a river during a hunt, when one of his dogs cornered a mouse deer. In self-defence, the mouse deer pushed the dog into the river. Impressed by the courage of the deer, and taking it as a good omen of the weak overcoming the powerful, Parameswara decided then to found an empire at that spot. He named this empire after the tree where he had just taken shelter. This story shows remarkable similarities with and was probably adapted (as some historians argued) from folk-tales from Kandy, Sri Lanka, and Pasai, Sumatra (both of which pre-date Malacca).
The "Malacca tree" was taken as a basis for the species Phyllanthus emblica named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 through Latinising its original Sanskrit name आमलक (āmalaka), to which the species have since been planted as ornamentals in various state attractions. However, some researchers like those of the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia speculate that the legendary name-giving tree may have been the species Phyllanthus pectinatus more endemic to Malay Archipelago forests which superficially resemble P. emblica. There is no geographical overlap between the species.
Another account on the origin of the naming of Malacca claims that during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1424–1444), Arab merchants called the kingdom 'Malakat' (Arabic for 'congregation of merchants') because it was home to many trading communities. One theory suggests, as mentioned in the Suma Oriental by Tomé Pires, that it is derived from the Javanese terms melayu or mlayu (to steadily accelerate or to run), to describe the strong current of a river in Sumatra that today bears the name Sungai Melayu ('Melayu river') which was later possibly adopted to be Melaka as denoting a place for the fleeing prince.
Before the arrival of the first sultan, the area that is now Malacca was a fishing village. Malacca was founded by Parameswara, also known as Iskandar Shah, after discovering a suitable port that was accessible in all seasons and on the strategically located narrowest point of the Strait of Malacca. In collaboration with his Proto-Malay privateers allies, called the Orang Laut ("sea people"), he established Malacca as an international port by compelling passing ships to call there and establishing fair and reliable facilities for warehousing and trade.
In 1403, the first official Chinese trade envoy, led by Admiral Yin Qing, arrived in Malacca. Later, Parameswara was escorted by Zheng He and other envoys in his successful visits. Malacca's relationship with Ming China granted it protection from attacks by Siam and Majapahit, and the settlement officially submitted to Ming China as a protectorate. This encouraged the development of Malacca into a major center on the trade route between China and India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
During the early 15th century, Ming China actively sought to build in Malacca a commercial hub and a base of operations for their treasure voyages into the Indian Ocean. Malacca had been a relatively insignificant region, not even qualifying as a polity prior to the voyages, according to both Ma Huan and Fei Xin, and it was a vassal region of Siam. In 1405, the Ming court dispatched Admiral Zheng He with a stone tablet enfeoffing the Western Mountain of Malacca, as well as an imperial order elevating the status of the port to a country. The Chinese also established a government depot (官廠) as a fortified cantonment for their soldiers. Ma Huan reported that Siam did not dare invade Malacca thereafter. The rulers of Malacca, such as Parameswara in 1411, would pay tribute to the Chinese emperor in person. In 1431, when a Malaccan representative complained that Siam was obstructing tribute missions to the Ming court, the Xuande Emperor dispatched Zheng He, carrying a threatening message for the Siamese king, saying, "You, king should respect my orders, develop good relations with your neighbours, examine and instruct your subordinates and not act recklessly or aggressively". The early kings of Malacca—Parameswara, Megat Iskandar Shah, and Sri Maharaja—understood that they could gain Ming China's protection through skilful diplomacy and thereby establish a strong foundation for their kingdom against Siam and other potential enemies. Chinese involvement was thus crucial for Malacca to grow into a key alternative to other important and established ports.
According to Malaccan folklore, to enhance relations, Hang Li Po, a daughter of the Ming emperor of China, arrived in Malacca, accompanied by 500 attendants, to marry Sultan Mansur Shah, who reigned from 1456 until 1477. Her attendants married Malaccans and settled mostly in Bukit Cina.
Malacca again sent envoys to China in 1481 to inform the Chinese that, while Malaccan envoys were returning from China in 1469, the Vietnamese attacked them, killing some while castrating the young men and enslaving them. The Malaccans reported that Vietnam was in control of Champa and also sought to conquer Malacca, but the Malaccans did not fight back, because they did not want to fight against another state that was a tributary to China without permission from the Chinese. They requested to confront the Vietnamese delegation to China, which was in China at the time, but the Chinese informed them that since the incident was years old, they could do nothing about it, though the emperor sent a letter to the Vietnamese ruler, reproaching him for the incident. The Chinese emperor also ordered the Malaccans to raise soldiers and fight back with violent force if the Vietnamese attacked again.
In April 1511, Afonso de Albuquerque set sail from Goa to Malacca with a force of some 1,200 men and seventeen or eighteen ships. They conquered the city on 24 August 1511. After seizing the city Afonso de Albuquerque spared the Hindu, Chinese and Burmese inhabitants but had the Muslim inhabitants massacred or sold into slavery.
It soon became clear that Portuguese control of Malacca did not also mean that they controlled the Asian trade centred there. The Malaccan rule was severely hampered by administrative and economic difficulties. Rather than achieving their ambition of dominating Asian trade, the Portuguese had disrupted the organised network that had existed. The centralised port of exchange of Asian wealth was now gone, as was a Malay state to police the Strait of Malacca which had made it safe for commercial traffic. Trade was now scattered over a number of ports that fought amongst each other.
The Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier spent several months in Malacca in 1545, 1546, and 1549. The Dutch launched several attacks on the Portuguese colony during the first four decades of the seventeenth century. The first attack took place in 1606 under the command of Dutch Admiral Cornelis Matelief de Jonge who laid siege to the town with the help of his ally, the Johor Sultanate. He engaged the Portuguese armada which had been sent from Goa to offer armed relief to the besieged port. On 14 January 1641, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in an effort to capture Malacca, with the help of the Sultan of Johor. The Dutch ruled Malacca from 1641 to 1798 but they were not interested in developing it as a trading centre, placing greater importance on Batavia (Jakarta) and Java as their administrative centre. However they still built an administrative building called, Stadthuys, which is now a landmark. In the Dutch era the building was white, the current red paint was from a later date.
Malacca was ceded to the British in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 in exchange for Bencoolen on Sumatra. From 1824 to 1942, Malacca was under the rule of the British, first by the East India Company and then as a crown colony. Due to dissatisfaction with British jurisdiction over Naning, Dol Said, a local chief, fought the East India Company in a war from 1831 to 1832, which resulted in a decisive British victory. It formed part of the Straits Settlements, together with Singapore and Penang. Malacca went briefly under the rule of Empire of Japan between 1942 and 1945 during World War II.
After the war, Malacca was placed under a military administration until 1946. Subsequently, the Straits Settlements was abolished, as the British sought to consolidate the various political entities in British Malaya under a single polity named the Malayan Union. The now separate Crown Colony of Malacca was consequently merged into the Malayan Union, which was then replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948. The declaration of independence was made by the first Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman, at Padang Pahlawan on 20 February 1956, which eventually led to the independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957. On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was formed with the merger of Malaya with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, and Malacca became part of it.
The state capital, Malacca City, with a variety of architectures inherited from its colonial days, was declared a historical city on 15 April 1989 and granted city status on 15 April 2003 by the Federal Government of Malaysia. The city's historical core has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008. Malacca City along with George Town was confirmed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
Malacca is one of four Malaysian states without hereditary monarchies, despite being the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, as the local monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state of Malacca is the governor (Malay: Yang di-Pertua Negeri), who is appointed by the King of Malaysia. Ali Rustam is the current Governor of Malacca, having assumed office on 4 June 2020. In practice, the Governor's role is largely symbolic and ceremonial. This includes the authority to appoint the head of government and approve legislation that has been passed by the state's legislature.
The Malacca state government has its own executive council and legislature, but their powers are limited compared to the Malaysian federal government. According to the Constitution of Malaysia, the state may legislate on matters pertaining to Malay customs, land, agriculture and forestry, local government, civil and water works, and state administration, whereas matters that fall under the joint purview of both state and federal authorities include social welfare, wildlife protection and national parks, scholarships, husbandry, town planning, drainage and irrigation, and public health and health regulations.
Malacca's state legislature is the unicameral 28-seat State Legislative Assembly, the highest authority in the state which decides on policy matters. The State Executive Council is responsible to the assembly and comprises members who are appointed every five years by the political party or coalition in power.
The state government is headed by the chief minister, appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri from among the State Legislative Assembly members of the governing party or coalition. The chief Minister presides over a meeting of State Executive Council ministers weekly at the chief minister's office. The Chief Minister's Department is responsible for the overall administration of the state, as well as its political interest. The current chief minister is Sulaiman Md Ali of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
The administrative complex is located at Seri Negeri complex in Ayer Keroh. It houses the chief minister's office, the State Legislative Assembly, the state secretariat office and the official residence of the governor.
Malacca is further divided into four municipalities, one of which is a city-level municipality, each administered by a local government. The local governments exercise power in areas such as planning and development control, public housing, public spaces, waste disposal, business licensing, markets, local transport, and municipal roads. Malacca is also divided into three administrative districts of Alor Gajah, Jasin and Melaka Tengah. Each district is headed by a district officer. The lands and district office in each district deals with land administration and revenue. Thus, it differs from the local governments that oversee the provision and maintenance of urban infrastructure.
Malacca signed sister state relationship memorandums with China's Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province. From the late 2000s to late 2010s, two bungalows in the town of Peringgit housed galleries which display and promote foreign artwork and culture. Among these were Casa Cuba, which was established by the embassy of Cuba and the Macau Gallery, which was established by the Government of Macau. A gallery promoting the state was also established in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The state of Malacca covers an area of 1,775 km (685 sq mi). It is located on the southwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula opposite Sumatra, with the state of Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to the east. Malacca is situated roughly two-thirds of the way down the west coast, 149 km (93 mi) south of Kuala Lumpur and has a central position on the Strait of Malacca. With the exception of some of its small hills, Malacca is generally a lowland area with average elevation of less than 50 metres above sea level. While being relatively isolated from the Titiwangsa Mountains proper, which end near the border with Negeri Sembilan at the neighbouring towns of Pulau Sebang and Tampin, the hills are composed of Titiwangsa granite. The southernmost known Titiwangsa granite outcrop is known to be in Besar Island, off the coast of Jasin District. The 512-metre-tall Bukit Gapis, also known as Gunung Melaka, is the state's highest point.
The peninsula of Tanjung Tuan (formerly known as Cape Rachado) is an exclave of the state, situated on the coast of Negeri Sembilan which it borders to the north. The major rivers within Malacca include the Malacca, Linggi and Kesang Rivers. Malacca River (Sungai Melaka) runs roughly north to south down the middle of the state, Linggi River acts as the western border of Malacca with Negeri Sembilan, while Kesang River acts as the eastern border of Malacca with Johor. Malacca has 17 islands off its coast, with Besar Island being the largest.
The climate of Malacca is hot and humid throughout the year with abundant rainfall, highest between September and November. Daytime high temperatures range between 31 and 33 °C (88 and 91 °F) and nighttime lows around 23 °C (73 °F).
Despite being in a location without any significant natural resources, the economy of Malacca dates back more than 500 years, due to its strategic location. As the centre of the spice trade, Malacca attracted many colonial powers that engaged in wars to control it.
The Port of Tanjung Bruas, located in Tanjung Kling, was constructed in the late 1970s and commenced operations in the early 1980s to provide port facilities and services to the local business communities and to handle the exportation of hinterland goods as well as the importation of raw materials. Container ship handling services began in 2019, with the MV West Scent became the first container vessel to dock at the port.
The Port of Kuala Sungai Linggi, commercially known as Linggi International Floating Transshipment & Trading HUB (LIFT-HUB), is a transshipment area for liquid bulk transshipments and break-bulking located offshore of Linggi River in the Strait of Malacca. It was gazetted in 2006, covers an area of 154 km (45 sq mi) and is among the largest designated Ship-to-ship cargo transfer areas in Malaysia.
Sungai Udang houses the PETRONAS Malacca Refinery Complex consisting of two refining trains, established in 1994 and 1999 and owned by PETRONAS Penapisan (Melaka) Sdn. Bhd. and Malaysian Refining Company Sdn. Bhd. respectively. The total capacity of the refinery is 270,000 barrels of oil per day.
The Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh which opened in June 2003 is the leading commercial centre and the centre for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions (MICE) which plays an important role in the development of trade in Malacca.
On 20 October 2010 an event was held to announce that Malacca had met the benchmark of 'Developed State' as set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and a declaration of "Melaka Maju 2010" (Progressive Malacca 2010) was made.
As of 2012, service sector had the largest share of Malacca's economy at 46.9%, followed by manufacturing at 43.5%, agriculture at 6.5%, construction at 2.9% and mining at 0.1%. In terms workforce numbers, as of 2013, there were 275,000 people working in the industrial sectors, 225,000 people working in the service sectors, 35,000 people working in the entrepreneurship sectors and 12,300 people working in the agricultural sectors.
Malacca has successfully opened itself up to foreign investors since the early 1970s. By 1997, the state has registered a total investment of over MYR16 billion. In 2014, the state achieved a total MYR4.4 billion worth of investment, in which MYR1.8 billion came from foreign investors.
In 2013, Malacca had a GDP of MYR22,646 million with a GDP per capita of MYR34,109. It had 3.2% GDP growth in 2013. The inflation rate in 2012 was 1.6%. As of 2015, the Malacca State Government has an outstanding MYR861.7 million of loan to the federal government. In 2014, the state government's reserve amounted to MYR206.61 million. The unemployment rate in 2014 was 0.9% or around 3,500 people. The state has a relatively well-educated population, with a youth literacy rate of 99.5% as reported by Malaysia Millennium Development Goals Report 2015.
Currently there are 23 industrial areas which are centred along the edges of the city proper in suburbs which include Ayer Keroh, Batu Berendam, Cheng, Taman Tasik Utama and Tanjung Kling. While outside Malacca City, industrial areas include Alor Gajah and Sungai Udang. There are around 500 factories in the state which come from Germany, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, United States etc. For small and medium-sized enterprises, a number of estates have been established by the state government.
In 2016, Malacca became the safest place to live in Malaysia. The state crime rates dropped by 15.5 per cent in 2017 with 3,096 cases recorded compared to 3,663 in 2016. Malacca recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 8.1% in 2017, the second highest in the country after Sabah. Services sector remained the main contributor to the state’s economy at 44.8% of GDP. The GDP per capita also expanded 11.2% to RM46,015 in 2017, surpassing the national-level figure of RM42,228. The State Socioeconomic Report 2017 published on 26 July 2018 reported that Malacca was the state that recorded the lowest unemployment rate in 2017 with only 1.0 percent.
Malacca houses three power stations, namely the 330 MW Tanjung Kling Power Station in Tanjung Kling and 440 MW Telok Gong Power Station 1 and 720 MW Telok Gong Power Station 2 in Telok Gong, with a total installed generation capacity of 1,490 MW.
On 16 December 2013, the Malacca State Government unveiled the draft 8,000 hectares special area called the Melaka World Solar Valley in Rembia, Alor Gajah applying solar energy as the primary alternative in all municipal activity sectors. By 2020, the government-run 7,248ha Melaka World Solar Valley aims to power most of the daily activities of manufacturers, housing developers, farmers, and other stakeholders. Recently, a public-private partnership installed 100,000 LED street lamps along the Alor Gajah–Melaka Tengah–Jasin (AMJ) highway, which will improve road safety and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Water supply-related matters in Malacca is administered by Syarikat Air Melaka Berhad (Malacca Water Company Limited) which is headquartered at Malacca City. It was established on 1 July 2006 after it was upgraded from its predecessor Malacca Water Corporation (Malay: Perbadanan Air Melaka). The company is also responsible for the maintenance and delivery infrastructure of clean water in the state.
Currently, there are three dams located in Malacca supplying its residents with water, which are Durian Tunggal Dam in Alor Gajah, Jus Dam and Asahan Dam in Jasin. The fourth dam, Jernih Dam, will be constructed in Taboh Naning in Alor Gajah and expected to be completed by 2018. There are three major retention basins in the state, which are Kesang Satu Lake, Kesang Dua Lake and Ayer Keroh Lake. Raw water is supplied from the Malacca River, Kesang River and Gerisik River.
Daily water consumption for Malacca is 500 million litres and each resident consumes 220 litres per day, higher than the national average of 180 litres per day. The Malacca State Government signed an agreement with Johor State Government on a water supply agreement in 1993 and additional water supply agreement in 2013. Another water supply agreement is planned to be signed with Negeri Sembilan in the future.
Malacca International Airport (IATA: MKZ, ICAO: WMKM) (formerly known as Batu Berendam Airport) is an airport located in Batu Berendam, Malacca, Malaysia. The airport serves the state of Malacca, as well as northern Johor, with links to Singapore provided by Scoot since October 2024.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a two-hour drive from Malacca City.
There are currently two Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway stations in Malacca, which are the Pulau Sebang/Tampin Station in Pulau Sebang, Alor Gajah and Batang Melaka Station in Batang Melaka, Jasin.
There were railway tracks from Pulau Sebang to Malacca City before World War II, but these were dismantled by the Japanese for the construction of the Burmese Death Railway. On 10 October 2015, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) commuter service has introduced a new route, shuttle service between Seremban-Sebang/Tampin-Gemas station.
A 1.6-km line of Melaka Monorail was launched in October 2010, served the route along the Malacca River. Due to several technical glitches months into its operation, the system was left idle in 2013. However, in June 2015 the Malacca State Government decided to revive the project. On 4 December 2017, Melaka Monorail has re-operate with enhanced safety features such as lightning-prevention devices and the addition of a rescue vehicle to attract wagons in the event of a technical problem. The previous incident is believed will not recur as tests had been performed for two months before re-operation. The Melaka Monorail operating hours are 10.00 am to 10.00 pm on weekdays and continued until 12.00 midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.
Daily ferries run from Malacca to the Indonesian cities of Bengkalis, Dumai and Pekanbaru departing from Harbour Master's Jetty. Regular boat services to Big Island depart from mainland Malacca in Umbai. Several jetties around the state, such as in Merlimau, are used by fishermen.
Two existing container ports in Malacca are the Port of Kuala Sungai Linggi and Port of Tanjung Bruas.
Travelling to Malacca by bus is favored by most people. This is because Malacca is well connected to the PLUS highway via three major exits. The Ayer Keroh exit at the North–South Expressway is the main entry to Malacca, connected by Ayer Keroh highway to Malacca City. There are two additional exits along the North–South Expressway, namely the Simpang Ampat and Jasin exits. The Syed Abdullah Aziz Road or Malacca Coastal Highway roughly connects the western and eastern sides of Malacca separated by the Malacca River through the Malacca Coastal Bridge. It is also easy to access Malacca by bus because Malacca has three main bus hubs such as Melaka Sentral, Alor Gajah Sentral and Jasin Sentral. The location of the bus stations are based on their districts, Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin. The Melaka Sentral bus station, combined with taxi terminal, serves cities around Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. The Panorama Melaka bus is the public bus serving Malacca City and major landmarks.
Efforts are also being undertaken to promote pedestrianisation and the use of bicycles as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Dedicated bicycle lanes are being built on several main roads in this historic city.
Many of the heavily decorated cycle rickshaws (Malay: beca) equipped with sound system can be seen on the streets in Malacca City. Most of them are used to bring tourist around the town for sightseeing. The average size can accommodate two average adult with probably a child.
Malacca has an estimated population of 931,210 as of 2016 with an average annual population growth of 2%. As of 2016, 27% of the population were below 15 years old and 8% were above 60 years old. The ethnic composition of Malacca as of 2015 is 66.8% Malays (552,700), 1.4% other Bumiputras (11,500), 26.0% Chinese (215,000), 6.2% Indians and Chitty (51,400) and 0.6% others (4,800). Malacca has small communities of Kristang, Dutch Eurasian and Temuan people.
The Malay population of Malacca is generally divided into two cultural groups: those practicing Adat Temenggong and the other who are ethnically of Minangkabau origin practicing Adat Perpatih in Naning northside (absorbed from Negeri Sembilan following the Naning War). The remaining traditional Malay village in Malacca City is the Morten Village.
Jonker Walk is the Chinatown area of Malacca. It was once known for its antique shops but have since turned into a well-known tourist destination that features clothes, food and crafts. The Peranakan people in Malacca show unique features, such as furniture, porcelain, crockery, style and food. Their culture is showcased at the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum.
Indians in Malacca are predominantly Tamils, many of whom used to work at the rubber plantation. However, many of them now work in the jewellery, fabric, retail, merchant and money lending sectors. Many of them reside in Little India. There is also Chitty Village for the minority Chitty people which houses the Chitty Museum.
A small number of Malayalees who speak Malayalam and Telugus who speak Telugu exist among the Indians in Malacca. Malacca Kerala Samajam is an association that represents the Malayalam speaking community in Malacca. A branch of Telugu Association Malaysia is situated in Ayer Keroh to represent the Telugu speaking community in Malacca.
A sizeable number of Punjabi Sikhs residing in Malacca, and Sikhs from Malacca and abroad congregate in the gurdwara (Sikh temple) situated in Jalan Temenggong. They celebrate the Guru Nanak's birthday and Vasakhi new year annually.
A population of Portuguese descent, who speak a Portuguese creole, are the descendants of colonists from the 16th and 17th centuries. To this day, many of the traditions originating with the Portuguese occupation are still practised, i.e. "Intrudu" from Portuguese word "Entrudo" (a water festival that marks the beginning of Lent, the Catholic fasting period), "branyu" (traditional dance), "Santa Cruz" (a yearly Festival of street celebrations). Many of them settled down around the Portuguese Settlement area, which has a population of about 1,200 residents.
The indigenous population, mostly ethnic Temuan is relatively small. They generally reside in rural settlements, the edge of the woods and along the coast facing the Strait of Malacca. Malacca houses the Aborigines Museum in Ayer Keroh.
Malacca is a multi-linguistic state. Malaysian Malay is the official language of Malacca and is used in the government and public sectors. English is widely used in the business and tourism sectors. A local form of Malay, known as Malaccan Malay is spoken within the state of Malacca. It has its own distinct pronunciation and vocabulary compared to the rest of Malaysia. Other minority languages such as Hokkien, Mandarin, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi, Kristang (Portuguese creole) and various Malay-based creoles such as Baba Malay and Malaccan Creole Malay are also spoken. The Temuan language is commonly spoken by Orang Asli within Malacca.
According to the 2010 census, the population of Malacca is 66.1% Muslim, 24.2% Buddhist, 5.7% Hindu, 3.0% Christian, 0.4% of unknown affiliation, 0.2% non-religious, 0.2% Taoist or Chinese religion follower, and 0.2% of followers of other religions.
Statistics from the 2010 census indicate that 91.6% of the Chinese population in Malacca identify as Buddhists, with significant minorities identifying as Christians (6.7%), Chinese folk religions (0.7%) and Muslims (0.4%). The majority of the Indian population are Hindus (86.3%), with significant minorities identifying as Christians (6.6%), Muslims (3.4%) and Buddhists (2.8%). The non-Malay bumiputera community are predominantly Christians (46.8%), with significant minorities identifying as Muslims (24.2%) and Buddhists (12.0%).
As the definition of a "Malay" in the Malaysian constitution requires that the person professes the religion of Islam, all Malays are necessarily Muslims.
As of 2022, there are 238 primary schools and 78 secondary schools in Malacca. The Malacca High School is the second oldest recorded school in the country. The Catholic High School was the first government-funded school in the state. One branch of centre for juvenile convicts, Henry Gurney School, is located in Telok Mas. This centre runs rehabilitation programs for male juvenile offenders. Additionally, Malacca has eight international schools staffed by expatriate teachers, which are specialise in teaching Cambridge International A Levels and cater for both the local and expatriate communities.
Institutions include: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) campuses that are located at Lendu, Malacca City and Jasin, Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM) in Bukit Baru is the foremost institution for medical education in the state, Multimedia University (MMU) at Bukit Beruang, Malaysian Maritime Academy (ALAM) at Kuala Sungai Baru, Malaysian Han Studies (MAHANS) at Hang Tuah Jaya.
There are several institutions that offer nursing education: Institut Kesihatan Sains & Kejururawatan Pantai, Institut Sains Kesihatan Dan Kejururawatan Mahkota, Kolej Kejururawatan & Kesihatan Nilam, and Kolej Perubatan Komplementari Melaka. Institut Kesihatan Sains & Kejururawatan Pantai is linked to Pantai Hospital at Ayer keroh while Institut Sains Kesihatan Dan Kejururawatan Mahkota is linked to Mahkota Medical Centre.
Skill-Tech Institute provides training in agriculture, homestay, biotechnology, ranching, aquaculture, estate supervision, landscaping, and food processing. It has two branches in Machap, Durian Tunggal and Taman Tasik Utama, Ayer Keroh.
Part-time study is available at Open University Malaysia (OUM), while those who wish to obtain an academic diploma can enroll at University of Malaya Centre for Continuing Education (UMCCE) at Sinar College.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) lectures and examinations are provided at Sinar College at Malacca City. Sinar College is the only institution in the state that offers complete accounting education. Sinar College is the only approved training centre for tourism courses. Other academic institutions include International College of Yayasan Melaka (ICYM), Melaka International College of Science and Technology (MiCoST) and Malacca College of Complementary Medicine.
The state government of Malacca provides financial assistance mainly in the form of loans to local citizens via Malacca Education Trust Fund (TAPEM). Among the facilities provided by TAPEM are Higher Education Loan, Minor Scholarship/Incentive Scholarship for Secondary School, and School Assistance to Primary School Students.
Malacca houses a number of government and private hospitals and clinics. Medical institutions are located all over Malacca, providing uniform and equitable healthcare to the residents. Health-related affairs in Malacca are governed by Malacca State Health Department by providing basic health service to the residents and oversee all government health facilities in the state among hospitals, community polyclinic, rural health clinics and clinics.
Malacca is also a popular place for health care and medical tourism for Indonesian people from Sumatra due to its close proximity to the state, followed by Singapore. In 2014, Malacca received over 500,000 tourists for medical tourism-related reasons.
Government hospitals in Malacca are the Malacca General Hospital and Jasin District Hospital, while private hospitals are the Putra Hospital, Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh, Mahkota Medical Centre and Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre.
Malacca is culturally diverse, influenced by a history of ethnic, cultural, and religious intermixing. It is home to ethnic communities such as the Chinese, Indians, and Malays, and those which have emerged from this historical mixing such as the Peranakan Chinese. Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Catholic, and Protestant religious buildings are prominent in the city. Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule have left marks on the urban landscape.
Dondang Sayang is a traditional Malay art still practised in Malacca by four communities: the Malay, Baba Nyonya, Chitty and Portuguese communities and is recognized by UNESCO. The practice combines elements of music (violins, gongs and tambourines or the tambour), songs and chants, and features melodious strains of poetry. Also known as love ballads, the songs are used by communities to convey feelings of love and give advice on special topics such as love and kindness.
ProjectARM was a street art project brought about by nine artists to create street art along the river in Jalan Kampung Hulu that would highlight Malacca's beauty.
Malacca is a popular filming location for domestic and international film production companies with the presence of various tourist attractions and historical remains. Iconic Bollywood artist, Shah Rukh Khan described Malacca as beautiful and said he would return for acting and holiday in the state. The films and the music videos published in Malacca include:
Malacca received recognition from the World Street Food Congress for Nyonya Siamese Noodles (34th) and Coolie Street Satay (43rd). The various street dishes and delicacies of Malacca include satay celup; chicken rice balls; duck noodles; Malacca-style wonton noodles; nyonya laksa; pai tee (also known as pie tee and top hats); ayam pongteh; asam pedas with fish; Portuguese grilled fish and seafood; fishball lobak; coconut shake; nyonya cendol; putu piring; and nyonya kuih.
Sports-related affairs of Malacca are governed by the Malacca State Sports Council (Malay: Majlis Sukan Negeri Melaka) under the Malacca State Government. Another governing body of sports in Malacca is the Department of Youth and Sports (Malay: Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Negeri Melaka). Malacca is home to several football stadiums, such as Hang Jebat Stadium (the state's main stadium), Hang Tuah Stadium and Tun Fatimah Stadium. Built in 1954, Hang Tuah Stadium is the oldest stadium in Malacca. Established under the Malacca Stadium Corporation Enactment of 2004, the Malacca Stadium Corporation is the entity that manages stadiums in Malacca which started its operation on 16 September 2004.
There is also a motorsport racetrack in Durian Tunggal named the Melaka International Motorsport Circuit. Melaka International Bowling Centre in Ayer Keroh with 52 lanes is the largest bowling centre in Malaysia.
There are four golf courses in Malacca, namely Ayer Keroh Golf and Country Club in Ayer Keroh, Orna Golf and Country Club in Bemban and Tiara Melaka Golf and Country Club in Bukit Katil and A'Famosa Golf Resort in Simpang Ampat. Golf-related paraphernalia in Malacca is showcased at the Malacca Golf Gallery.
Malacca was the host venue for the 2010 Sukma Games held on 10–19 June 2010.
Malacca also has a football team known as Melaka United representing Malacca in the Malaysian football league. The Melaka United football team won the first Malaysia Premier League title in 1983, in addition they were the champion of the third division of the Malaysia football league, FAM League Cup, in 2015 before won the second Premier League title a year after it. Melaka United uses the Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong as their home ground with a capacity of 40,000 spectators.