The area around Kota Linggi and the river mouth is a popular fishing spot while the calm and beautiful waters is a tourist draw. — Bernama
Despite its wealth of history which included the Bugis, Dutch and Melaka Malay Sultanate, Kota Linggi, also known as Kota Bukit Supai, now lies neglected and forgotten.
The local community wants the city, built by the Dutch and the Bugis at the mouth of Sungai Linggi in the 1870s, to be revived as a tourism product.
Salmah Harun, who operates a stall selling kuih muih, said previous efforts by the Melaka Museum Corporation and Alor Gajah District Council to promote the area had failed.
Since then, Salmah, 48, together with the local villagers, have taken the initiative to revive the area by starting small food and drinks businesses catering to tourists. There is also a food court which opens at night.
The Stadhuys building in Melaka is a popular tourist attraction. — Filepic
“The biggest problem we face is the location of this place compared to other places such as Bandar Hilir which is in the middle of Melaka City.
“This place is about 50km away, on the border of Melaka and Negri Sembilan, so it is difficult for tourists to come here.
“One solution is for the tour operators to bring in groups of tourists. The villagers are willing to work with them as it is sad to see the town gone quiet, ” she said.
Based on records, Kota Bukit Supai is also known as Kota Belanda, Kota Meriam Patah and Kota Filipina.
It was a strategic location for the Dutch to monitor the movement of their enemies as well as a site to collect the taxes imposed on tin ore brought from Rembau and Linggi.
History and natural beauty makes Kota Bukit Supai a potential tourism product. — Bernama
In the end, however, the city was neglected after the Dutch left Melaka.
Factory supervisor Tham Zhee Meng, 39, who often goes fishing in the area, said the town was a heritage location.
“It has a high historical value and should be promoted as a tourism attraction as Melaka is rich in history, ” the Rembia resident said.
Tham said the area around the river mouth was also a popular fishing spot while the calm and beautiful waters had the potential to draw tourists there.
Fisherman Abu Bakar Md Piah, 57, said the combination of history and natural beauty made Kota Bukit Supai a potential tourism product.
Kota Linggi was built by the Dutch and the Bugis at the mouth of Sungai Linggi in the 1870s. — Bernama
Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari said the state government was looking at rural tourism products like Kota Bukit Supai to attract tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2020.
He said local and foreign tourists were already familiar with popular locations in Melaka like the Stadthuys, A’Farmosa Fort, St Paul’s Hill and museums in Bandar Hilir.
“We want to have a variety of tourism products in the state which are not just focused in the Bandar Hilir area, but in rural areas such as Kota Bukit Supai, ” he added. — Bernama
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