BACKGROUND

The Malay Heritage Centre project is part of the government initiative where each of the main ethnic communities in Singapore is encouraged to have their own heritage centre.

As Singapore develops rapidly, complete with the challenges of globalisation and technological advancement, awareness and appreciation of our own cultural roots and ethnic identities, and sense of belonging as a nation are said to run the risk of slowly being eroded.

In 1999, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong mooted the idea of establishing heritage centres in Singapore to encourage the various communities in Singapore to establish their own cultural heritage centres to showcase their heritage, culture and history, and thereby, preserving their own ethnic identities and values.

FORMATION OF THE MALAY HERITAGE FOUNDATION  

On 28 July 1999 , the Malay Heritage Foundation ( Yayasan Warisan Melayu ) was formed to undertake the task of developing the Malay Heritage Centre. Mr Ridzwan Dzafir was invited by the then-Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MITA) to lead the group as Chairman and Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed as Deputy Chairman. Currently, the Foundation comprises of the Board of Directors, Management Committee and several working committees.

The Malay Heritage Foundation has galvanised the expertise and support of many sections of the Malay and Singapore community, government agencies, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. Our aim is to create a new heritage venue which all of Singapore can be proud of.