Zheng-He (Cheng Ho), 1371-1433, was an admiral, diplomat and
explorer during China’a Ming dynasty. He was
born in 1371 to a poor ethnic Hui (Chinese Muslims) family in Yunnan
Province, Southwest China. Emperor Yong Le selected him to lead the first of
seven epic expeditions (1405-1433) to South East Asia.
In 1405 Zheng-He started the world’s first biggest naval expedition. His fleet consisted of over 300
ships with over 60 treasure ships measuring 150 meters in length and 83 meters
in width and equipped with more than 28,000 crew. Zheng-He made one last
voyage (1431-1433) during the reign of Emperor Zhu Zhanji when his
fleets visited more than 37 countries in the South China Sea, Indian
Ocean, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Africa.
Zheng-He made a total of seven voyages
within a period of 23 years.
According to the Malay Annals, Zheng-He escorted a contingent of 500 court
maidens together with a princess called Hang Li Po to marry the Sultan Mansur
Syah of Malacca. These 500 maidens eventually settled in Bukit Cina in Melacca. The descendants of these
mixed marriages with local
natives in Malaysia are know today as “Baba and Nyoya”
TAMAN SAHABAT
Taman Sahabat project situated at Jalan Song
Kuching was completed in 2005 and officially opened to public on
18.5.2006 by the YAB Chief Minister of Sarawak. This unique and
picturesque park is the product of a close relationship between Kuching
City and Kunming City of China. Due to its unique features, it is
gaining popularity for the locals as well as tourists.
There are
a few facilities in the parks including pavilions are given to the
Council as gifts by the various Chinese agencies including Kunming
Municipal Government, as symbols of friendship between China and
Malaysia, between Kunming and Kuching. It is a pride and joy to the
residents in MBKS for such contribution in this park.
These
pavilions were designed, fabricated and constructed and supervised by
the Chinese Landscape technicians and artisans. They used timber which,
in China, have lasted hundreds of years. Unfortunately they were very
susceptible to our weather and humidity. Such problem was deliberated
in-depth and suggested to refer to the donor.
In this regard, the
Council has drawn the attention of the donor who produced these
beautiful structures and appealed for their rectification in July 2007.
We are very grateful that the Chinese Consul General has taken a very
active concern on the matter and we hope things can be resolved soon.
However,
the Council noted with regret the statements and sentiment issued by YB
Chong Chieng Jen and Violet Yong in the recent Press questioning the
MBKS authority that if the deterioration of pavilion columns were built
according to specification. Making such a wrong assumptions and also
the criticism of using sub-standard quality wood in the press is a
very unhealthy practice and it is very disheartening to the excellent
effort put in by the many Chinese agencies in supporting the success of
this Park. In order to avoid similar recurrence, the Council would
urge the two YBs' to find out the fact correctly in future before
calling the press to make a press issue against any authority.
