Tanjung Tuan / Cape Rachado, Malacca

World / Asia / Malaysia / Malacca
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Tanjung Tuan, also called Cape Rachado, is the site of the oldest - and still functioning - lighthouse in Malaysia. Cape Rachado Lighthouse, also called Rumah Api Tanjung Tuan, was built somewhere between 1528 and 1529 by the Portuguese to help guide ships to the Malacca port. It is located between the Malacca and Port Dickson. Possession of the lighthouse switched to the Dutch in 1641 and then to the British in 1824 following their respective takeovers. Today it houses a MEASAT Rader for broadcasts and communications.

Tanjung Tuan is 16km south of Port Dickson. Although it is located within Negri Sembilan, it is actually part of Malacca. At this point, the Straits of Malacca is a mere 40km in width. Tanjung Tuan is where Battle of Cape Rachado was fought in 1606, between the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) and the Portuguese. This is the initial foray mounted by the coalition of Dutch-Johor forces against Portuguese Malacca which ultimately led to the surrender of the Portuguese of Malacca to the Dutch in 1641.

Tanjung Tuan has been a forest reserve as early as 1921, when 80.97 hectares were gazetted as the Hutan Simpanan Cape Rachado. However 16.19 hectares were degazetted in 1969 for public use. On 5 January 1971, the balance 60.70 hectares were gazetted as a wildlife sanctuary. Tanjung Tuan is noted as an important birdwatching area. Migratory birds can be spotted here between September and March when they overwinter.



Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse.


Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse seen up close.


View of the Straits of Malacca from Tanjung Tuan.