We had this chance to visit Prison Museum Melaka when our English lecturer assigned us to go for a field trip. We chose this museum because never one of us went to a prison museum. This museum is exactly located at Melaka, Jalan Parameswara, 75000, Melaka. This is the telephone number ( Tel: 06-2813548 / 06-2814661 ). So that you can call and enquire if you want to get some informations before going there.
We were excited stumbling upon this prison museum while driving to Melaka. A visit to a prison has been on my list for the longest time.
We're here finally ! That's the prison behind us
Once we reached there, we went and bought our tickets first. The ticket's price for local adults is Rm3 , for foreigners is Rm6, for local children aged 7 to 12 is Rm1, for foreign children is Rm3 and free admission for children aged 6 and under and people with disabilities. Since it is a jail they should consider charging visitors to get out instead of paying to go in!
While waiting excitedly for our warden to guide us in, selfie is a must hehe !
Then we went in with our guider. He enquired us abit and started to show around.
In my opinion, The Malaysia Prison Museum Melaka is one of Malaysia’s most interesting museums. Most of us, thankfully, never get to see the inside of a jail. This museum, housed in a real former prison, gives us a chance to appreciate how life must have been for the prisoners and for the prison staff.
Tool chains
Walkie Talkie used in the era of 1960s' untill 1970s' ( my bizarre friend is photobooming hehe ! )
Look ! surprisingly my friend has found her prince charm over there hehe !
Exhibits include photos from other jails around Malaysia, including the notorious Pudu Jail in KL, whose grim walls were demolished in 2012.
The part of the old Pudu Jail gate bearing the date of its establishment (1895) was preserved and can be seen outside the rear of the Prison Museum.
This cells were kept in their original state as how it was before , complete with stained walls and graffiti by prisoners. The rooms were narrow with just a grill window high up to allow some light to enter.
The most interesting part for many visitors is the block where condemned prisoners were housed and executed. Moreover, photographies or shootings are not allowed in this section so you will have to visit it for yourself. The gallows, where up to three prisoners could be hanged at the same time, with the metal mortuary trolleys parked underneath, brings home the reality of capital punishment which is still practised in Malaysia today.
Ops, don't worry we're here to bail you out!
No , trust me they're very good wardens !
Later , we went into the sports room. We were so amazed by the achievements they made. Unfortunately photographs were not allowed.
See , I told you the warden is a good person. The prisoner is happy with the warden.
After a while , we went to the upper level where were the hanging and whip room.
Look at the sizes of these canes !
Photos of the injuries inflicted on bare buttocks by strokes of the rotan caneshow that prison caning is quite a vicious punishment. Whether it acts as a deterrent or not is a matter for debate but you certainly wouldn’t want to endure it.
Wall displays showing the ingenuity of prisoners to smuggle contraband items into the jail are fascinating. Money for example has been hidden inside drink cans, false teeth, toilet rolls and so on.
There is also a lot of information on the work of the Prisons Department and the more positive aspects of their role in rehabilitating offenders.
This is the prisoners' record book. Look how huge it is !
This is the place where the prisoners can meet their family. They use the phones which are hanged over there to speak to their family members. If I'm not wrong the duration to speak is just about 45 minutes.
This is where the prisoners learned to sew clothes and made handcrafts. We're so amazed by their skills.
The prisoners' bathup.
Their toothbrush. Actually, they were given the normal size of toothbrush but these people will sharp their toothbrush into knives. Not only that, the wardens will only give them a small piece of towel because once the prisoners used their towels to hang themselves. It's very dangerous !
Our favourite amiable warden
Alright, that's all from me. Thanks for reading. Hope anyone else who are panning to visit this museuem will get a rough information by reading this blog. You can learn alot by coming to this museum and the most significant thing is the wardens there are so amiable. I recommend this museum for a sobering peek into the lives of prison inmates. There is a lot to see in this former jail. There is also a shop where handicraft items made by prisoners can be purchased.
The opening hours are on :
Tuesday - Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Ticket counter closes at 4:30 pm.
Closed Mondays and Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Address :
Muzium Penjara Malaysia, Melaka
Jalan Parameswara, 75000, Melaka
Email :
prmuzium@prison.gov.my
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