Perzim general manager Khamis Abas said the comic book would be out in the market this May.

He said 50,000 copies of the comic book would be published in three languages – Bahasa Melayu, English and Mandarin.

He said the comic book would be in three series of between 50 to 100 pages each, produced to draw the interest of the young, especially school students, in learning more about the history of Malacca and China.

“Narration of history through comic illustrations will make it more effective in making young readers understand Malacca’s history and Admiral Cheng Ho’s contributions to glorious Malacca-China relations in the days of old.

“Hopefully, this comic book will a medium for learning in schools for the History subject, besides being sold to tourists who wish to know more about Malacca-China ties.”

Khamis said this to reporters after the launching of the Malay Traditional Architecture Exhibition, here, today.

The exhibition by students of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in collaboraton with the Negeri Sembilan branch of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Association, was declared open by Perzim chairman Hamdin Abdollah.

Khamis said comic books on Malacca’s eminent figures and warriors like Hang Tuah would be published if the one on Admiral Cheng Ho received good response.

On another matter, he said the restoration of 54 traditional houses in the state had to be temporarily stopped due to the lack of funds.

He said before this, 40 such houses in Alor Gajah, nine in Jasin and five in Melaka Tengah had been restored through the Restoration Fund.

-BERNAMA