Cape Rachado (named by the Portuguese which literally means Broken Cape) or more known by the local as Tanjung Tuan, is an exclave of the Melaka. Cape Rachado is famous for its lighthouse which faces the Strait of Malacca for it is the oldest functioning lighthouse in Peninsula Malaysia. Tanjung Tuan is approximately 16km south of Port Dickson. Although it is located within Negri Sembilan, it is actually part of Malacca and administered by the Melaka State Government. At this point, the Straits of Malacca is a mere 40km in width.
After the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, the Portuguese wanted to build a lighthouse to guide its ships. Cape Rachado was chosen and subsequently a lighthouse was built between 1528 and 1529. As Malacca switched hands to foreign administration, such as the Dutch in 1641 and the British in 1824, so too did the possession of the structure. Today it houses a MEASAT Radar for the purposes of broadcasts and communications.
The coastal area off Cape Rachado, is well known as the site of the naval Battle of Cape Rachado in 1606, between the Dutch VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) and Portuguese fleets, the opening act for the series of conflicts between the coalition of Dutch-Johore forces against the Portuguese that ultimately ended with the Portuguese surrendering the city and fort of Malacca to the Dutch VOC in 1641. Click here to read more on the battle of Cape Rachado.
Cape Rachado has been a forest reserve as early as 1921, when 80.97 hectares were gazetted as Hutan Simpanan Cape Rachado. However in 1969, 16.19 hectares were degazetted 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.
