The Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba Memorial

The Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba Memorial was officially opened by the Governor of Melaka, Tun Datuk Seri Utama Mohd Khalil Yaakob, on February 28, 2006. This memorial was established to commemorate the contributions of Tun Abdul Ghafar as a highly respected and revered leader of the nation, especially for his services as the Deputy Prime Minister. The memorial, located at Lot 163, Persiaran Tun Abdul Ghafar Baba, Peringgit, Melaka, is the former residence of Tun Abdul Ghafar during his stay in Melaka and was built in 1956. The house, originally constructed from wooden planks in a traditional village house concept, was later modified by him when he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Melaka (1959 – 1967) to accommodate official guests.

The exhibition space in this memorial is divided into two sections: the lower section showcases his personal belongings during his tenure in the government as Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Member of Parliament. There is also a living room and the main bedroom in its original arrangement. Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen complete with original old utensils. Other exhibited materials include speeches, photographs, books, videos, tapes, and recordings.

Visiting this memorial allows us to experience the life of a leader who was humble yet had a strong fighting spirit, especially in elevating the status of the Malay race without disregarding the other ethnicities in the country. "I don't have a high education, I only have spirit. But I want to continue fighting based on that spirit," are his words, which may resonate with us when visiting this memorial.