Before being taken over by the Museum Corporation (PERZIM) the building was occupied by the Melaka Historical City Municipal Council. The People's Museum located on the 1st floor of the building was officially declared open by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on April 15, 1992.

The museum portrays various facets of Melaka - the administrative structure, the social infrastructure, tourism, the manufacturing and industrial sector, the agricultural sector etc - and how they evolved and developed through time. An exhibition to mark the rapid growth of Melaka from 1982 to 1992 known as "Melaka - A Decade of Growth 1982 -1992" has been incorporated into the People's Museum.

Objective

To record and preserve Melaka's achievements in the development sector. The exhibition also highlights the close co-operation between the State Government and the people, working in tandem, to make Melaka a model developed state.