Heritage conservationists are upset over the lack of protection of the 17th Century Portuguese church ruins in Jalan Bunga Raya next to the Malacca River.

Although gazetted as a historical monument under the Antiquities Act 1976, the ruins have been left neglected with a piling machine used for the Malacca River beautification project parked in the compound.

The Ermida do Rosario or The Church of Rosary was a Portuguese chapel built on the site of the Church of St Lawrence.

It was either destroyed or allowed to fall into ruins during the first decade of the Dutch occupation in 1641 and was subsequently taken over by St Peter's Church which was erected nearby in 1710.

Malacca Heritage Trust vice-president Michael Benerji described the situation as a lack of sensitivity and respect towards the protection of a historical monument.

Parking a crane in the compound of a state heritage site showed total disregard and disrespect, he said, hoping that the relevant authorities would order the contractors off the site and fence up the area to better protect the site.

State Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Seet Har Cheow said he would alert the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry and request that it fence up the site to prevent unauthorised intrusions.