MALACCA, DIOCESE of. - It comprises the entire peninsula of the same name and has an area of 134,737 sq. km. Politically it is under English influence and includes the English colony properly so called, the Straits Settlements of Singapore, M. and Benang, the English protectorate formed by the Federated Malay States of Perak, Salanger, Penang and Nagri Sembilan, and the Unfederated Malay States of Johore, Trengganu, Kenantan, Kedan and Perlis. The population amounts to 6,242,000 inhabitants.
Ecclesiastically, the diocese of M., with its episcopal see at Singapore, although not forming part of India, is suffragan to the archdiocese of Pondicherry and under the jurisdiction of the apostolic internunciature of India. Pastoral care is entrusted to the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris. The Catholics number 95,624, served by 38 diocesan priests and 7 religious, assisted by 10 male and 13 female religious communities. It has 103 churches, including 38 parishes; 107 schools and 34 charitable and welfare institutions. The mission also possesses 3 printing presses, where a Catholic newspaper, The Malayan Catholic News, is printed in 5,000 copies.