MELAKA OFFICIALLY DECLARED "DEVELOPED STATE" AT 20.10HRS ON 20TH. OCTOBER 2010

Thursday October 21, 2010

Proud day for Malacca

By MARTIN CARVALHO and ALLISON LAI
malacca@thestar.com.my

MALACCA: Ten years of hard work paid off when this historical state was officially declared a “developed state” yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the declaration via tele-conferencing from Kuala Lumpur to thousands of Malac cans gathered at a grand ceremony in Stadium Hang Jebat in Krubong last night.

The crowd cheered and clapped when Najib made the declaration at the auspicious time and date of 2010 hours on 20.10.2010.

Exciting display: Fireworks being set off during the “Developed Malacca 2010: Green Technology State City” declaration ceremony at Stadium Hang Jebat in Krubong Wednesday night.

The event was themed “Develop ed Malacca 2010: Green Techno logy State City.”

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said it was a truly proud day for Malaccans as the state was finally recognised as a developed state by the Organisa tion for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

He added that the state would have a special one-off holiday today. Jon Hall, who has been leading the OECD’s Global Project on Measuring the Progress of Socie ties, said Malaccans had higher than the OECD’s minimum levels in virtually all indicators.

In Kuala Lumpur, Najib who made the announcement from the Putra World Trade Centre where the Umno general assembly is being held – said the Federal Government would give full support to Malacca.

“The people of Malacca should be proud that they have a hard-working and visionary leader,” he added.

Najib then made the official declaration and signed an electronic plaque declaring Malacca a developed state. This was sent to Mohd Ali via an electronic capsule.

Rail progress: A monorail travelling along the Malacca River during its inaugural trip after the launching by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam Wednesday. Mohd Ali said the monorail would start operations after obtaining approval from the relevant authorities. The 24-passenger monorail runs from Taman Rempah in Pengkalan Rama to Kampung Bunga Raya Pantai in the heart of the historic city. The RM15.9mil project is part of the state’s aim to further tap the potential of the Malacca River as a tourist attraction. — A. MALEX YAHAYA / The Star

Separately, Mohd Ali also launched the RM15.9mil monorail with an inaugural ride at Spice Garden yesterday afternoon.

The monorail service starts operations today.