Tuesday, December 29, 2020

MELAKA RIVER CRUISE WITH MAKAN AND ENTERTAINMENT

There is now a special scheduled  Melaka River Cruise with dinner on board and live entertainment for groups. 

This is a new tourism product for visitors. 



Monday, December 28, 2020

MELAKA WONDERLAND THEME PARK AND RESORT

 


Come to Melaka Wonderland Theme Park and Resort. 

Sunday, December 27, 2020

SEAPLANES TO BOOST TOURISM

 

Melaka plans to introduce seaplanes in 2021 to boost tourism

Seaplanes will be a new icon for Melaka’s tourism sector from next year with the investment on these planes to be worth about RM500 million.

State Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman, Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis said the seaplanes which could land on or take off from water, were manufactured by a company in Penang and expected to be based at the Sungai Rambai Aerodrome in Jasin.

“There will be further discussion with the company and investors on the matter soon,” he told reporters after officiating at the Tourism Melaka Futsal Challenge 2020, held at the Batu Berendam Sports Complex, here, today.

He said many more tourism products would be introduced next year to further attract domestic and foreign tourists, hence increasing the length of stay in Melaka.

ROMANTIC DINNER CRUISES


Maybe we can bring back this type of river cruise with modifications. Brand it as a cultural night river cruise with dinner. To prevent our cultural treasures from vanishing, these 1.5 hours cultural cruises can have live pantun renditions during dinners.



By doing so, young people interested in learning the berpantun culture can be nurtured and employed on these cruises.
Vistors can also be allowed to show off their berpantun skills on board.


Will be happy to see your feedback on this idea. Instead of gondolas of Venice, we have our own romantic dinners with pantun cruises of Melaka.

email me at tszwongkang@gmail.com.

Friday, December 25, 2020

Saturday, December 19, 2020

CONVERT MELAKA RIVER CRUISES TO ELECTRIC POWERED ONES

The Melaka River Cruise operator should convert their cruises to electric powered boats in Phases. This will be good for Melaka Historical City to embrace her green initiative in reducing her carbon footprint.
Solar panels on top of the roof canopy can assist to power up electric motors that move the cruises.

Some of the cruises can also be used as electric powered water taxis to operate on a daily basis as a water transportation system.
Unlimited travel pass for daily travel can be implemented for RM 5.00
Water taxis can help to reduce traffic jams on Melaka inner city. Travellers can go into the city centre from the central bus terminal.
Recently, it was announced that Panorama buses in Melaka wants to introduce electric-powered buses by working with a company for this. Why not Melaka authority works with a firm that can power the cruises by solar and battery system.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021

Christmas is just around the corner. This may not be a merry Christmas for some due to restricted access to travel to visit their families because of the pandemic.
To add some cheer, we wish to extend our greetings on line.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2021.

Sunday, December 13, 2020

MELAKA DODOL KING PASSED AWAY ON 13TH. DECEMBER 2020 AGED 100

MELAKA: Jonker Walk night market paid tribute to the late Dr Tan Kim Hock who is popularly known as Melaka’s “Dodol King”.

Jonker Walk management committee deputy chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo said Tan was synonymous with Jonker Walk as his products were sold at an outlet in the area.

“We have lost a legendary entrepreneur who is a pioneer in debuting local Melaka delicacies to a global platform.

“Tan has inspired many locals as he made dodol a global brand, ” said Gan.

Tan died yesterday at the age of 100. He started peddling dodol confection and coconut-based delicacies around the historic city in the 1970s while wearing his signature white suit.

Dodol is made using palm sugar, coconut milk and glutinous rice flour and is a popular delicacy in South-East Asia as well as Sri Lanka.

Tan opened his first retail store at Jalan Bendahara here in the mid-70s which later became a household brand.

He has another branch at Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho.

State MCA Chief Datuk Lim Ban Hong said Tan’s passing was a great loss for the state, especially the tourism industry which he has contributed to all his life.

“From humble beginnings in the 1970s, the “Tan Kim Hock” brand which is famous for “dodol” has evolved into a household name over the past five decades, ” he said, adding that the name is also synonymous with the growth of the tourism industry of Melaka.

OVER THE YEARS, MR. TAN KIM HOCK HAD PUT MELAKA INTO THE WORLD TOURISM MAP. MAY HE RESTS IN PEACE.

Friday, December 11, 2020

ELECTRIC BUSES FOR MELAKA IN 2021

11 DEC 2020 / 20:01 H. Melaka to introduce electric-powered buses for tourists next year

MELAKA: The Melaka government is expected to introduce its latest attraction, electric-powered buses for tourists, at the end of next month in a bid to boost the domestic tourism industry which has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Works, Transport, Public Amenities and Infrastructure Committee chairman Datuk Roslan Ahmad said this was a result of cooperation between state government subsidiary Panorama Sdn Bhd and a private company operating in Kuala Lumpur.

“The electric-powered buses will begin their services from Melaka Sentral and pass through nine or 14 stations covering tourist areas, including the Melaka Zoo, Taming Sari Tower, United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Heritage (UNESCO) World Heritage Site around Banda Hilir, before heading for Klebang.

“Payments wil be via top-up cards, valued between RM20 and RM30, which can be used for a certain period of time.

“For a start, two or three units of the buses will be operational,” he told reporters when met after the state assembly sitting at Kompleks Seri Negeri here today.

With a capacity of 40 passengers, he said the fully electric-powered, green-technology concept buses, will have wi-fi facilities as well air-conditioned and open space for tourists.

“If response from tourists is encouraging, we plan to increase the number of buses. So far, the buses are almost ready,” he said. -Bernama

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Wednesday, December 2, 2020

KEE ANN ROAD IS MORE THAN 100 OLD YEARS

Kee Ann Road was built in 1920 or earlier by land donated by Mr. Seet Kee Ann. He was one of 4 Chinese towkays  who sat in the Malacca Municipality then. 

A map of Malacca in 1920 showed us that this road was already built but no name was given. 


When Mr. Seet Kee Ann passed away in 1924, he was honored by his contribution to the people of Malacca by naming the road after him, Kee Ann Road. 

In 1930 onwards, the Malacca Municipal General market was built at the end of the road. Buildings were also constructed on the sides of the road. 

Our ancestral shop house is still located here. Another building,  a cinema named Eldora later New Railto and Lido cinema  was located here. 

A 1945 map showed us this development then. 



Friday, November 27, 2020

HISTORY OF GAJAH BERANG


Jalan Gajah Berang in culturally rich area of a unique minority community


IT’S a constant of jumbo proportions. The origin of this particular Malacca street remains a curiosity to this day.

Translated from Malay to English, Jalan Gajah Berang means “Road of the Enraged Elephant”.

But was this a place where pachyderms used to wander? And was there ever an elephant which actually gave the locality its name?

The earliest recorded history of a maddened elephant in Malacca can be traced to the second attack by the Portuguese on Aug 10, 1511, two weeks before the historic city was eventually conquered.

During the first assault on July 25, Alfonso de Albuquerque had decided on dividing his soldiers into two groups, with the first led by him, to land in Upeh, near present-day Jalan Tranquerah.

He planned a pincer movement using the bridge linking the city and the suburbs, with the other group landing near Sultan Mahmud Shah’s palace and the mosque.

It was a limited success. The Portuguese managed to capture the bridge but were not strong enough to hold it for long.

The Sultan refused to surrender and ordered more fortifications. Canons were mounted at the north and south sides of the bridge.

Albuquerque meant to hold the bridge after the more-intense second attack, which was launched using an exceptionally tall Chinese junk as a kind of fortified siege ladder, floated towards the bridge. The landing was successful, but only after a night of fierce bombardment from the Portuguese armada.

The Sultan’s soldiers tried to retreat to the mosque but the Portuguese under commander Dom Joao de Lima, still pursued them.

But they soon came face to face with reinforcements. To their shock, the ruler and his son, Ahmad, led 20 war elephants in the counter charge.

According to Portuguese records, the unflinching de Lima stood his ground and managed to pierce the leading elephant in the eye with his spear.

One narrative states: “The maddened brute turned in the narrow road and fled, scattering the Malays, and infecting the other animals with its rage and terror.”

Did this crazed elephant run amok for almost two km to the present day area of Gajah Berang? Probably so, although the truth is, no one knows for sure.

In 1756, when Malacca was under Dutch rule, there were also records noting that a fierce elephant was in the neighbourhood at the junction of Tranquerah, which then marked the edge of the city.

Tranquerah was where defensive palisades were erected to deter intruders. The word Tranquera, by the way, means “gate” in Spanish.

But in more recent history — as in 1962 — there was actually a news report of an angry animal terrifying people in the area.

It was a raging bull buffalo which had broken loose from an enclosure at the Veterinary Department in Pengkalan Rama.

It was among several brought from Terengganu to be slaughtered, with the meat distributed to villagers during Hari Raya Haji.

According to a Straits Times news report written by correspondent A. Sripathy, the buffalo ran into the kitchen of a nearby house, smashed all the utensils before crossing the Malacca River in the evening and making its way to the Gajah Berang Secondary English School.

It ran into the hockey pitch, chasing players from the field and knocking down a gardener who managed to climb and tree and remain there for more than hour, fearing for his life. Veterinary officers only managed to lasso the buffalo the next morning while students waited outside the gate. The bovine was later taken away to the municipal abattoir and slaughtered as planned.

But to return to the name of the road, perhaps the name of the road is linked to one of Malaysia’s unique minority communities ­— the Malacca Chittys or the Indian version of the mixed Peranakan folk.

The Malacca Chittys can trace their ancestry to early Tamil traders who came to Malacca in the early 1400s from the Coromandel Coast, a broad coastal plain in eastern Tamil Nadu, India.

The area extends over 22,800 square km, from the Utkal Plains to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Kaveri delta to the south, and the Eastern Ghats to the west.

Corramandel is derived from the Tamil Chola Mandalam (“Land of the Chola,”) after an ancient dynasty which existed from the mid-9th century to 1279.

Their ancestors, who were among the pioneers of the spice trade, married local women — Malays, Chinese, Peranakan Chinese and even Batak. Their offspring adopted the local cultures, clothing and languages but adhered to the original religion of their fathers — Hinduism.

One theory is that Gajah Berang was originally called “Kanja Pidam”, a corruption of Kanjipuram, a city famous for its silk in Tamil Nadu, where some of the Chittys originated. But then again, the fact that Beram also means “elephant” in old Malay, adds to the onfusion.

In any case, the community of merchants played a huge role in the early development of Malacca and even after its fall to the Portuguese. (Naina Chatu or Naina Chitty was a Bendahara under early Portuguese rule and reputedly minted the city’s first coins.)

The Portuguese scribe Godinho de Eredia wrote that the Indian residential settlement in Upeh, known as Campon Chelim (Kampung Keling), stretched from the ‘Bazaar of the Joas (Javanese) on the beach of Tranquerah to the walls of the A Famosa fortress.

Upeh was then among the wealthiest neighbourhoods, where the Chinese, Indian and Javanese merchants lived in their own enclaves.

But the community’s clout appeared to have waned during the Dutch era when they moved out from the richer areas of town to various places including Gajah Berang, Tranquerah, Bachang and at Balai Panjang,

They eventually settled down in Kampung Tujuh in Gajah Berang to become farmers, growing mostly rice.

The devoutly Hindu community, however, built several historical temples, including the Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple — the oldest functioning Hindu temple in the country, in 1781.

The other notable temples are the Muthu Mariamman Temple, built in 1822, the Kailasanathar Temple or Sivan Kovil in 1887, the Kaliamman Kovil in 1804 and the Ang-alamman Parameswari Temple in 1888.

They also built several smaller shrines amidst the padi fields, including the Linggadariamman Kovil, Amman Kovil, Dharma Rajah Kovil, Kathaiamman Kovil and Iyenar Kovil.

The Chitty Museum at the en-trance of the Chitty Village in Gajah Berang is a good place to start learning more about this fascinating community.

The restored traditional Chitty house, showcases an average living room, a typical bridal room and kitchen with utensils and everyday household items. There are pictures, relics, and exhibits of how the community used to live and in some ways, still do today.

“Visitors would be able to get a glimpse of the marriage and religious practices of the community and see pictures of past leaders at the museum,” said K. Nadarajan Raja, secretary of the Cultural Society of Chitty Malacca, who is among current leaders striving to keep the culture and customs of the community alive.

Check the place out the next time you visit Malaysia’s historical city. There are still many stories to discover and among the most mysterious are hidden in the Enraged Elephant Road.

Friday, November 13, 2020

HAPPY DEEPAVALI

Tourism-Melaka wants to express our Happy Deepavali best wishes to all Indians around the world. 

Let the Festival of Lights enlighten us all. 

Happy Deepavali or Happy Diwali. 




Wednesday, November 11, 2020

ALFRED R. WALLACE IN MELAKA

 ALFRED R. WALLACE IN MELAKA



The famed naturalist, started his eight years exploration in the region with Singapore and Melaka, where he ascended Gunung Ledang. He published his magnum opus, The Malay Archipelago, in 1869. 

As they were no hotel in town, he stayed with a French gentleman, his name was Pierre E. Favre, the priest of a new parish under construction, St Francis Xavier.

His mention of the work done by the French missionaries, namely, the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris, the Sisters of the Infant Jesus and the Institute of the Brothers of the Christians Schools is quite remarkable for an Englishman and a social reformer.

‘I stayed with a Roman Catholic missionary; there are several here, each devoted to a particular part of the population, Portuguese, Chinese and wild Malays of the jungle. The gentleman we were with is building a large church, of which he is architect himself, and superintends the laying of every bricks and the cutting of every piece of timber. Money enough could not be raised here, so he took a voyage round the world! and in the United States, California, and India got subscriptions sufficient to complete it. 

It is curious and not very creditable thing that in the English colonies of Singapore and Malacca, there is not a single Protestant missionary; while the conversion, education and physical and moral improvement of the inhabitants (non-Europeans) is entirely left to these French missionaries, who without the slightest assistance from our Government devote their life to the Christianising and civilizing of the varied populations which we rule over.’   

A letter from Alfred R. Wallace to his mother, dated 2 July 1854, and written in the jungle nearby Melaka.  


Tuesday, November 10, 2020

CONSTRUCTION OF MELAKA WANG KANG MONUMENT

Recently,  the Melaka Trustees of Wang Kang erected the monument of the Wang Kang at Bandar Hilir. 


The Wangkang Festival – Cremation of Spirits

by Maggie Thompson

 Photo by Junipersjournal

 

References to cremation date back hundreds of years

Cremation is an ancient practice, described as early as the 8th century B.C.E. in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. In classical times, cremation was a military procedure associated with battlefield honors. Cremation of Roman emperors included the release of an eagle above the cremation pyre to symbolize an emperor's deification and the passing of the emperor-god’s spirit.

It was in India through the cultures of Buddhism and Sikhism that cremation developed into a widely used, enduring social tradition. With their religious belief in reincarnation to other lives, cremation became an appropriate practice for expressing the ephemerality of bodily life and the eternity of spiritual life.

Cremation ritual of Wangkang

Wangkang is a rare and unusual festival in Malacca, Malaysia, designed to rid the world of wandering souls, evil spirits, and other negative elements that threaten to disrupt peace and prosperity. The grand and costly religious procession was introduced to Malacca by Hokkien migrants from Fuijan province, China. It first took place in Malacca in 1854. The Wangkang procession is only organized when mediums at the Yong Chuan Tian Temple get a command from the Ong Yah deities. The message is delivered via a small chair which, when held, “writes” characters, directing the temple committee to arrange for the Wangkang. Over centuries, the festival has taken place at varying intervals, ranging from 5 to 68 years. In recent times, the festivals were held in 2001, 2012 and 2017.

What happens during Wangkang?

After the message has been received, preparations begin with construction of the Royal Barge, which typically takes several months. Made of Malaysian merbau timber and heavy plywood, the barge is about 18 feet long and 6 feet high, with a mast 18 feet tall. The festival is held on the 15th and last day of the Chinese New Year.

Crowds gather at the temple the evening before the parade. Early the next morning ceremonies begin. Dragon and lion dancers, colorfully clad stilt walkers in traditional Chinese costumes, and more than a hundred musicians begin a procession from the temple. Teams of people pull the Royal Barge on a wheeled platform by rope around the city, halting at many key stops, where Taoist high priests lead cleansing rites to order all evil spirits and influences to get on the boat. At dark, accompanied by fireworks, the barge is loaded with bags of rice, wine, water, herbs, pots, pans, stoves and joss paper. Also known as ghost or spirit money, joss papers are sheets of paper that are burned as offerings in traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during special holidays, such as Wangkang, and in traditional Chinese funerals.

The priests say final prayers as the Royal Barge is finally set aflame. It is believed the Royal Barge continues to take evil spirits on board even as it burns, thus destroying malicious demons. Members of the crowd are given small bags of tea, which they are to throw into the fire. After doing so, they must walk away and not turn back. Looking around at the flaming barge is said to bring misfortune from the spirits who are determined to do evil to those tempted to break the traditional rules.

The Royal Barge is never launched in water. No human remains are cremated. But this cultural pageantry is steeped in spiritual tradition. By way of this dramatic, fiery cremation ritual, the collected spirits and negative elements are symbolically sent off to the unknown.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

MELAKA SECRET TUNNELS

Secret Tunnels (Nutmeg Publications) 

The legend of the tunnel is believed to have run from St. Paul’s Hill to St. John’s Hill. The opening of the tunnel is said to have been found inside Malacca’s old gateway.

It seems improbable that a tunnel can exist from Banda Hilir to St. John's Fort. According to the Portuguese era maps of Malacca drawn by Manuel Godinho de Erédia, the area between St. Paul’s Hill and St. John’s Hill was covered by a swamp. There also was the small stream of "Ayer Lele" that flowed from Bukit Cina down to the shore at Banda Hilir. 

It would seem unlikely that the early occupants of Malacca would have been able to built a tunnel in that area.

According to the book "Legends of the Secret Tunnels of Malacca" there were actually legends of 3 different tunnels under Malacca.

John Cameron, in his book published in 1865, reported that “when opening out a subterranean passage at the foot of the hill (i.e. St. Paul's Hill), two cases of ancient cutlasses were found” in Malacca.

Rev. Fr. Georg Schurhammer wrote in 1934 that there were “underground caves of the actual church built by the Portuguese” but postulated that “those subterranean orifices could have been underground cellars that existed when the palace of the Malacca Sultans once stood there.”

Rev. Fr. Rene Cardon was so confident of the existence of an underground tunnel that he wrote in 1936 saying “at least a subterranean passage under St. Paul’s Hill is not a myth but a proved fact” and he stated that “subways were opened for more strategic purposes.”

Even Munshi Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir wrote that “there was also a door giving direct access to the river” from the Stadthuys.

Although many, in the past, have been convinced that there were hidden tunnels under Malacca and there were various attempts to undercover its secret, no hard evidence of those illusive tunnels have been found till this day. 

Maybe one day, historic Malacca might just decide to give up its best kept secret and we will find the actual tunnels under Malacca. Until that day comes, it still remains a mystery and a legend.

MELAKA TUNNEL?

Legends had mentioned that there was a tunnel from St.  Paul's Hill to St. John's Hill.

This tunnel has never been found. Some people said this tunnel did not exist. 

With modern technology these days,  ground penetration radar can be used to scan and map out a 3d profile of the area around St. Paul's hill (Bukit Melaka to some).  

Maybe Melaka Persim can tender out to interested parties keen to explore this possibility. 


Saw this ground penetrating radar being used to find a tunnel in Jamaica on Discovery Channel. 

The radar can scan deep into the ground and map out a 3d profile. 

If we are lucky, this can be a major historical discovery for Melaka.

Saturday, October 10, 2020

CONVERT MELAKA CRUISE BOATS TO ELECTRIC POWERED ONES

The operator of Melaka River Cruise should try and test out their boats to electric powered boats. 

Carbon neutral and environmental friendly. Diesel or petrol operated propeller driven boats are not very friendly to our environment. 

No harm trying it out and if it is economical, then the whole fleet can be converted in Phases. 

Then,  Melaka River Cruise will be world famous for her green effort. 


Tuesday, October 6, 2020

KNOW YOUR KUIH

Even we like to eat our kuih,  do we know their names? Below photo gives you some insight.  Enjoy. 


 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

MALACCA-A FINALIST IN GLOBAL CAMPAIGN

 

Malacca selected as finalist of ‘We Love Cities’ global campaign

24 SEP 2020 / 07:16 H.

MELAKA: The efforts of the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) to adopt various green initiatives towards becoming a prosperous and sustainable city have borne fruit, this after Melaka was selected as a global finalist for the “We Love Cities’ campaign.

State Housing, Local Government and Environment chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Atan said Melaka was selected after the state was named the winner of the Second National One Planet City Challenge by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently.

He said Melaka was among 56 cities in the world to be selected, with South Korea, France, Norway, Canada and Turkey also among the finalist countries involved in the campaign.

“Melaka previously represented the country to the finals of the same campaign in San Francisco in 2018.

“The state government calls on Malaysians to support and cast their votes so that Melaka can be crowned as the global winner and make its name on the international arena,” he told a media conference here today.

Voting, which opened from Sept 14 to Oct 11, can be done at https://welovecities.org/melaka and further information can be obtained at MBMB’s website www.mbmb.gov.my or via its official Facebook page. — Bernama

Saturday, September 19, 2020

DINOSAUR WORLD IN MELKA ZOO BY NOVEMBER 2020

Dinosaur World in Melaka Zoo ready by November Thursday, September 17th, 2020 

News by BERNAMA / pic by BERNAMA 



DINOSAUR World, to feature various species of giant reptiles in robotic form, is currently under construction within the premises of the Melaka Zoo as a new tourist product. 

Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) president Shadan Othman said the project developed on a 1.62-hectare area in the zoo is a collaboration with a private company. 

“Dinosaur World would be the largest in Southeast Asia and it is currently in the process of construction and is expected to be completed in November. 

“We want to make Melaka Zoo a learning centre where visitors especially children, can not only get to know the dinosaurs or animals that are here but also learn the characteristics of these animals,” he told reporters after a Treasure Hunt event in conjunction with Malaysia Day at the zoo here today. 

Shadan said apart from educational tourism, Dinosaur World can also be used as a filming location. 

In another development, he said, several new products will be introduced at Melaka Zoo next November, including an international bird show where various species of birds from various countries will be on display.

The zoo will also have three Orang Utans specially brought in from Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort and A’Famosa Safari Wonderland this November, he added. 

Thursday, September 17, 2020

ANCIENT ARTIFACTS FOUND

 

Over 900-year-old artefacts discovered in Pulau Melaka

Coins believed to be from the Melaka Sultanate era. National Heritage Department director-general Mesran Mohd Yusop said pieces of wood believed to be from a sunken merchant ship used at that time were also found at the same location. — Bernama pic
Coins believed to be from the Melaka Sultanate era. National Heritage Department director-general Mesran Mohd Yusop said pieces of wood believed to be from a sunken merchant ship used at that time were also found at the same location. — Bernama pic

MELAKA, Sept 17 — Some fragments of artefacts and coins believed to be over 900 years old from the Melaka Sultanate and the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, were discovered in Pulau Melaka, Bandar Hilir here.

National Heritage Department director-general Mesran Mohd Yusop said pieces of wood believed to be from a sunken merchant ship used at that time were also found at the same location.

“Among the important artefacts found were the currency of the Melaka Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Mahmud between 1488 to 1511, fragments of ceramic such as pottery and porcelain from the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties as well as Portuguese and Dutch currencies.

“These materials were unearthed believed to be due to changes in water level and sea reclamation work around Pulau Melaka,” he told reporters here today.

The public must report any discovery of historical objects to the district officer or heritage commissioner as stated under Section 47 of the National Heritage Act 2005, he added. — Bernama

Monday, September 14, 2020

FREE CAR PARKING ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS ONLY

Please be informed that the Melaka Historical City Council has changed the free parking days from Saturday and Sunday to Monday and Tuesday.

So visitors from outside states and Malaccans must pay for street parking on Saturdays and Sundays.

Previously, visitors enjoy free parking on weekends and congestion occurs around the city.

Hopefully, less congestion will happen.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

OLD MELAKA RAILWAY MAYBE REVIVED?

Old railway line in Melaka to become new attraction


The remnants of the Alor Gajah Railway station in Pengkalan, Alor Gajah.
MELAKA: The revival of Melaka’s bygone “Choo-Choo” train is part of the 175 initiatives to make the state prosperous and progressive.
The initiatives were mooted by Melaka Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.
Sulaiman said promoting the historical railway line would help the tourism industry, especially in the Alor Gajah and Jasin districts.
“We must explore more tourism opportunities outside the heart of our historic city.
“The history of Melaka railway is an attractive tourism product, ” he said.
Sulaiman said all the initiatives would come under the purview of the 11 state executive councillors, with 39 under his care.
He said the initiatives would be tabled at the upcoming weekly state exco meeting before being implemented.

Sulaiman says the state government will introduce 175 initiatives to boost the income of locals.Sulaiman says the state government will introduce 175 initiatives to boost the income of locals.
“They are designed to benefit locals, ” said Sulaiman.
He said the initiatives would ensure the prosperity and well-being of the local community.
He said the implementation of the initiatives would be evaluated from time to time to ensure effectiveness for the long term.
Melaka was among the earliest state in the country to have a 32km rail link from Pulau Sebang station, near Tampin town in Negri Sembilan to the historic city.
Laid by the British administration in 1905, the station holds fond memories for residents nearby, who until today, are known as the “Melaka Railway Children”.
The service was then managed by the Malacca Government Railway, before the tracks were reportedly dismantled by the Japanese army and transported to the Thailand and Myanmar border as materials for a new 415km-long railway, where some 102,000 workers eventually died during World War II.
The Star featured an article on the ruins of Alor Gajah Railway Station in Jalan Keretapi in Pengkalan, Alor Gajah on July 26 this year.
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