ERL EXTENSION TO MELAKA?

Putrajaya Mulls RM8b ERL Extension From KLIA To Malacca

Published on Monday, 26 May 2014 11:11

 

PIC: railwaygazette.comKUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is considering extending the current express rail link (ERL) service from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang to Malacca.

Citing unnamed sources, The News Straits Times said in a report today that the possible ERL extension plan will cost RM8 billion and will require the purchase of new train sets, construction of a new alignment and  communications and signalling system.

Government sources were quoted as saying that could be two to four stations, including a confirmed stop in Seremban and that the KLIA-Seremban stretch could be about 45km, with another 45km to 55km from Seremban to Malacca.

The project's go-ahead would depend on a feasibility study to be undertaken by the Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERLSB) currently operates the ERL services between KL Sentral in Brickfields and KLIA. ERLSB is a joint-venture company between YTL Corp Bhd, Lembaga Tabung Haji and Trisilco Equity Sdn Bhd, with a 50, 40 and 10 per cent interest in the company respectively.

The company was awarded a 30-year concession in August 1997 to finance, build, maintain and control the operations.

The original RM2.4 billion 57km ERL line was financed through equity mergers (RM500 million), loans from Development and Infrastructure Bank of Malaysia (RM940 million) and import credit from four German financial institutions.

ERLSB chief executive officer Noormah Mohd Noor told the NST that the proposed ERL extension to Malacca would help ease congestion on major highways in the Klang Valley.

"It is a good idea as it would help ease the burden of passengers travelling daily from Seremban and Malacca to Kuala Lumpur. Instead of building more roads, the government should channel the funds for railway development," she said.

-The Malay Mail

SIKHS CONVERGE AT MELAKA SOLE GURDWARA

Published: Sunday May 25, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Sunday May 25, 2014 MYT 7:58:04 AM

50,000 Sikhs converge at Malacca’s sole gurdwara

BY R.S.N. MURALI

Volunteers rolling out chapati during the anniversary of revered missionary Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji at Malacca’s sole gurdwara.

   

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MALACCA: Over 50,000 Sikhs from all over the region turned the historic city into a sea of turbans when they converged at Malacca’s sole gurdwara to commemorate the anniversary of revered missionary Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji.

The commemoration that began on Friday reached its climax yesterday when devotees and pilgrims made a beeline for the temple at Jalan Temenggong here.

The temple also witnessed daily recitals of the Kritan (holy verses), chanting and singing of religious hymns and reading of the holy scriptures a day before the three-day festival.

The annual commemoration that is observed in the third week of May was also attended by several renowned Sikh priests from India, as well as community leaders from Australia, Canada and Asian countries.

Over 50 stalls were also set up within the temple compound and along Jalan Temenggong, selling a host of merchandise ranging from traditional foodstuff to religious articles.

United Sikhs Malaysia, an NGO representing the local Sikh community, also completed a 300km goodwill walk from Singapore at 6pm yesterday.

The walk, which commenced on May 17, was led by Rishi Singh Randhawa from Singapore’s Silat Road Gurdwara Sahib.

MELAKA INTERNATIONAL RIVER FESTIVAL 2014

Melaka River International Festival 2014 Starts This May 22

Melaka River International Festival 2014MELAKA, May 14 (Bernama) -- Eleven world class events will be among 80 activities being organised during the one-month long Melaka River International Festival 2014 which starts this May 22.

Malacca River and Coastal Development (PPSM) chief executive, Baharom Majid said these events included a remote boat control competition and Melaka River international seminar.

He said among the events that were expected to attract the people's attention was the international dragon boat race, which would be participated by 50 groups from 25 countries, including Hong Kong, China, Brunei, South Africa and England.

"This competition will start on May 31 and participants will row for 200 metres from Melaka river mouth to vie for the Melaka Tuan Yang Terutama trophy," he told a media conference here Wednesday.

On that day, Baharom said spectators would also have the opportunity to witness 50 decorated boats competition at the opening of the festival at the Melaka River Square at 8.30 pm on May 31.

"We are aiming for about 20,000 people at the festival's opening ceremony and 1.2 million during the one-month long festival that ends on June 22," he said.

Free boat service would also be provided for those, who parked their vehicles at Taman Rempah starting from 6 pm, he added.

-- BERNAMA

ARE THESE COINS THE MALACCA TREASURES AT PULAU NANGKA

Published: Friday May 2, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Friday May 2, 2014 MYT 6:53:01 AM

Salvage company makes discovery one hour before contract expires

by r.s.n. murali

Hole in one: The copper coins said to be found during excavation work at Pulau Nangka, Malacca.

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MALACCA: The Pulau Nangka treasure hunt may have hit paydirt.
Workers of the salvaging company were said to have discovered two copper medallions, believed to be part of the billion ringgit wealth buried in the tiny island from the time of the Malacca Sultanate.
The discovery was made at 11pm on Wednesday, just an hour before the contract awarded to Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd, the company commissioned since January to detect and salvage the treasure, expired.
The relics were discovered as the workers drilled through the wall of the cavern to search for the remaining bounty, which was believed to be stored in 20 chambers inside the cave.

Malacca Museum Corporations (Perzim) general manager Datuk Khamis Abas said the inscriptions on the relics revealed that they had different characters and symbols.
One had inscriptions in Arabic or Jawi while the other had Sanskrit or ancient Pallava Tamil, indicating that they could date back to the Majapahit Kingdom era.
“After initial sighting of the relics, we believe the items are medallions based on their size but further research is needed before we can actually confirm which era the medallions are from,” he said yesterday.
On Wednesday, State Works, Public Utilities, Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghafaar Atan had announced that Smart Partnership International, which was given a four-month contract beginning last January, had until Wednesday midnight to locate the treasure.
The Malacca Government was planning to commission another Kuala Lumpur-based firm, Legend Treasures Sdn Bhd, to continue the search and excavation.
Yesterday, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron confirmed the finding but wanted the relevant authorities to determine the authenticity of the relics and if it was deliberately planted there.
“Carbon dating will be conducted to determine the finer details of the relics.
“One of the coin (medallions) will undergo laboratory test by certified archaeologists,” he said.
Idris said that if the coins were found to be authentic, Smart Part­nership would have its contract extended.
The Star, on its front-page exclusive on the treasure island on Apri14, reported that the state government had given permits to two local companies to carry out excavation work under strict conditions set by Perzim.
There has been talk about treasure on the island for a long time and there have been many attempts by treasure hunters to find it, with some even using dynamite to blow up boulders to get to the cavern.
According to villagers, the buried cave is protected by a curse or by spirits.
A small group of people managed to get into the cave about 30 years ago but none could take out any of the treasure. They reportedly came out dazed and in a trance-like state after seeing, among other things, more than 80 chests of gold inside.
It was learnt that representatives of the company appointed by the state government had sought spiritual help before undertaking their venture.

NO SIGN OF TREASURE ON PULAU NANGKA

Still no sign of treasure on Pulau Nangka, says Malacca CM – Bernama

April 30, 2014

A company which is carrying out a hunt for a multi-billion ringgit treasure belonging to the Malacca Sultanate on Pulau Nangka off the state, has failed to find any, to date.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (pic) said today the four-month contract beginning January, given to Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd would end at midnight.
Tomorrow, the task would be continued by another firm, he said.

However, he said the new company would carry out its search in another area on the island, and would not continue the search at the same site.
"Actually, the search for the treasure on the island by numerous parties has been carried out since 25 years ago but to date, it has not been found," Idris told a media conference after chairing the state exco meeting today.
On Monday, state public works, public utilities, transport and project rehabilitation committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghafaar Atan said work to drill through a rock wall, believed to be a door leading to the treasure chamber, was expected to be fully completed today.
Idris said the state government planned to turn Pulau Nangka into a tourist attraction if the fabled treasure was found.

MALACCA TREASURES TO BE KNOWN TOMORROW

Updated: Monday April 28, 2014 MYT 8:50:51 PM

Nangka Island 'treasures' to be known Wednesday

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MALACCA: Work to remove the walls and door guarding the alleged treasures of the Malacca Sultanate on Nangka Island is almost complete.

"We believe the door can be opened in two days' time, thus providing the answer to whether the treasure truly exists or not," Works, Public Utilities, Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghafaar Atan told reporters after visiting the site.

He said work to excavate the walls, believed to be the main entry to the treasure, was 90% completed and the existence of any treasures will be known on Wednesday.

He said the search for the treasure was conducted by Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd through a four-month contract beginning last January till this April 30.

He said if the company failed to complete excavation works during the term of the contract, the state government would hand it over to another company.
Read: Hundreds of relics sighted inside cave

 "If Smart Partnership International succeeds in opening the door and does not find any artifacts, we will give them an extension to look for the treasure," he said.

The company's managing director, Mohammad Foad Khushairy Mohd Said, said the work to break down the wall was being done intensively by 36 workers round-the-clock.

"So far, we have not yet seen any indications and if we find any artifact or treasure, we will immediately inform of it in a special press conference," he said.

Deputy police chief Datuk Shah Gzali Khan Shahadat said the Marine Operations Force and the General Operations Force will be stationed to guard the place if any artifact or treasure was found.

Nangka Island is an uninhabited island of about 20 hectares in size and located four kilometres from Pulau Besar, Jasin. - Bernama

TREASURE CAVE TO BE OPENED ON 29TH. APRIL 2014

Published: Thursday April 24, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 
Updated: Thursday April 24, 2014 MYT 8:51:52 AM

Malacca treasure no longer a myth

   

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MALACCA: A scene out of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves may be played out soon in present-day Malacca. The door to a cavern in which priceless treasure dating back more than five centuries is believed to be buried, has been found.

In echoes of folklore, there are symbols to be decoded to gain entry into the cave on Pulau Nangka, an islet 17km off the coast here.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron is expected to be present to help decipher the symbols carved outside the cave.

“State government officials and the Malacca Governor are planning to visit the island on April 28 in a bid to open the door,” said Idris.

Pictorial evidence provided by Smart Partnership International Sdn Bhd, the company appointed by the state government to undertake excavation there, has revealed that the treasure, said to be worth billions of ringgit, is stored in some 20 chambers inside the cave.

“The treasure is no longer a myth,” said Idris after chairing the weekly exco meeting.

He expressed happiness that the cave door had been finally discovered after a long search since the early 1980s.

Smart Partnership, he said, should be able to reach the chambers and the relics by April 30.

Idris said the state government would then hand over the salvaging operations to the National Heritage Department.

“The state government hopes the Federal Government will share the treasure with Malacca so we can channel the cash for development purposes,” he said.

He promised that the state would be transparent and make public all the items found.

Idris also said that the state’s official organ Melaka Hari Ini had been tasked with handling all media statements regarding Pulau Nang­ka.

“Some media have come out with unsubstantiated reports,” he said.

Idris said the second phase of the excavation work would confirm that the treasure found on the island was part of the riches of the once-prosperous Malacca Sultanate.

“The treasure must have been shifted to a secluded site when the Portuguese attacked in 1511,” he said.

The Star reported on April 14 that the state government had given permits to two local companies to carry out excavation work on Pulau Nangka under strict conditions set by the Malacca Mu­­seum Corporation (Perzim).

There have been countless failed attempts to reach the valuables, which, according to villagers, had “spiritual” protection.