MELAKA - UNESCO World Heritage City since 2008. GPS: 2°11'58"N 102°15'02"E
Strengthening tiesNajib observing the ‘Friendly State and Province’ MoU signing between Idris and Zhu at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya. Looking on are (back row, from left) Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang. — Bernama Strengthening tiesNajib observing the ‘Friendly State and Province’ MoU signing between Idris and Zhu at the Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya. Looking on are (back row, from left) Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang. — Bernama
MALACCA: The state has a great potential to be an international sea port by 2025 with fiscal commitment from Guangdong, China.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said Guangdong provincial government was interested to construct harbour facilities to turn Malacca into a top nautical hub in this region on par with Singapore.
“We are talking about a huge investment by the Chinese and once materialised, Malacca will be recognised as the largest port in this region,” he said here yesterday.
Besides the port, Idris said Guangdong was looking at unveiling another airport here as a catalyst to tourism and industrial development in Malacca.
Guangdong governor Zhu Xiaodan, he added, had also expressed interest during his working visit to Malacca on Saturday in focusing on man-made Pulau Melaka’s potential as a tourist port project as well as to cater to the needs of the maritime industry.
“Zhu is looking at the long-term, progressive development here as the state has potential as new growth area for Asean,” he said.
Idris also revealed that Zhu toured the Melaka Gateway residential and commercial property project in Pulau Melaka during his visit.
“Zhu is also passionate about bringing our bilateral ties to greater heights as well as being enthusiastic about a win-win strategy for both governments,” he said.
The state government, said Idris, had created a new portfolio known as International Trade helmed by State Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong.
Two electric buses are expected to start operating around the Unesco world heritage site in Banda Hilir here in early August.
State Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong said the “hop-on hop-off” bus service would be operating with a one-price ticket system.
“The buses will be the first electric buses to be used in Malaysia on public roads and we believe it will help reduce traffic congestion, air and noise pollution.
“For a start, these buses will operate around the Unesco world heritage site and passengers will be using a one-day ticket at a certain price,” he told a press conference here today.
Also present was Panorama Melaka Sdn Bhd general manager Mohd Saleh Jusman.
The electric bus service will operate under the state government’s subsidiary company.
Lim said the two buses were among 40 electric buses expected to be fully operational in the state by the end of next year.
“We will receive in stages another 38 electric buses from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in China from early next year.”
Lim said a fully-charged bus could travel as far as 180km and the battery would take 100 minutes to recharge. It can travel at a maximum speed of 76kph.
The 33-seater bus has one seat for the disabled and is also equipped with nine CCTV cameras. Lim said a charging station had been built at the Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal for the electric buses.
MALACCA: Malacca International Airport (LTAM) is discussing with the airline companies to use the airport to fly to Guangzhou, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
State Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman Datuk Lim Ban Hong, said LTAM was also eyeing Medan, Palembang and Surabaya in Indonesia.
"So far the discussions are positive," he told a media briefing here yesterday.
Currently, Malindo Air flies from LTAM to Kota Baru, Penang and Pekan Baru, Indonesia.
Lim said that LTAM recorded 24,616 passenger departures and 28,275 arrivals since the commencement of Malindo Air's operations on Nov 5, 2014 until May 15 this year.
Lim said that the state government planned to launch flights to various Unesco sites.
He said among them were ngkor Wat in Cambodia, Borobudur in Indonesia and Luang Prabang in Laos.
He said that the proposal was also in line with Malaysia taking over chairmanship of Asean.
In addition to this, Lim said that Malacca, an Unesco heritage site, was working to promote ties with other sites.
"This will allow tourists to LTAM as the gateway to other Unesco heritage sites in other Asean member countries," he said. – Bernama
MALACCA - The Vatican is impressed with Malacca's policy of promoting moderation and harmonious living among its various ethnic groups.
The Vatican's Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia Archbishop Joseph Marino said the Holy See had a high regard for such approaches.
"This is an exemplary state. We admire Malacca for ensuring racial unity with minimal issues on race relations," he said after calling on State Secretary Datuk Wira Nain Abu Bakar at Seri Negeri here yesterday.
Marino, who was posted as the Vatican's first resident Apostolic Nuncio here in 2013, visited the Portuguese Settlement here where he witnessed the Festa San Juan (feast of St John the Baptist) which is celebrated with much religious fervour and reverence.
About 14 Roman Catholic priests gathered there to welcome the Vatican's representative.
Joseph Sta Maria, who is the representative of minority ethnic communities under social service unit Pembela, described Archbishop Marino's visit to the historical city as most significant to the Roman Catholic community here.
"He was brought to various historical sites. The prayers at the Portuguese Settlement meant a lot to all of us," he said.
Sta Maria said the Archbishop also visited the 466-year-old ruins of the ancient Rosary Chapel (Ermida de Rosario) at Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai along Sungai Malacca.
Malaysia established diplomatic relations with the Vatican following a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Pope Benedict XVI in July 2011.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/vatican-impressed-malaccas-moderation-policy-archbishop#sthash.MgOjjmIy.dpuf
