More upgrading on historical sites
Maintenance of the historical sites in the state has to be upgraded in the effort to draw more tourists said state Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee Chairman Datuk Latiff Tamby Chik.
He added that such will encompass cleanliness, parks, signboards, drainage, building structures and car parking bays.
“For example, the Jonker Street area needs more parking bays to meet the demand of the rising number of tourists,” he said after after a tour of the Jonker Street and Melaka river bank areas.
Latiff said irresponsible people were imposing up to RM5 in parking fees when the actual rate was RM3.
“We will not compromise with those who indulge in such activities which do not have the approval of the local authorities, and will take firm action against them,” he said.
Last year, Melaka registered 10.35 million tourist arrivals, and is targeting 11 million arrivals this year.
~News courtesy of Bernama~
Mini-car to complement Malacca as green tech city
Malacca government is hoping to introduce the use of battery-powered saloon cars in the state.
They are now seeking Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha for approval.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the mini-car, almost of the size of golf course buggies, is poised to complement Malacca as the green technology city.
“It is also seen as an effective way to reduce vehicle smoke emissions.”
He said such cars are common in Paris and he will obtain a blueprint from a France company before submitting the necessary papers to the Federal Government for approval.
“We would model the electrical car scheme similar to Paris if the Federal Government finds it viable and allow Malacca to use such vehicle on its roads,” he said.
Mohd Ali said he have seen the functions of these vehicles during his recent visit to Paris and felt the cars would be suitable for the state.
Among electrical vehicles that Mohd Ali viewed during his visit to Paris was the Blue Car.
The bubble-shaped car is powered by a lithium metal polymer battery and can travel as far as 250km on a single charge.
It will take four hours for its batteries to be charged.
Mohd Ali noted that mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, has announced that city has opted this four-seat Blue Car.
“ The vehicle has a maximum speed of 130kph and is designed for short journeys.”
Mohd Ali said other details like whether special driving licences are needed would be discussed with the Transport Ministry if it allowed the vehicles to be on the road.
“We hope to bring in the first batch of these cars soon if the state is granted the approval,” he said.
Apart from this, the state government will also forward its plans to its Federal counterpart on introducing electrical buses from China to ply several routes here.
～News courtesy of The Star～
Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock 敦陈祯禄路
Tiger Airways Discount Promo
(April 2011)
MBMB lines up major events for its 8th birthday
The Malacca Historical City Council (MBMB) has lined-up 12 major events in-conjunction with its eighth anniversary, with the inaugural programme beginning at the end of the month.
This year’s anniversary themed Let’s Celebrate Together will be a month long affair to commensurate the council’s elevation from municipal council to city status.
MBMBs secretary Azmi Hussain said the events would kick-off with a programme to assist poor folks living in 12 areas under the councils purview.
“ We want to celebrate our anniversary with the less-fortunate and have asked our 12 councillors to identify and submit the names of poor in their respective jurisdictions,” he said during a press-conference on Monday.
All set: Majlis bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah decorates banners for preparation to celelebrate it’s 8th anniversary on 15 April 2011.
He said the all 12 department directors from the council had been directed to organise gotong-royong at predominantly middle class areas and provide residents in such areas with financial aid.
“That’s the reason we themed our celebration this year as ‘Let’s Celebrate Together’ as all residents within our jurisdiction should particpate in our anniversary,” he said.
He said among the other events lined-up were inter-local government competitions where the council had been elected as the host.
Azmi said the competition would be participated by city halls and local council representatives from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching Utara, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Ipoh, Johor Baru and KualaTerengganu.
He said the prime eventon April 17, would be at the Nusantara Tambour Fest where the drummers from neighbouring nations had been invited to showcase their talents of beating the traditional percussions.
Azmi said 23 international and local dance troupes would also deliver dazzling and colourful performances while portraying the cultures and folklores of various global communities.
He said the fest at would be held at Dataran Bandaraya Square in Graha Makmur here and will graced by Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
Azmi said there would also a golf tournament on April 23 and fishing competition on May 1 as well as bowling and other sporting events.
“We are optimistic of receiving an overwhelming response from city folks with the array of programmes that have been organised,” he added.
-News courtesy of the star-
Holy week in St Peter’s
For over four and a half centuries, a group of Portuguese male community members known as Irmaos de Igreja (Brothers of the Church in Papia Cristang, an old Portuguese dialect still spoken at the Portuguese Settlement) have been promoting and undertaking religious rituals and solemn processions in Malacca to commemorate Holy Week - the final seven days of the Roman Catholic season of Lent.
This year, Holy Week traditions introduced by the Portuguese during their time here from 1511-1641 will take place between April 17-23 where the 300-year-old Church of St. Peter will be the principal venue.
Like in past years, these religious proceedings attract thousands of pilgrims and devotees both Catholics and non-Christians as well as tourists from all over Malaysia and Singapore and overseas visitors for Palm Sunday,
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be conducted at the church and open compound.
With proceedings laced with Hispanic traits, heritage and traditions decked by procedures, vestments, devotional prayers and hymns of a bygone era still intact, they are unique and a one-of-a-kind affair in the country.
To this day, the week-long religious commemorations are undertaken by the present day Irmaos de Igreja comprising young and older male members of the local Portuguese-Eurasian community. With membership strength around 33, the Irmaos de Igreja is described as the oldest surviving church based organisation in the region.
The original grouping was founded in 1549 by a Dominican priest Fr. Gaspar da Cruz in efforts to unite local Catholics particularly from the Portuguese community. Then, the age-old practices and processions were initiated at the now ruined St. Lawrence church in Jalan Bunga Raya adjacent to the lower reaches of the Malacca River. The ruins are located nearby Church of St. Peter along upper Jalan Pengkalan Rama.
St. Peter’s Church noted as Malaysia’s oldest surviving Catholic edifice celebrated its third centenary with much pomp and fanfare last year.
However, the ruins of St. Lawrence church and subsequently the site of the Holy Rosary Chapel located well off the main road does not offer much view and attraction despite being steeped in history.
In late 2006, following the crumbling of several of the old edifice’s columns, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and and Heritage after numerous complaints by local conservationists allocated a budget to undertake restoration works.
However, only a low stone compound edging, the clearing up of undergrowth and rubbish and putting up an official signage noting its history were undertaken. According to Micheal Banerji, the vice president of the Malacca Heritage Trust, the issue of the site’s subsequent neglect and further stone column crumblings was raised in Parliament in 2009.
Besides waiting for the site to be declared a national heritage, Banerji said the site neededfurther restoration and conservation plans to make the ruins a tourist attraction and to make it a fitting tribute memorial for the founder and pioneers of the Irmaos de Igreja.
-News courtesy of The Star-
A smoke-free Malacca
Welcome to the historical city of Malacca, please be reminded that you are now entering a smoke-free Malacca. This message will be flashed on the handphones of all incoming visitors to the state via the main entry points from April 11.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the state government has taken serious initiative to declare almost all tourist destinations in Malacca as smoke free zones.
“We will flash the short messaging services (SMSes) through specially mounted gadgets at all entry points in a move to designate more areas as smoke free“, he said after chairing the weekly state exco meeting recently.
Currently, five places here have been designated as no-smoking zones including the 4.2 sq km big World Heritage City and Melaka Raya, the Malacca International Trade Centre and the Alor Gajah and Jasin town centres.
Mohd Ali said from April 11, more areas in Malacca city, Alor Gajah and Jasin will be covered by the no smoking regulations in a bid to achieve a greener Malacca.
He said apart from the SMSes, the state will also publish the prohibition on smoking in designated areas on all printed matters, billboards and states newsletters.
Apart from the SMSes, state government agencies would be asked to display the Malacca-A Smoke Free Zone messages in its official websites starting by the middle of next month.
Mohd Ali said he would announce accordingly, the new areas that would be declared as smoke free zones.
He said the enforcement aspect on the no smoking regulation would be executed by the Health Ministry and all local councils.
Mohd Ali said the state launched the Malacca Smoke Free programme in conjunction with the national level World Health Day on April 11, 2010 and on the same date this year, the state will expand the prohibition, covering more areas.
He said the state made tourist stretches like Jonker street and Jalan Kota as tobacco free zones, last year and now plans to extend the same to other areas including cultural sites, playgrounds and recreational areas as well as markets, business premises and hotels.
On an unrelated matter, Mohd Ali said the state government had identified a 100ha site in Selandar, Malacca to be turn into bird nest cultivation park.
He said the state government would encourage swiftlet farms operators currently concentrating their business in Malacca city centre to shift their trade to the site once its fully completed.
Mohd Ali added those rearing swiftlets in buildings within the heritage zone in the city would be encouraged to relocate their birds nest farms to the site.
He also revealed that bird entrepreneurs are using the 18th Century Dutch-styled buildings in Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock here as harvest centres for the bird’s nest.
-News courtesy of The Star-
