Melaka Bird Park targets 100,000 visitors next year
About 100,000 visitors are targeted to visit the Melaka Bird Park next year after it was re-opened last month with new features and attractions, said state Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Tey Kok Kiew.
He added various improvements that were made in stages to the family recreational park, among others, include the bird cages, increasing the number of bird species, launching the Junior Dinosaur Club (Dino Jr Fan Club) and adding virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) games.
With a total area of 2.02 hectares including car parks, the Melaka Bird Park houses 113 birds from 23 species, including six peacock species.
“Since the opening on Nov 23 until yesterday, a total of 16,568 visitors visited the park and the number is expected to double by the end of the year.
“Melaka Bird Park, prior to this, was among the popular tourist destinations and a must visit by local and foreign tourists. We will try to rebuild it with various other attractions,” he told reporters when met after the launch of the park and the Dinosaur Club here today.
According to Tey, the Melaka Bird Park will be redeveloped with the collaboration of Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) and local company, WeGrow Global, incorporating a concept that features recreation, entertainment and education for its visitors regardless of age.
Also present at the event were MPHTJ president Mohd Rafee Ibrahim and WeGrow Global advisor Datuk Mustaffa Shariff.
Tickets for the park are priced at RM6 for adults and RM3 for children.
-- BERNAMA
Melaka bracing for floods, preparations underway
Melaka local councils are preparing for flood contingency plans after unusual volume of rainfall hits sub-urban Ayer Keroh, affecting some 270 households and damaging almost 25 cars.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department database showed that Ayer Keroh recorded a rainfall of 46.4mm within a period of two hours on Sunday (Dec 1), which was equivalent to five days of heavy rainfall.
Some housing estates were flooded, which in the past, were not listed as flood-prone areas.
Based on Travel Online website, Malaysia received 301.66mm of rainfall in December last year that tabulates to an average 10.05mm of rain in a day.
Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council president Mohd Rafee Ibrahim said the volume of rainwater was beyond what was expected.
“We are taking all the necessary measures as we anticipate heavy rain to continue," he said when contacted on Monday (Dec 2).
Rafee said they would also increase the frequency of cleaning drains and repairing malfunction pumps at identified areas.
Melaka Communications, Multimedia, Youth and Sports Development Committee chairman Kerk Chee Yee said residents described Sunday's rainfall as "storm-like".
He said areas badly affected were Taman Muzaffar Shah, Jalan Seri Duta, Pangsapuri Murni Ayer Keroh, Kampung Sungai Putat, Taman Seri Jati, Kampung Tun Razak, Taman Bunga Raya, Taman Sutera Wangi, Taman Kerjasama, Taman Bukit Melaka and Bukit Beruang.
Kerk said dozens of cars were also damaged during the flash floods from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
“Some residents contacted me to inform that their houses were flooded after 30 years," he said.
Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari, who visited affected residents, commended the relevant agencies for prompt action to clear the aftermath of the flash floods.
~The Star~
Nasi Goreng Pattaya, or simply nasi pattaya, is a Southeast Asian fried rice dish made by covering or wrapping chicken fried rice, in thin fried egg or omelette.
Despite its name, the dish is believed to originate from Malaysia, and today is also commonly found in Indonesia and Singapore. It is often served with chili sauce, tomato ketchup, slices of cucumber, and keropok.
~wikipedia~
Melaka installs multilingual signboards
Malaysian way: Tey and Melaka Historic City Mayor Datuk Mansor Sudin standing at the side of a multiple language signboard.
MELAKA: Road signboards at the Unesco World Heritage site here are now truly Malaysian.
The state has placed 24 signboards, including at the iconic Jonker Walk, in multiple languages.
Melaka Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew said four languages were used on the signboards.
“Bahasa Malaysia is prominently used on the top of the signboards besides English, Chinese and Tamil.
“Jawi script is also used on the signboards which reflects our harmonious population, ” he said.
Tey said Melaka Historic City Council completed installation of the signboards on Nov 14 at a cost of RM6,000.
The signboards are visible, among others, in Jalan Tokong, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Kampung Kuli.
~The Star~
Tourists in Melaka 'bombarded' with crow droppings
MELAKA: The crow menace in the state has worsened.
The crows are not only snatching undergarments but also driving away tourists with their droppings, says a local councillor.
Melaka Historic City (MBMB) councillor Tan Chin Gwan said tourists visiting popular destinations at Bandar Hilir had to cover their heads to avoid from being smeared.
"Tourists visiting the Dutch-era Stadthuys complained of being 'bombarded' with the droppings, some even had their faces covered in bird-poop," he said when interviewed on Sunday (Dec 1).
Tan said sidewalks at tourist hotspots and cars were also slick with a layer of bird faeces.
Earlier this year, Tan raised the concerns of residents at high-rise apartments in Kota Laksamana that panties placed on clotheslines were stolen by the crows.
He said the crow menace was not only confined to Kota Laksamana but now has turned into a major problem for the coastal tourist spot of Klebang here.
State Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew said various measures were being initiated to address the crow menace.
He said the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) placed additional workers at Dataran Klebang to clean up the mess caused by the birds as well as clearing food leftovers.
Tey noted that MBMB, together with Rela, had culled 2,290 crows since the beginning of this year.
He said the state government had also opted for an ultrasonic bird-repellent device as a new method to manage the crow population.
"We will put the device on a trial period to gauge its effectiveness before placing more at identified spots.
"One device can produce vibrations to cover a vast area," he said.
Tey said the sound vibrations keep the birds away.
He added that bird droppings created a health hazard and required costly clean-up, hence, the state government wants to address the issue, at once.
~The Star~
Melaka Zoo records 19.41 per cent higher revenue
The Melaka Zoo has recorded higher revenue from ticket sales for the first 10 months of this year at RM6.56 million compared with RM5.46 million collected in the same period last year, an increase of RM1.10 million or 19.41 per cent.
Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) president Mohd Rafee Ibrahim said the number of visitors during the same period had also increased by 81,449 or 25.36 per cent to 351,715 people compared with 270,266 recorded last year.
“This increase is in line with the new exhibit at the zoo, namely, a two-year-old white Bengal tigress named Elsa and the improvement of some of the 8.9-hectare zoo’s facilities.
“The zoo is also expected to receive new exhibits next year, including a hippopotamus and a male lion to replace the frail 29-year-old lion,” he told Bernama here.
Meanwhile, he said the zoo had recently submitted a proposal to the Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation in Perak to carry out a joint conservation programme.
He said based on the recommendation, the Melaka Zoo also intended to obtain another two pairs of orang utan from the Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island on loan between five and six years for breeding purposes as the zoom currently had only one orang utan.
-- BERNAMA
Melaka plans to turn Upin & Ipin into tourism product
The Malacca state government plans to make animated cartoon 'Upin & Ipin’ a tourism product in efforts to attract more visitors to the state.
Chief Minister Adly Zahari said the efforts included building an 'Upin & Ipin' theme park and organising the 'Upin & Ipin’ Carnival as the state's annual event.
He said the state government would provide assistance and support specifically in the area of promotion to implement the initiative through the Tourism Promotion Division, state government agencies and local authorities.
"Upin & Ipin is not only a local brand but internationally renowned while Malacca is a popular tourist destination among locals and foreign tourists, receiving a large number of visitors each year.
"We are confident that Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd will be able to evaluate the proposal based on the presence of tourists in Melaka and we can always work together to promote Upin & Ipin as a tourist attraction," he told reporters after opening the 2019 Upin & Ipin Carnival at the Melaka International Trade Centre, here, today.
Also present were Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd managing director, Burhanuddin Md Radzi and Melaka Tourism Promotion Division general manager, Zairi Suboh.
The three-day carnival from today is targeting 100,000 visitors and one of its main attractions is Inderaloka Hall which has been turned into a fantasy government inspired by the movie 'Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal'.
Burhanuddin, meanwhile, said construction of the Upin & Ipin theme park which would involve a huge budget was still under consideration in terms of its location as he had received similar offers from several state governments.
"It needs to be carefully considered as the investment is not small, around RM700 million, and it involves building a closed theme park," he said.
He also noted that two new Upin & Ipin animation flicks are expected to be produced in the next two to three years.
Visitor to the carnival today, Atiyya Ismam, 40, from Klang said she travelled to Melaka along with her four children, aged between three months and 10 years, to meet with the Upin & Ipin mascots up close.
"This carnival is suitable not only for children but also adults as all activities can be participated by all," said the civil servant.
-- BERNAMA
