1 MILLION VISITORS EXPECTED FOR MALACCA RIVER FEST 2013

A million visitors expected for Malacca River Fest

MALACCA: A million visitors from all over the country and abroad are expected to enjoy the thrills and join the fun-filled Malacca River Festival that starts here on June 1.

The month-long festival, introduced in 2007, has proven to be one of Malacca’s main annual events with the number of visitors growing each year, said Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron.

“We have all the reasons to expect a huge turnout, further boosted by the rebranding of the event, known previously as Pesta Sungai Melaka,” he said after opening the International Scout Jamboree in Tehel near here yesterday. “The festival is a crowd-puller as, beside the aesthetics of the rehabilitated Malacca River, there will be various activities organised by both government agencies and the private sector throughout the festival,” he said. Idris added that this year’s festival would also showcase a river procession of decorated boats and fireworks. On another development, the Chief Minister said the Malacca and Sumatra governments had agreed to have a new gateway here that would allow easy daily travel between the two territories. Under the proposal, Indonesians would be able to travel here by sea to work and return home after their working hours. “Indonesians can come to work in Malacca and return home, like Malaysians from Johor working in Singapore,” he said.

MELAKA RIVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2013

Melaka River International Festival 2013 from 25 May - 30 June 2013

Inspired by the San Antonio River Festival in USA, Melaka International River Festival 2013 is back for the whole month of June.

Among the highlights include a water sports fiesta, dragon boat competitions and decorative floats parade.

With more than 100 events prepared, this well-known state tourism event is expected to draw not less than 800,000 tourists. One of the famous event will be the Annual Melaka Dragonboat race where international teams are expected to participate.

For details, log into : www.melakariverfestival.com

RM 400 MILLION MARINA JETTY TERMINAL IN MELAKA BY 2015

Monday April 22, 2013

Malacca expects RM400mil cruise terminal and others to drive its growth By B K SIDHU bksidhu@thestar.com.my

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Bin Mohd Rustam during the interview at Seri Bendahara, Malacca.

MALACCA: The development of a RM400mil marina jetty terminal in Malacca for cruise liners is in the works, one of many projects lined up to drive the state's growth.

the marina jetty terminal, Ali Rustam said it would be undertaken by Kejuruteraan Asas Jaya Sdn Bhd on a 121.81ha site.

“The jetty would be built for RM100mil and the needed land would be reclaimed for RM300mil. All these are initial investments,” he said.

This development will facilitate cruise liners docking at least twice weekly at the jetty. Each liner carries about 3,000 passengers. “Even if each passenger spends RM100 a day in Malacca, the spillover business activities would be huge over time,” he noted.

Tourist arrivals in the state in 2000 was 1.6 million, and rose to 12 million in 2011. Last year, the number increased to 13 million and Ali Rustam expects a steep rise with the docking of the cruise liners.

“That is also why we need more hotels and resorts to cater to this new growth,” he said.

The jetty terminal should be completed by 2015.

Malacca also made the New York Times' list of 45 cities to be visited in the world this year. This could be attributed to its World Heritage City status granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2008, a report said. Ali Rustam has been the Chief Minister since December 1999 and has, over the years, managed to make Malacca more attractive to investors, for instance, initiating a one-stop approval centre to facilitiate investor needs and requests.

MELAKA CITY DAY ON 15TH. APRIL 2013

Melaka City will celebrate her birthday on 15th. April 2013. Melaka City has come a long way and visitors are coming in droves to Melaka during the weekend. Last Saturday night, I witnessed dozens of tour buses parked along Stadthuys. Tourists from overseas and outside Melaka were visiting Melaka. It was amazing seeing so many tour buses within a small area.

Certainly, the proclaimation of Melaka and Georgetown as Heritage cities of UNESCO since 2008 has a tremendous impact on both cities. In Melaka, a large number of budget hotels, international hotels and boutique hotels have sprouted around the city to cater for visitors and tourists. Some heritage buildings are converted into hotels and you can even find a quaint lodge at Jalan Kampung Jawa. This small hotel was recommended by Tripadvisor as well.

OLD CATHAY CINEMA BESIDES MELAKA RIVER TO BE CONVERTED TO PANGGUNG BANGSAWAN

The former Cathay Cinema at Jalan Munshi Abdullah is being renovated into a Panggung Bangsawan. The area was recently boarded up and the notice board was erected. Hopefully, live, creative cultural shows can then be staged there for locals and tourists. We can highlight our diverse cultures, songs and arts.

Visitors can cruise up from the Stadthuys terminal, up the Melaka River and drop off for a cultural show at this new attraction. By having live shows and performances, Malaccans can revive their old culture like Bangsawan, Pantun, Joget dances,lion dances, Chinese music, Indian dances etc. There will be spin off for the performance arts and visitors to stay longer in Melaka. Moreover, we can make the Melaka Riverwalk more vibrant.

HARD ROCK CAFE MELAKA TO OPEN IN END JANUARY 2013

Hard Rock Cafe Melaka at night

Hard Rock Cafe Melaka will be opening her doors to guests by end January 2013, just in time for the Chinese New Year of the Snake. It will be great to visitors to Melaka to enjoy this new F & B outlet along the Melaka River.

SAFARI STYLE FOR 2ND.PHASE MELAKA RIVER BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT

Second Phase Of Melaka River Beautification Project To Be Safari-style

MELAKA, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The second phase of the Melaka Beautification and Cleanliness Project will be developed according to the safari concept to attract tourists, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said.

He said the RM285 million project, a continuity to the first phase, famous for its river cruise, would incorporate elements of fauna and flora in the area covering six kilometres.

"The first phase of the Melaka River beautification project has been drawing more than one million visitors yearly, which has also generated up to RM9 million in revenue. In the second phase, improvements are made by applying the safari concept, similar to that found along the Singapore River," he said.

Speaking to reporters after the closing of the Water Treating Technology Workshop at Casa Del Rio, here today, Mohd Ali said several species of animals would be propagated along the route and colourful trees planted on the river banks and along the waterways.

The second phase project launched on May 21, last year, which stretches from Taman Rempah and the Hang Jebat bridge to Melaka Sentral, would have river banks protective features, walkways and water taxis, other than landscape beautification.

O

n the workshop, Mohd Ali said it was suggested that the state government use the oil and gas cleaning technology to improve the cleanliness of Melaka River.

"The cleanliness of the river is now at level three and through this technology, we hope it can be improved to level two, that will enable the river to breed certain type of fish and be safe for recreational activities," he said.

Mohd Ali said he would apply to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water to fund a pilot project using the technology, which was estimated to cost RM800,000 to RM1 million.