HAPPY MERDEKA

On Saturday, 31st. August 2013, Malaysia will celebrate her 56th. Anniversary of Merdeka. We got our Independence from Britain on 31st. August 1957 through negotiation and not by the barrel of the gun. No blood was shed and we were grateful for that. Let us celebrate our Independence together and have a give and take attitude for all races. No single race must dominate another but we must work, play and cry together so that our nation can reach greater heights in race relation, economic growth, prosperity and harmony. MERDEKA, MERDEKA, MERDEKA.

MELAKA CONSERVATION CENTRE AT JALAN BUNGA RAYA

A new Melaka Conservation Centre has been opened by the Melaka State government at No 45, Jalan Bunga Raya, 75000 Melaka. Hopefully, owners of heritage buildings who want to renovate their premises according to heritage standards can visit this centre for information.

State Heritage and Youth Committee deputy chairman Datuk Norpipah Abdol made a tour of the Malacca Conservation Centre in Jalan Bunga Raya yesterday.

He said the centre, which began operating last Monday, was open to the public. It focused on the conservation of historical buildings and artefact.

Khamis also said the centre would be used as a venue for lectures, talks and workshops.

The centre is managed by the corporation with the cooperation of the state World Heritage Office, Malacca Historical City Council, Merlimau Polytechnic and Malacca Islamic University College.

MELAKA PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTEST

19th. August 2013

Photographers are invited to unleash their creativity in a photographic contest for the chance to win a dream holiday to Bali, Indonesia.

Participants are require to capture the rich and unique heritage of Malacca.

The contest on August 24th. 2013 wich carries the theme Local Flavours is organised by the Avillion Hotel Group.

Contestants stand to win holidays at various destinations, spa package and a Canon camera.

The grand prize consists of a four-day, three night stay worth RM 7,050 at Villa Cinta, Sanur Beach in Bali for four people and a Canon EOS110D DSLR camera worth RM 1,699 to capture their gateway.

The other prize include free stays at the group's hotels in Idaman@Janda Baik in Pahang, Avillion Port Dickson water chalet in Negeri Sembilan, Avillion Admiral Cove executive studio in Negeri Sembilan and Avillion Legacy, Melaka.

To register, log on to www.facebook.com/avillionhotelgroup. Registration ends tomorrow.

Partipants have to pay a fee of RM 98 to enter the contest.

They will receive goodies such as a Canon Legria luggage strap, a photography talk by a Canon specialist worth RM 1,500 and lunch. By Kelly Koh, NST

CLEAN MELAKA RIVER WINS GOLD GREEN APPLE AWARD

Email Print 28 June 2013| last updated at 12:19AM

Clean Sg Melaka wins gold Green Apple

By ZAHARAH OTHMAN

SWINDON (Britain): For its efforts to restore, clean and beautify Sungai Melaka, the Malacca Historical City Council has received a gold Green Apple award from The Green Organisation.

Mayor Datuk Zainal Abu received the award here on Monday in a ceremony for international agencies around the world, where five other Malaysian agencies also got awards.

Labuan Corporation and Kumpulan Senireka received the bronze award, while Second Penang Bridge Project and Petaling Jaya City Council received silver and the Energy Commission Malaysia received gold for their environmental effort to make the world a better place to live in.

Zainal said the award recognised the city council's efforts on the Sungai Melaka project, which has since seen an increase of tourists to a total of a million taking the river cruise last year.

"We are one of the agencies helping the state government in its initiative to implement the green elements since 2010.

"With this award from The Green Organisation, Sungai Melaka will be entered in the The Green Book, the only best practice environment reference book, which will be distributed around the world," Zainal said after the award ceremony.

He believed a continued effort and commitment by everybody involved was important "for us to keep on beautifying, improving and maintaining the quality of Sungai Melaka to attract tourists".

"Before the river was polluted but now the quality of water has gone from Grade 4 to Grade 2 and we are now working towards achieving Grade 1. Sungai Melaka has become a catalyst for development."

According to Roger Wolens, managing director of The Green Organisation, since the award started in 1994, several Malaysian agencies had received the award. This year, out of 250 agencies around the world which were nominated, 20 were from Malaysia and six Malaysian agencies received the awards.

He said the judges were particularly impressed by the Sungai Melaka project where the river has been greatly cleaned up, improved and made more attractive and useable for not only the local community but also for river species.

"Species which had not been seen for a long time are now inhabiting the river again. It's good for wildlife, it's good for the local community and it's good for the future that this initiative is being seen and developed."

Malacca city mayor Datuk Zainal Abu (left) and councillor Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman with the gold Green Apple award and citation accorded for theits Sungai Melaka cleanliness and beautification project

Read more: Clean Sg Melaka wins gold Green Apple - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/clean-sg-melaka-wins-gold-green-apple-1.309181#ixzz2YFA417oU

2ND PHASE OF MELAKA RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT DELAYED

16 June 2013| last updated at 04:37PM

Malacca River development, beautification behind schedule: CM

By Hanis Maketab

Recent Melaka Dragon boat race held at Melaka River 2013

MALACCA: The contractor for the second phase of the Malacca River development and beautification project, here, has been urged to stick to the dates set for the project's completion.

Chief Minister Datuk Wira Idris Haron said after carrying out checks on the progress of the project, it appeared to be behind schedule.

"The project is expected to be completed by 2015, but judging by what has been completed so far, the project may not be completed on time, which is disappointing.

"I have asked the contractor to increase productivity while adhering to proper health and safety protocols," he said. Idris said he had observed that waste materials from the project had not been disposed of correctly, while the sewage flow was haphazard and not managed properly, which he expected the contractor to rectify as soon as possible.

- See more at: http://www.nst.com.my/latest/malacca-river-development-beautification-behind-schedule-cm-1.301413#sthash.f4ndiwgk.dpuf

GOOD TIMES FLOW ON MELAKA RIVER IN 2013

15 June 2013| last updated at 11:40PM

The good times flow on Melaka River

By JASON GERALD JOHN AND KELLY KOH LING MIN | streets@mediaprima.com.my

CURRENT ATTRACTION: A flotilla of gaily-decorated boats and their strange and wonderful passengers make waves in the historical city

MALACCA: A MYRIAD of neon lights on its banks enhanced the beauty of the Melaka River, on which floated 24 gaily-decorated boats, recently.

The boat parade had the theme "The Colours of the Melaka River".

The vessels' 4.5km journey from the Spice Garden in Pengkalan Rama to Sungai Melaka Square, behind the Flor de Lar Mar replica in Banda Hilir, had captured the attention of many, locals and tourists alike.

The boats of all shapes and sizes had been decorated by the respective staff of the various government and private departments and agencies they represented.

The staff, clad in bright, dazzling attire, had also boarded the boats for the ride that took them past rustic scenes left over from the past.

The merry passengers waved at the many spectators drawn by the spectacle.

Among those participating in the parade were the Public Works Department, Melaka Historical City Council, Chief Minister's Department, Alor Gajah Municipal Council, State Islamic Religious Department, State Education Department, Syarikat Air Melaka Bhd, Malacca Museums Corporation, Perbadanan Melaka Holding Sdn Bhd and State River and Coastal Development Corporation.

The Melaka River, which flows through the middle of the historical city, was an important trade route during the heyday of Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century, and dubbed the "Venice of the East".

The boat parade, which offered prizes of RM7,000, RM5,000, RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000 to the five best decorated boats, was part of the Melaka River Festival 2013 from May 25 to June 23.

The festival, now in its seventh year, attracts some 500,000 visitors annually.

About 100 events will be staged during the month. These include cultural, educational and recreational activities including remote-control boat race, singing and live band competitions, a drawing and colouring competition, an iron man competition, a dragon boat race, reptile and exotic animal exhibit, fashion show, and rickshaw and bullock cart parade.

For details, visit www.melakariverfestival.com. - See more at: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/the-good-times-flow-on-melaka-river-1.300325#sthash.9jSrCjiY.dpuf

MELAKA RIVER PROJECT NOW A MODEL FOR OTHERS

14 June 2013| last updated at 11:38PM

Sungai Melaka project a model for others

By Jason Gerald | nstjason@gmail.com

REHABILITATION: The once lifeless waterway has been turned into Malacca’s most lucrative tourism product

THE phrase "Everything began in Malacca" is not something which was just coined to attract tourism, but is in actual fact what this state has to offer to other states in Malaysia.

The birth of the nation is attributed to the glory of the Malacca sultanate in the 15th century, and Malacca is where the independence of Malaysia was first announced by the country's founding father, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj at the Dataran Pahlawan in Banda Hilir.

Malacca has been a benchmark for many developments in the country after the state was steered into becoming a developed state -- recognised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) -- and is now spearheading the nation's green technology initiatives.

And now, what was once famed as one of the busiest ports in the world, the Melaka River, is becoming a benchmark for the rehabilitation and beautification of rivers throughout the country.

Known as the Venice of the East in the 15th century, the waterway had slowly deteriorated and became one of the dirtiest rivers in the country till some 12 years ago.

In 2001, the state government, with assistance from the Federal Government, had embarked on the first phase of the Melaka River beautification project costing some RM200 million.

The first phase of the Melaka River rehabilitation project started at the tip of the river mouth to the Hang Tuah bridge which included the construction of two new jetties and an archway across the river.

The restoration and beautification project paid off handsomely, as now the once lifeless river has not only been revived but it has been turned into the most lucrative tourism product that Malacca has to offer.

The recent Sungai Melaka International River Festival created history when the Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general, Datuk Ahmad Husaini Sulaiman, said the State administration's success in turning the river into one of the finest in the country, region and also the world would be the main point of reference for the revival and beautification of all rivers in the country.

The effort taken by the Malacca government in beautifying the Melaka River has not only managed to turn the river into a commodity for tourism but also helped in mitigating floods.

Under the 10th Malaysia Plan all rivers in the country were allocated RM3.47 billion for flood mitigation works, rehabilitation and beautification exercise. Melaka alone was allocated RM285 million.

In Malacca's case, this money was not only used for flood mitigation works but also for the cleaning, beautification, and upgrading of the river system from the Sungai Melaka estuary right up to Malim.

This success of making Sungai Melaka into a living river is proposed to be replicated across the country.

Sungai Melaka is flanked by several delightful structures such as the Dutch or Red Square, traditional villages and other tourist attractions. In the second phase of its rehabilitation would start at the Hang Jebat bridge up to Batu Hampar, covering 5.2km.

The second phase would be divided into three main work packages; first would cover a 2.4km waterway from the Hang Jebat bridge to the Tun Razak bridge, followed by 1.2km from the Tun Razak bridge to the Melaka Sentral bridge, and the final package from the Melaka Sentral bridge to the Tidal Control Gate that stretches for 1.6km.

This would also include deepening the depth of the river, constructing walls and walkways along the river, landscapes, three water taxi stations at Taman Rempah and Jusco AEON, building unique bridges and beautifying the banks of the river.

Once the project is completed, the water quality of Sungai Melaka is expected to improve from class 111 barometer to class 11B by the year 2015.

The current success of the Melaka River rehabilitation and beautification project could also be seen through the Melaka River Cruise.

When the cruise started in 2006 there were only 56 visitors, but last year alone it attracted some 1.1 million passengers, and this year it is targeted that the Melaka River Cruise would attract some 1.4 million visitors.

Besides being a benchmark for rivers in Malaysia, the Malacca government is also aiming to work towards getting this event listed on the World Tourism Calendar of Events, similar to the San Antonio River festival in Texas, United States.

Read more: Sungai Melaka project a model for others - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/sungai-melaka-project-a-model-for-others-1.299900#ixzz2WE8IVouO