Close Jonker Walk to vehicles: Nazri
News 2013-06-29 10:37
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) -- Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz wants the entire stretch of the Jonker Walk night market to be closed off to traffic.
He said allowing vehicles to go through the area would only increase congestion as they would be sharing the road with tourists.
"It's called Jonker Walk so pedestrians walk not only on the sidewalks, but also on the road itself.
"There's no reason to rethink this after 13 years.
Jonker Walk has been around for 13 years and it's not going to be beneficial if it's open to vehicles. It's not going to be Jonker Walk any more, it's going to be Jonker highway," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival and 1Malaysia Unified Sale 2013 at Panggung Sari, Craft Complex, here today.
Yesterday, the Melaka state government decided to open Jonker Walk to traffic starting today in efforts to help ease congestion in the town area, especially on weekends, following discontentment among various quarters including tourists and locals.
It is reported that opening the road would not affect existing stalls which open starting 6pm to midnight from Friday to Sunday.
However, Mohamed Nazri said he hoped the decision would be reviewed.
"I've met with the Melaka Chief Minister (Datuk Idris Haron), he said it was a trial run as there were requests for the roads to be open to traffic.
"However, after four weeks (of trial period), I hope it will be closed. Jonker Walk is a Melaka must-see. Don't play the blame game if tourists no longer visit Jonker Walk after it is open to traffic," he said.
Also present at the launch were Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (MDTCC) Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Tourism and Culture Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Ong Hong Peng, MDTCC Secretary-General Datuk Basaruddin Sadali and Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab.
In MELAKA, Jonker Walk Committee deputy chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo said the committee urged the state government to reconsider its decision to open Jonker Walk to traffic.
Gan, who is also Melaka MCA chairman, said the committee feared opening Jonker Walk, which had been a pedestrian mall for 13 years, would affect the state's tourism industry.
He added that the committee hoped to meet Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron to pursue the matter (not to open Jonker Walk to vehicular traffic).
Bernama checks at around 4.30pm today found about 300 traders from the area staging a demonstration to protest the move and at 7pm were operating their kiosks as normal, ignoring the state government's directive on opening the alley to vehicular traffic.
City enforcement personnel and police were also present to ensure things did not get out of hand and ease traffic flow which had become gridlocked because of the traders' actions.
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