WHAT was supposedly Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh’s “avant-garde” way of luring tourists to Malacca has become a nightmare for the residents of the state.

The vehicle-free zone (VFZ) programme started on a trial basis in August last year in the state’s busiest area of Banda Hilir. What started as a temporary move has now become a permanent feature.

In December last year, Jalan Bendahara to Jalan Bukit Cina, said to be the busiest stretch of road in the city and covering 2.4km, was closed by Malacca Historic City Council (MBMB) for 72 hours.

Traders then said the road closure in August last year didn’t hurt their livelihoods.

But that has changed now that the roads in the VFZ are closed regularly on Friday to Sunday.

Traders now say the VFZ has drastically reduced their income.

In February, a trishaw rider attempted suicide near the iconic Stadthuys building. Police said the elderly man tried to kill himself because of pressure from loan sharks to repay his debts.

“Beca riders complain to me that they can hardly make a living, no thanks to the vehicle-free zone. Traders at Malacca’s Samudera food court and craft centre and nearby areas have been pressured not to complain about a drop in income because of the new zone.

“Even the cops at IPD Melaka are unhappy with the traffic changes, saying it gets in the way of emergencies. They too were told to shut up by the state,” a handicraft dealer said.

Another trader, Ikhwan Khamis told The Malaysian Insight  a lack of parking in the area is discouraging people, especially the elderly and families with children, from visiting his stall.

Ikhwan said MBMB has made no effort to ease the problems brought on by the VFZ implementation.

“Traders and trishaw riders have been warned by the authorities ot to take part in protests against the VFZ plan,” Ikhwan said.

A convenience store owner, who asked for anonymity, said her earnings had dropped by more than how.

“Is Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim not aware of or indifferent to our suffering?” she said.

“Traders are today at the mercy of the state government. Is this what Anwar means when he says that he has the people’s wellbeing at heart?

“Now we hear the state has plans to block off the areas near St Francis Xavier church and Medan Samudera by putting up counters to get visitors to pay to walk.

“I asked Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong about this. I told him no one from MBMB’s traffic committee or state exco has bothered to inform the traders.

“Khoo told me Malacca Mayor Shadan Othman had been told to directly inform the business community.”

Last month Khoo met with Shadan and the DAP assemblymen to discuss the issue. Khoo asked that MBMB consult the traders before making any move.

“I am sceptical about the mayor’s claim that the aim of the VFZ is to protect the historical buildings in the Stadthuys area from further decay. Closing the streets will not stop buildings from falling apart. Structural and refurbishment works are needed to keep the vintage premises safe,” Khoo had said.

Khoo said the consultant hired by MBMB had failed to employ artificial intelligence technology and traffic movement data to gauge the effects of changes to traffic flow.

“Clearly, the consultant has failed in his job,” Khoo said.

While traders and locals hope for the VFZ weekend nightmareto end, the state government recently announced that a monument and memorial garden will be built in Bukit Cina to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malacca and China.

Bukit Cina was named after the early Chinese immigrants in Malacca. It has more than 12,000 ancient Chinese graves, the largest outside of China.

In 1984, plans to develop Bukit Cina were rejected by the locals, hundreds of whom staged protests. – May 15, 2024.