MALAYSIA EYE TO BE READY BY DECEMBER 2011

Malacca to get bigger Ferris wheel

2011/02/22
By Jason Gerald John

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MALACCA: A new Ferris wheel, bigger than the Eyes on Malaysia, will rise again in the historical city here.

The wheel, to be called Malaysia Eye, will stand 88m high and comprise 54 air-conditioned gondolas.

It will be able to ferry six people in a gondola for a 16-minute ride.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said Malaysia Eye would begin operating on Dec 1 with a 324- passenger capacity.

"The the cost of bringing Malaysia Eye from China and the construction of a park along with it is RM30 million.

"It would not be located in Kota Laksamana, but in Pulau Melaka," he said, adding that locating the new Ferris wheel on the Eyes on Malaysia site would have implications as it was taller and the project would have to be approved by Unesco because of its World Heritage Sites status.

Ali said the Malaysia Eye project would be handled by The Eye Sdn Bhd.

He said the Malaysia Eye would be better and bigger than the Eyes On Malaysia which closed down due to a dispute between its owners, Fitraco NV of Belgium and MST Ad Suria Sdn Bhd and Eye On Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the company leasing the Ferris wheel.

Besides the new Ferris wheel, Ali said the Pulau Melaka area would also see the development of an Arab city, hotels and apartments.

"We will also have a 1,000-room hotel near Pulau Melaka, which will be developed by the Hatten Group.

"The Malaysia Eye and other attractions in this area, especially the soon-to-be opened Sea Lion Park, are set to be the latest tourist attractions," he added.

MELAKA TRAM TO BE READY BY MAY 2012

Melaka Tram to open to public in May 2012

2011/02/19

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AYER KEROH -- Train maker, Mrails International Sdn Bhd expects its RM272 million Melaka Tram, the first natural gas vehicle (NGV) powered tram in the world, to open to the public in May next year.

Its president and managing director, Datuk Jeya Kumar said, the implementation and application of the environmentally friendly "Next Generation Tram" will revolutionise the locomotive industry.

"We will be using this technology to add convenience to culture and enhance heritage without affecting the environment in compliance with Melaka's status as a Unesco World Heritage Site," he told a media briefing here today.

Kumar said the tram would scrap the traditional "pantograph" system in keeping with the times and also in line with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to combat global warming.

"This also represents our vision to take part in Melaka's growth as an ultimate destination centre for tourism, and marks our commitment to creating sustainable transport systems," he added.

The ground breaking ceremony was performed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

Also present was Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.

Melaka Tram was made official via an agreement between the Chief Minister Incorporation (CMI) and Mrails in March last year.

Under the agreement, the company has agreed to design, construct and finance, manage, maintain and supervise the road tramway and tramcar operations for 25 years, while the financing of the project worth RM272 million is borne by Mrails as well.

The company has also been charged with managing ticket collections for 25 years, with CMI taking 20 per cent in terms of ticket collection and the balance by Mrails, Kumar said.

He highlighted that the Melaka Tram Corridor would begin from its depot adjacent to the Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza heading to the heritage town of Melaka with a distance of 40 kilometres covering 11 of fourteen major tourist spots.

"We will work hand-in-hand with our partners, CNR Tangshan Railway Vehicles Co Ltd, a Chinese-based locomotive manufacturer," he said.

The tram is a rail borne vehicle, lighter than a train and differs from other forms of locomotion, as the tracks are embedded in the street.

It is able to accommodate 120 passengers at one time, caters to the disabled because its ground-level design and will operate at speeds of 40 km/h.

Kumar said Mrails, which is expecting at least a 40,000 ridership daily, would make commuting affordable, with a fare charge of RM2.

It is free for the disabled and students.

Moving forward, the company intends to export its train to other cities in the country as well as overseas, namely to India and Africa next year, he said. -- BERNAMA

Read more: Melaka Tram to open to public in May 2012 http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MelakaTramtoopentopublicinMay2012/Article/#ixzz1EPEa5s1F

MELAKA TRAM GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

19th. February 2011

Melaka Tram project has finally taken off today.The ground breaking ceremonyof Melaka Tram system is to be officiated today, 19th. February 2011.

This project has been awarded to Mrails International Sdn. Bhd. and CNG powered trams will be supplied by CNR Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co. Ltd. of China.

Slated to be completed in the middle of 2012, the tram system will travel from Ayer Keroh until the Melaka Heritage area with stops along the route.

One of the tram stops will be near to Renaissance Hotel and possibility in front of Jalan Bunga Raya. Certainly, the tram system will benefit Melaka New Chinatown when it is completed.

WELCOME TO MELAKA NEWCHINATOWN WEB PORTAL

WELCOME AND SELAMAT DATANG TO OUR MELAKA NEW CHINATOWN WEB PORTAL.

This web portal is to compliment our current website at www.tourism-melaka.com/newchinatown. Latest news and events will be posted here so that visitors can read about happenings around Melaka New Chinatown.

At the same time, we want to receive your comments and views regarding any developments which can affect Melaka New Chinatown.