Malacca gov't firm on opening Jonker Street to traffic

The Malacca government will not budge from its decision to open the streets around Jonker Walk to traffic, in a move to ease congestion in the Bandar Hilir area, until a survey proves otherwise.

In the past five years, Chief Minister Idris Haron (right) said the state had received over 1,000 complaints from tourists frustrated at the congestion in the area.

"The state will not budge until there is a survey showing the road closure is not the cause of the traffic congestion," he was quoted in Utusan Malaysia.

However by opening the streets to traffic would mean the closure of the popular Jonker Walk weekend night market.

This is an attraction mooted by the previous chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam, and its closure has resulted in traders and DAP elected representatives to cry foul.

On Friday, it was reported that both the DAP and MCA were at Jonker Walk protesting its closure.

Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz had advised the Malacca government to reconsider its decision and he hoped the streets would remain closed to traffic on weekends after the four-week trial period, for the night market to operate.

"Even its name is ‘Jonker Walk', meaning it is for pedestrians to walk on and not be limited to the sidewalks. The people must walk on the street. It is Jonker Walk, not Jonker Drive," the minister had said.