MELAKA: The decision to turn Bandar Hilir, one of Melaka’s busiest streets, into a vehicle-free zone on weekends has received mixed reactions.
Some said the idea to close the road from 6pm to midnight during weekends was brilliant, while others criticised it as an unwise move and badly affected the livelihoods of street traders and shopping complexes in Bandar Hilir.
Even a Facebook post by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Jusoh of him taking a buggy ride around the car-free streets received a slew of backlash.
Shah Beach Resort’s general manager Dennis Samford described the move as clever.
“I walked around the vehicle-free zone on Saturday and found it very fascinating, similar to tourist streets in Europe,” he said when interviewed.
Tourist Abdul Aziz Kader, 25, from Kedah, said he was mesmerised by the concept.
“I came for a holiday with my family and we walked from Jalan Bendahara to Dataran Pahlawan on Saturday and all of us never felt tired walking from one end to another,” he said, describing the experience as “breathtaking”.
Some tourists, however, complained about the lack of parking in the vicinity.
Ng Choo Wan, 47, said he drove from Kuala Lumpur for a short holiday but was stuck in a jam getting to the Jonker Walk night market on Saturday due to the road closures.
“I believe the state government has made an abrupt move to turn the busiest stretch into a car-free zone without proper planning.
“Those responsible should ensure there is ample parking and no bottlenecks due to the closure,” he said.
Traders who requested anonymity meanwhile claimed business has dropped drastically due to the road closure.
“Customers find it troublesome to get to our night market at Dataran Pahlawan. The move to close the streets was a bad decision and we had never agreed to it since day one,” said one 42-year-old night market trader.
He said the assemblyman in the area was also silent even though traders had objected to the move.
Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong said he received complaints from ehailing service providers who were unable to meet the demands of their customers due to the closure.
The dry run of turning the 2.4km stretch into a vehicle-free zone started last Saturday.
