Vehicle-free weekends help cut down carbon emissions, Melaka assembly told

MELAKA: The vehicle-free weekend initiative at Bandar Hilir has significantly reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the Melaka legislative assembly was told.

State housing and local government, climate change and disaster management committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin said the CO2 reduction reached 12,000kg per kilometre since the initiative was implemented in August.

He said the data was obtained through a study commissioned by the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB).

"Apart from reducing emissions, the initiative also helped preserve heritage buildings in the Unesco core zone," he said on Wednesday (March 6).

Rais said based on statistics, some 20,000 vehicles entered the area during peak hours.

This had impacted the structural integrity of heritage buildings there, including the iconic Stadthuys Melaka, leading to cracks appearing in some of them, he added.

Rais said the vehicle-free weekend also contributed to the safety and comfort of tourists.

He also told the assembly that MBMB managed to resolve five shortcomings in the initiative.

These were, among others, traders complaining that their business was affected by the change in traffic flow, lack of parking and difficulty for churchgoers to attend Mass at the St Francis Xavier Church.

Earlier, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh told the assembly that 13 Poetry Gateways had been constructed in conjunction with Visit Melaka Year 2024.

He said the locations involved the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ), Alor Gajah Municipal Council (MPAG) and Jasin Municipal Council (MPJ).

“At MPHTJ, the gateway is located at the junction of Padang Keladi-Ayer Keroh, while in MPAG, it is at the Simpang Ampat roundabout, Kuala Linggi bridge, Lubok China roundabout, Tebong junction, Kendong junction, the junction of Kuala Ina and Pulau Sebang," he said.

Under MPJ, the gateways are at Bandar Jasin Bestari, Jasin Toll Plaza, Umbai town, Alor Gajah-Melaka Tengah-Jasin Highway (AMJ) at Sungai Rambai, Asahan and Simpang Bekoh.