MELAKA: The Melaka government will reapply to the National Heritage Department (JWN) to develop the land reclamation area designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, the State Assembly was told.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh yesterday, JWN had rejected the previous application that the former administration had submitted.
Consequently, a new application was necessary to proceed with the Straits of Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone (SMWEZ) project, he said in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali (BN-Lendu) about the development status of the Unesco-gazetted area.
Earlier, in response to Low Chee Leong’s (PH-Kota Laksamana) question on the status of the SMWEZ project, Ab Rauf said the state government had signed a sea reclamation agreement with 29 concession companies covering an area amounting to 2,192.38ha.
The SMWEZ development would include several high-impact projects such as the New North Port in Tanjung Bruas with an estimated investment of RM2bil, the New Southern Deep Sea Port in Telok Mas, a cruise terminal and floating chalets at Pulau Melaka, Ab Rauf said as quoted by Bernama.
