MELAKA: The Melaka Historic City Council has launched a “panic button” system at four major tourist sites to strengthen public safety and speed up emergency response.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the system, the first of its kind in Malaysia, enables faster and more effective medical and security assistance, especially during peak hours and when the Car-Free Zone is in operation.
He said the four locations were the Menara Taming Sari forecourt, Taman Warisan Jonker Walk, the area in front of Bastion House in Banda Hilir, and the Stadthuys precinct, Bernama reported.
“The system is integrated with the police, Health Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force and community paramedics to ensure help can be delivered as quickly as possible,” he said when opening the Melaka Bila Larut Malam programme, February 2026 edition, at the Stadthuys forecourt on Saturday night.
Also present were Melaka state assembly Speaker Datuk Ibrahim Durum; state tourism, heritage, arts and culture committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman; state health, human resources and unity committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem; mayor Datuk Shadan Othman; and Tourism Promotion Division general manager Nasrul Ahmad.
The programme is now a key driver of the local economy, benefiting small traders, artists and tourism players while revitalising the historic city’s night-time scene.
This edition features a Chinese New Year theme as a symbol of unity and respect for the Chinese community ahead of the Feb 17 celebration.
At the same event, Ab Rauf presented the Melaka River Cruise 2025 lucky draw grand prize, a Proton Saga, to Amir Hamzah, 24, from Perak, a Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia student.
He also announced that the programme would continue this year with RM100,000 in prizes. The grand prize is a Perodua Bezza, with draws every three months. The main prize will be awarded in December.
Ab Rauf said the state government’s goal was to make Melaka Bila Larut Malam an inclusive, identity-driven monthly tourism event to further boost the sector under Visit Melaka 2.0.
He added that as Ramadan nears, Melaka would roll out more faith-based and community programmes, including over 90 initiatives by the Melaka Islamic Religious Department, to make the holy month more vibrant.
