River walk, city’s best-kept secret

Motorcyclists speeding along the paved walkways of Sungai Melaka impede pedestrians from using them.

STRANGE tales about Sungai Melaka were shared with me when I told people that I was walking along the river as part of my fitness regime.

The paved walkway along the riverbank makes the perfect spot to get a workout.

It was also a new experience for me to walk along the river that has played a major cultural, political and social role since the era of the Melaka Sultanate.

On my walks, I had the opportunity to explore sites new to me, especially the lesser known early settlements of the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities.

During my walks, I discovered a number of century-old temples and shrines that are not visible from the main road.

Most of my friends recommended that I walk along the riverbank connecting The Shore shopping complex to the Stadthuys building at Bandar Hilir.

The route is scenic but it’s usually busy with tourists, sometimes making it difficult for walkers and joggers to manoeuvre through. The route is also busy with cyclists.

Over the past few months, I managed to explore the second phase of the walkway along the river that starts from Melaka River Cruise jetty to Taman Legenda.

This walkway is not busy and is also ideal for joggers and those with strollers. However, the walkway is not accessible at one stretch near a shopping complex in the historic city.

I found the river’s best-kept secret is the walkway connecting Taman Lagenda to Rumput Bahagia, which ends at the Batu Berendam floodgate.

However, I have been warned by locals not to walk after 7pm.

Some say there is a resident giant monitor lizard, the size of a crocodile, that saunters along the walkway and attacks people.

Others warn me of a female ghost that haunts the walkway.

However, I have never encountered any supernatural beings or giant reptile on my walks through this tranquil, scenic oasis.

The area is breathtaking but there are a few setbacks like flooded walkways after downpours and motorcyclists riding on the pavement meant for pedestrians.

The stretch is also a favourite spot for anglers, despite the prohibition on fishing along the river.

I shared my experience with Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) councillor Kon Qi Yao and he said fishing was prohibited along the river as it was for tourism and recreation purposes. He said there was also a tendency among anglers to discard inedible fishes along the riverbank, causing a pungent stench and discomfort to those walking along.

These people would start their fishing activities in the late evenings to evade the authorities.

In my four months of walking along the river, I found that there is a lack of manpower to carry out enforcement against those who are casting their nets indiscriminately.

I hope MBMB and relevant departments will also look into remedying the flooded walkways by constructing proper drainage systems.

The stretch from Taman Lagenda to Rumpun Bahagia needs to be illuminated.

On the right side of the riverbank from Pengkalan Rama to Kampung Lapan, there is also a stretch that needs to be connected.

Also the restrooms along the river should also be maintained and kept clean at all times.

Overall, I am really glad to have discovered the walkway between Taman Lagenda to the Batu Berendam floodgate with a number of jetties right beside the river that makes the stretch the perfect place to relax after a walk.