VIDEO l 1.50 min

Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz says he hopes that Jonker Walk would remain closed to traffic on weekends after a four-week trial period where it is to be opened to traffic.

He said he had advised Chief Minister Idris Haron not to reopen it to traffic, because tourism is a major contributor to Malacca’s economy and Jonker Walk is one of its ‘must-see’ attractions.

NONE“Even its name is ‘Jonker Walk’, meaning it is for pedestrians to walk on and not be limited to the sidewalks.

“The people must walk on the street. It is Jonker Walk, it is not Jonker Drive,” he said at a press conference today.

Nazri said he hopes that Idris would review the decision, and pledged that he would work to ensure the road is to be closed on weekends after the trial period has ended.

Until recently, the street had been closed to traffic every night from Friday to Sunday to make way for a night market, which is noted to be very popular with tourists.

'Only worsen traffic congestion'

However, Idris had said that the road would be reopened to traffic on a trial basis for four weeks to ease traffic congestion, although hawkers would be allowed to continue to conduct their businesses.

Meanwhile, DAP had claimed that the move is a political retaliation against Chinese voters, and that the local council had issued a circular saying that hawking on the street would be prohibited.

Nazri said reopening the street to traffic would only worsen the traffic congestion, as pedestrians would be mingling with the vehicular traffic.

NONE“There are other attractions that the tourists can visit. If we reopen Jonker Walk (to traffic) and the tourists stop coming, then don’t blame someone else for it,” he added.

When asked to comment on threats to blockade the road if the government persists on reopening it to traffic, Nazri noted that legal action would be taken against those who do so.

“Nobody threatens the government - first principle. There are laws in this country. There are ways to sit down, and talk like the civilised people that we are.

“I promise you, if they break the law, I will ensure that I will speak to the police: arrest them. It is not our way,” he said.

High drama as both MCA and DAP 'defend' Jonker Walk