By Asmahanim Amir
Pix Ismail Ibrahim

MALACCA, 14 April 2015 – Malacca is ready to revive its role as a world-class maritime port.

Chief Minister of Malacca, Datuk Seri Ir Idris Haron said the historic port is ready to become a world class maritime State and bring back the golden age of Malacca in the 14^th century.

“I view it as an opportunity. The eagerness of China to establish the maritime silk route is a golden opportunity for Malacca to revive its glory days.

“We are ready to be a part of this programme (maritime silk route) and if possible, please help us because we do not have enough resources,” he told reporters at the Seminar of Malacca as an International Maritime Port, held here yesterday. The seminar was jointly organized by the Melaka state government, the Institute of History and Patriotism Malaysia (IKSEP) in collaboration with the UKM Academic Heritage Museum.

Also present was UKM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Partnership) Prof. Dr. Imran Ho Abdullah.

Idris said the ports in Malacca have to be constantly maintained because the silt was too thick, preventing ships from dropping anchor there.

“At that time, we don’t have a technology to clean up the sludge. So after this we will learn from other countries on how to take care of the ports.

“We know that when we neglected the environment, it will cause us lost opportunities,” he explained.

Idris said now Malacca has five ports that are not working at full capacity.

“For example, we have an underutilized barter trade port at Kuala Linggi and Sungai Rambai. We also have a container port at Tanjung Beruas. That port is small and the ships aren’t stopping there because we don’t have services there.

“Besides, we have oil and gas ports at Tanjung Kling and the Malacca riverine port, which is the harbor for embarking and disembarking passengers. This port is not fully used,” he added.

He said, the state government will upgrade all ports, to attract more ships to dock there.

Apart from that he would be listening to the presentations at the seminar to note down any interesting proposals.

“The idea is that there would be a proposal to help us to make Malacca become a Maritime state again,” he added.