Melaka car-free weekends saved 12,000 kg of CO2 emissions per km, helped preserve historic buildings

Melaka car-free weekends saved 12,000 kg of CO2 emissions per km, helped preserve historic buildings

Last August, the Melaka state government began trials of a car-free weekend in the historic quarter of Bandar Hilir, which houses the Stadthuys and A Famosa. Initially held only on Saturday evenings, the initiative was extended to the full three days (still only in the evening), from Friday to Sunday, starting in December. We’re now getting a glimpse of how much the move has helped clean the city air, as reported by The Star.

State housing and local government, climate change and disaster management committee chairman Datuk Rais Yatim told Melaka’s legislative assembly today that the car-free weekends have cut carbon dioxide emissions by 12,000 kg per kilometre since its implementation, according to a study comissioned by the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB). “Apart from reducing emissions, the initiative also helped preserve heritage buildings in the Unesco core zone,” he said.

Rais added that the traffic in the area, which reaches 20,000 vehicles during peak hours, had impacted the structural integrity of heritage buildings like the Stadthuys, leading to cracks on some of them – so there’s a preservation aspect to it, too. The initiative earned the city council the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard Award (2024-2026), presented in Vientiane, Laos in January.

Melaka car-free weekends saved 12,000 kg of CO2 emissions per km, helped preserve historic buildings

The car-free weekends also contributed to safety and comfort of the tourists that throng the city, said Rais, adding that the MBMB managed to resolve five issues raised by the public. These include traders complaining about a drop in business as a result in the change in traffic flow, as well as lack of parking and the difficulty for churchgoers to attend Mass at the St Francis Xavier Church.

The closures, which take place from 6pm to 12am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, involve Jalan Istana, Jalan Mahkamah, Jalan Gereja, Lorong Gereja, Jalan Laksamana and parts of Jalan Tun Khalil Yaakob and Jalan Merdeka.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • seitha on Mar 06, 2024 at 9:15 pm

    If i have saved RM12,000, I can see it in the bank or under my mattress.

    Where can i see this 12,000kG of CO2?

    Johnathan Lee, can you also report on how many trees have been deprived of CO2 for photosynthesis and how much lower oxygen has been released by tress.

    That will be impressive

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 15
    • Jewish scam everywhere! on Mar 08, 2024 at 9:17 pm

      Where can i see this 12,000kG of CO2?

      The same question has been asked regarding so-called Nazi gaz chambers, well? We are still waiting for the plan.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Pusin on Mar 06, 2024 at 9:21 pm

    maybe it needs some PPF wrap, or coating..

    or even better is heritage grade maintenance and even structural strengthening?

    is it so dangerous that it have effect from the vehicles nearby?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
  • Zaman Khan on Mar 06, 2024 at 11:18 pm

    Well done PH. You have done well. Good governance with no songlap brings great prosperity and great ideas

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 7
  • Peppa on Mar 07, 2024 at 7:25 am

    What historic building?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 9
  • Kariayam on Mar 07, 2024 at 9:46 am

    “saved 12,000 kg of CO2 emissions per km” in that specific area, that doesn’t mean the owners of said vehicles aren’t driving elsewhere emiting that same amount of CO2 emissions.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1
    • Jonathan Lee (Member) on Mar 07, 2024 at 9:51 am

      The kind of questions people should be asking.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • v-tec fan on Mar 07, 2024 at 10:41 am

    I don’t know how they count the CO2 emissions. I know the no car zone may save CO2 emission because no car around but it is brought elsewhere on not no car zone. And worse… The jam is so bad it produces more CO2 emission.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • plant more tree lah. you want ppl to walk but who would walk under the hot sun. please plant more trees.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Human on Mar 07, 2024 at 12:37 pm

    Delusional. This has created severe congestion elsewhere due to bottleneck which greatly offset, if not surpass, the CO2 emissions saved.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • Facts only facts on Mar 07, 2024 at 3:27 pm

      CO2 is vital! No CO2 no Life! Global Warming is a scam, just like Cohen-19. Period

      First the invisible (((Covid virus))) to destroy the economy, now? The invisible (((global warming))) to continue justifying restriction in economy, movement, and soon the freedom to breath!

      C02 is used as a cover to tax always more the already overtaxed taxpayers, exactly the same scam than with Pfizer’s contracts signed with (((government around the world)))

      YOU STILL DON’T GET IT?

      ->>> look at your next ELECTRICITY BILL.

      As long as People continue to believe blindly every single mainstream official scam (orchestrated by Govs and private international Banking families) , those People will continue to lost not only their freedom of movement but also their wallet. Depopulation, mass immigration, sterilization, slow programmed degenerescence of the remaining “middle class”, in order to obtain only 2 classes :

      – a majority of poor people depleted from any historical consciousness

      – tiny group of ultra rich families governed by Israel and given a temporary privilege of administrating the “People” (just like cattle, animals…)

      Covid program and Global warming are generated by the Davos Economic Forum Club.

      Those people DON’T pay a single tax but they monopolize more more every single surface of living/production mean on Earth.

      CO2 IS JUST ANOTHER SCAM to increase taxes and mass control.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
 

Add a comment

required

required