BY R.S.N.MURALI

Wired: Assemblymen at the state legislative assembly sitting were equipped with electronic gadgets.

MALACCA: Land reclamation work for the Malacca Gateway project has been halted.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said work has stopped since February so that a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report could be prepared to accompany earlier EIA reports.

“An in-depth macro Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is also needed to gauge aspects like the livelihood of fishermen, morphology, hydrology and marine water quality before work can continue,” he said in reply to Chin Choong Seong (DAP-Kesidang) at the state legislative assembly sitting here.

Malacca Gateway has an estimated gross developmental value (GDV) of RM40bil spanning 246ha including reclaimed land.

Once completed, the project would house the largest private marina in South-east Asia with 12 precincts, including residential, commercial, cultural, entertainment and lifestyle elements.

Meanwhile, the assembly learnt that the state Customs Department has collected RM112.6mil through the goods and services tax (GST) since the implementation on April 1.

Malacca Unity and Consumers Affairs committee chairman Datuk Lai Meng Chong said of the amount, RM74mil was collected in April and the remainder in May.

“We have yet to receive the amount collected in June and July,” he said in his reply to a question from Lai Keun Ban (DAP-Kota Laksamana).

The assembly was also told that enforcement officers from the Health Department issued 945 notices to those caught smoking in public areas from January to June this year.

State Health and Sport Development committee chairman Datuk Ab Rahaman Ab Karim said they were caught for lighting up in non-smoking zones in the historic city.

“A total of RM37,970 in fines were collected during the same period.

“The state has gazetted 21 areas within the historic city and other towns as smoke-free zones since June 15, 2011,” he said in his reply to Md Rawi Mahmud (Barisan Nasional-Tanjung Bidara).

State Agriculture and Entrepreneur Development committee chairman Datuk Hasan Rahman also said that 5,122 individuals affected by the June 7 flash floods in Malacca had received RM1mil in cash.

He said Melaka Tengah topped the list with 4,130 individuals and 982 in Jasin with each receiving RM200.

“In the long-term, flood eradication programmes such as the widening of irrigation and drainage systems have been planned,” he said in reply to Dr Md Khalid Kassim (PAS-Bukit Baru).

STORIES BY RSN MURALI AT THE MALACCA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETING