Melaka will present a bridge project connecting to Indonesia via Pengkalan Balak to the National Physical Planning Council in January.
MELAKA: The state government is set to realise the construction of a bridge connecting Indonesia and Melaka via Pengkalan Balak.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the mega project is expected to be presented to the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN) in January next year for further scrutiny.
“The distance between these two locations is only 47.7 kilometres or around 40 minutes, thus becoming the closest point between the two countries,” he said.
He added that the state government has spent around RM500,000 on a consulting company to study the bridge’s effectiveness and capability to change the economic landscape and regional mobility.
Ab Rauf was speaking to reporters after officiating an event at the HICOM Pegoh Industrial Estate in Alor Gajah today.
He also said the state government plans to acquire 5,000 hectares of land in Masjid Tanah to be turned into a new industrial zone.
This zone is intended to attract various domestic and international investors.
He added that the nearby Kuala Linggi International Port (KLIP) is expected to act as an additional catalyst, supporting the bridge’s development.
“The blue economy in Masjid Tanah is expected to provide the best returns to the state and national governments, including job opportunities for locals,” he said.
