Melaka’s first electric bus will hit the streets on Wednesday in Bandar Hilir area as part of a trial service for three months, said Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
He said the service was free for users during the duration of the trial as a promotion exercise, and also to study the most suitable routes and reasonable fare rates for the journey.
He said the electric bus that operates under the state government subsidiary, Panorama Melaka Sdn Bhd, will take the route through historical areas and tourist attractions in Bandar Hilir such as the Stadhuys Building, Heroes Square, Bukit Senjuang, Mahkota Parade and Kota Laksamana.
“Once we are able to access suitable routes we will determine how many buses we will use in the future, for the time being we will start with one,” he told reporters after test driving the bus in Seri Negeri here, Monday.
He said the bus which costs RM1.35 million, adopts green technology from China and can travel as far as 300 km before needing a recharge and can accommodate a maximum of 60 passengers at a time.
“The state government will also create a ‘soft policy’ where, any vehicle using green technology will be allowed to pass through the heritage areas especially in front of the Porta de Santiago (A-Famosa) and the Declaration of Independence Memorial building,” said Idris.
Meanwhile, he said the services of local councilors in the state will not be extended next year if they failed to attend local government meetings.
“They will not be reappointed if they don’t turn up twice without reasonable cause at a full meeting and four times in small meetings,” he said.
Upon the request of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai, no MCA representative was appointed as a member of the local council in Melaka.
Earlier, some 100 local councilors representing the four local authorities in the state namely the Historical Melaka City Council, Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council, Alor Gajah Municipal Council and Jasin Municipal Council were sworn in and received their new appointments today.
