Around 2,000 business owners from six groups in Bandar Hilir are pleading with the state government to change its mind about making the area leading to the city's tourist attractions a car-free zone.

The traders argued that the initiative would affect their tourist-dependent operations.

The 1.3 km-long route between Stadthuys Building to Dataran Pahlawan will be closed, according to Saharudin Mohd Noh, 56, head of the Plaza Mahkota Entrepreneurs Association. Noh claimed the idea was not addressed with the local business community.

"We were only made aware of the proposal by media reports.
On Thursday (May 25), he claimed that "no attempts were made to consult with us."

Before publicizing such plans, Saharudin advised the state administration to undertake a discussion with key players in the impacted districts.

200 members of the Uptown Pahlawan Walk Traders Association, whose chairman is 43-year- old Wan Haizi, Abdul Rahim, have threatened to protest if the state government moves forward with the proposal.

If the highways are closed during the busiest weekends, how would we transport our items to our business location?

"To purchase items from us, tourists must also travel a distance," he remarked. Wan Haizi believes that if the plan is implemented, sales will drastically fall.

50-year-old salon owner Ben Quek suggested that the state government look into adding more parking places without preventing cars from entering the well-liked location.

If the proposal is carried out, "traffic bottlenecks will also occur," he noted.

Recently, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf declared his intention to make the popular tourist site of Bandar Hilir a car-free zone from Friday through Sunday.

He stated that the Melaka Historic City Council will begin the plan's dry run in the middle of June.