I REFER to the reported plan to sell Hotel Lisbon in the Portuguese Settlement, Malacca.

On behalf of the Malacca Portuguese-Eurasian Association, I urge Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to either reconsider the plan or put the tender process on hold until he has looked into the concerns, suggestions and proposals of the community.

There is no doubt that the building is owned by the state government and the development was
government-funded, but it is in the settlement and generally meant for the benefit of its people, so why are they being overlooked? There are valid reasons for the state government to help the community in operating the hotel.

How can a major feature of a government-funded development programme for the settlement be sold to a private entity? Why should the hotel occupying 1.2ha of the settlement and engulfing one-third of its vital seafront, fall into the hands of a private owner? About 10 years ago, the chief minister assured coastal communities that the state would not allow any development to occupy any stretch of their seafront, vital to their cultural heritage, livelihood or character of their village. 

Does the federal government, the major financier (through the Tourism Ministry) of this development programme, approve of this plan to sell the hotel?

We are comfortable if the ownership remains in the hands of the state government. Just give us time to organise ourselves to make the most productive use of the cultural complex/hotel. Help us in areas where help is needed as state governments are obliged to do.

The association is willing to help make this venture a success

 

Michael Gerard Singho
President
Malacca Portuguese-Eurasian Association

Source: The Sun – January 22, 2010