Melaka’s “Chinatown”, which is also famously known as Jonker Walk, used to be filled with tourists from all over the world, as well as locals shopping for souvenirs and trying out unique local dishes!
But, since the government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March last year, many of our favourite shops have ceased to operate.
Photo via CK Travel
According to Astro AWANI, around 95% of the premises that were once a part of Jonker Walk had to cease operations due to the implementation of the first phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) from June 1st.
Now all that we can see at Jonker Walk are banners and flyers of shop owners selling or renting their lot to make ends meet.
Deputy Chairman of the Jonker Street Committee, Datuk Gan Tian Lo said that since the halt in tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, traders in the area have suffered losses believed to be in millions of ringgit.
Out of more than 100 premises, only 20 remain that are still operating, but they are still struggling with the effects of COVID-19.
Photo via Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2)
Not only traders, but rickshaw pullers, or known by Malaysians as “penarik beca”, who would usually take tourists for a ride around the Banda Hilir and Jonker area are also affected by the travel ban.
“These rickshaw pullers have not worked for almost six months, and the help that they were given is not enough,” he said.
So many efforts have been made to revive Jonker Walk including doing online promotions, however, it has been unsuccessful, said Tian Lo.
He also said that a meeting with the Jonker Walk Hawkers and Traders Association, as well as several other shop operators in the area was held to find a solution to the problem.
Most of the hawkers and traders said that they are burdened by the high rental prices which causes them to close down their shops completely.
Photo via Local Guides Connect
Tian Lo hoped that the government would look into the situation and help these hawkers by lowering the assessment tax or “cukai taksiran” so that building owners could lower the rental prices.
Ahh, we miss going jalan-jalan in Bandar Melaka! We hope that this will all be over soon so that we can travel again and see the uncles and aunties at Jonker Walk!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
