KUALA LUMPUR: Over one million visitors from all over the country and abroad are expected to enjoy the thrills and join the fun-filled Malacca River Festival that starts here on June 1. The month-long festival, introduced in 2007, has proven to be one of Malacca's main annual events with the number of visitors growing each year, said Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron. “We have all the reasons to expect a huge turnout, further boosted by the rebranding of the event, known previously as Pesta Sungai Melaka," he said after opening the International Scout Jamboree in Tehel near here yesterday. “The festival is a crowd-puller as, beside the aesthetics of the rehabilitated Malacca River, there will be various activities organised by both government agencies and the private sector throughout the festival," he said. Idris added that this year's festival would also showcase a river procession of decorated boats and fireworks. On another development, the Chief Minister said the Malacca and Sumatra governments had agreed to have a new gateway here that would allow easy daily travel between the two territories. Under the proposal, Indonesians would be able to travel here by sea to work and return home after their working hours. “Indonesians can come to work in Malacca and return home, like Malaysians from Johor working in Singapore," he said. BN
