The monorail service has managed to attract 10,000 local and foreign tourists since it resumed operations on Dec 4, 2017, said Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron.

The service was suspended in 2013 due to technical problems.

He said the state government has a 50 percent share in the revenue from the services provided by Monorail Theme Park and Studios Sdn Bhd, which was projected at RM1.2 million annually.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has provided RM13.2 million while Malacca Historic City Council (MBMB) has contributed RM8.7 million towards the resumption of the monorail service.

“Hence, maintenance must be given priority to avoid any technical problem that would affect the monorail service and jeopardise the investment,” he told reporters after officiating the Monorail Tour Ride at the Tun Ali Monorail Station in Malacca today.

Also present were Deputy Tourism, River, Beach and Island Development Committee chairperson Ghazale Muhamad and MBMB mayor Zainal Hussin.

Meanwhile, he said, a mini National Heart Institute (IJN) costing more than RM100 million would be built in Malacca and was expected to be completed in 2020.

He said the institute’s operations would be headed by IJN Kuala Lumpur.

“The mini IJN is proposed to be built on a 2.8ha plot situated alongside Sungai Melaka at Kampung Enam in Bacang, which provides the ideal environment for heart patients to recuperate in.

“The institute, which will offer pre- and post-operative rehabilitation treatment, will help reduce the congestion in patients seeking treatment at IJN Kuala Lumpur,” he said.