{{Short description|Offshore development of artificial islands in Malacca, Malaysia}} {{Missing information|how the Chinese government is involved and whether or not this project is part of the Belt and Road Initiative|date={{monthyear}}}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} thumb|Artist's depiction of Melaka Gateway upon completion thumb|Melaka Gateway logo thumb|Logo of KAJ Development Sdn Bhd, developer of Melaka Gateway
'''Melaka Gateway'''{{efn|The project uses the Malay-language spelling of the state's name, as opposed to the more traditional English-language spelling, "Malacca"}} ({{lang-zh|c=马六甲皇京港|p=Mǎliùjiǎ huáng jīng gǎng|l=Malacca Royal Capital Harbour}}) is an off-shore development of artificial islands in Malacca, Malaysia. It was launched on 7 February 2014 by Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and witnessed by Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron. It was expected to be open in 2018 and finished completely by 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/951031|title=RM40b Malacca Gateway to open doors in 2018|publisher=Thesundaily.my|accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref> The project was planned to consist of four artificial islands including Malacca Island and one adjacent natural island—Panjang Island, with mixed residential and commercial development, leisure and tourism amenities, a free-trade zone, a port, and an industrial zone.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180809163756/https://melakagateway.com/ Melaka Gateway 2018 Archived Website]</ref> However, a series of obstacles led to the project being scaled down to only Malacca Island, with a cruise terminal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fulcrum.sg/the-return-of-melaka-gateway-scaled-down-ambitions/|title=The Return of Melaka Gateway: Scaled-down Ambitions|website=fulcrum.sg|author=Tham Siew Yean|date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
KAJ Development Sdn Bhd (abbreviated as KAJD, {{lang-zh|c=凯杰发展有限公司|p=Kǎi jié fāzhǎn yǒuxiàn gōngsī}}) is the project's master developer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melaka Gateway secures 5 foreign investors |url=https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/952676-ERARCH240534 |access-date=11 August 2023 |website=thesundaily.my}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melaka cruise terminal project to be revived, says Transport Minister |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/05/melaka-cruise-terminal-project-to-be-revived-says-transport-minister |access-date=11 August 2023 |website=The Star|date=5 March 2023 }}</ref>
In November 2020, the project was reportedly scrapped by the state government.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hazlin Hassan |agency= |title=Controversial Melaka port project scrapped by state govt |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/controversial-melaka-port-project-scrapped-by-state-govt |quote= |newspaper=Straits Times |date=20 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Lee Hong Liang |agency= |title=Malaysia scraps mega port project off Melaka |url=https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/malaysia-scraps-mega-port-project-melaka |quote= |newspaper=Seatrade Maritime News |date=23 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= Sebastian Strangio |agency= |title=In Malaysia, a Gargantuan Chinese-Backed Development Bites the Dust |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/11/in-malaysia-a-gargantuan-chinese-backed-development-bites-the-dust/ |quote= |newspaper=The Diplomat |date=19 November 2020 |access-date=24 November 2021 }}</ref> Malaccan Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali was quoted as saying it would not be abandoned but would instead be taken over by a new developer, stating that "The development will continue, but we have some technical issues that we need to fix."<ref name="nik">{{cite news |author=P PREM KUMAR |agency= |title=Canceled $10.5bn Malaysia port project plays down China role |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Canceled-10.5bn-Malaysia-port-project-plays-down-China-role |quote= |newspaper=Nikkei Asia |date=3 December 2020 |access-date=24 November 2021 }}</ref>
As of February 2022, the project had resumed the development of its first island—Pulau Melaka East 1 (PME1), after receiving approval from the state government through an agreement signed on 23 February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2022 |title=KAJ Development resumes Melaka Gateway project |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=2059568 |access-date=11 August 2023 |website=BERNAMA}}</ref>
==Reactions== In 2017, Chief Minister of Malacca, Idris Haron, said he was serious in developing the state into a nautical gem and could no longer tolerate any hiatus in proposed development projects created by interested developers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://SmartAsset.com.my/chief-minister-developing-malacca/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030225/http://smartasset.com.my/chief-minister-developing-malacca/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2017|title=Chief Minister serious in developing Malacca}}</ref>
The Kristang community at the Portuguese Settlement said that they had not been consulted about the project, and they have been protesting it from the beginning. In May 2018, 200 villagers participated in a demonstration outside KAJ Development's office.<ref name="forbes" />
China's then-Minister of Transport, Yang Chuantang, said: "With Malacca as the forefront flagship in support of the One Belt, One Road program initiated by the People's Republic of China, we will soon taste the fruits of success, especially with the plans for infrastructure, ...China is confident in Melaka Gateway's project."<ref name="forbes">{{cite news |author=Wade Shepard |agency= |title=Inside the Belt and Road's Premier White Elephant: Melaka Gateway |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2020/01/31/inside-the-belt-and-roads-premier-white-elephant-melaka-gateway/?sh=6abcc5f9266e |newspaper=Forbes |date=30 January 2020 |access-date=24 November 2021 }}</ref>
''Forbes'' described Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as the "strongest opponent of Melaka Gateway".<ref name="forbes" /> Mahathir said of the project, "We are very concerned because in the first place we don't need any extra harbor."<ref>{{cite news |author=Hannah Beech |agency= |title='We Cannot Afford This': Malaysia Pushes Back Against China's Vision |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/world/asia/china-malaysia.html |newspaper=New York Times |date=20 August 2018 |access-date=29 November 2021 }}</ref>
The chief executive of KAJD reacted to the cancellation, saying the company was contemplating taking legal action against the state and adding, "We are left with no choice. Our project is canceled after we spent millions of our own resources to conduct various environmental studies and pay licensing fees."<ref name="nik"/> In December 2020, KAJ filed a judicial review challenging the termination notice issued by the Malacca State Government.<ref>{{cite news |author=KIRAT KAUR |agency= |title=Melaka Gateway Sues State Government for Terminating Project |url=https://www.therakyatpost.com/news/malaysia/2020/12/15/melaka-gateway-sues-state-government-for-terminating-project/ |newspaper=The Rakyat Post|date=15 December 2020 |access-date=24 November 2021 }}</ref> In February 2021, the review was dismissed by the court.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hafiz Yatim |agency= |title=Melaka Gateway developer fails to challenge state's directive to halt project |url=https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/melaka-gateway-developer-fails-challenge-states-directive-halt-project |newspaper=The Edge Markets |date=17 February 2021 |access-date=25 November 2021 }}</ref>
In March 2023, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the project may be revived in discussions with the state government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anthony Loke: MOT, Melaka govt in discussions to continue Melaka International Cruise Terminal project |url=https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/657842 |access-date=10 May 2023 |work=The Edge Markets |agency=Bernama |date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
==Resumption== The resumption of the Melaka Gateways project was marked by new investors, shareholders, and team, and restarting of construction of the Melaka International Cruise Terminal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2022 |title=KAJ Development resumes Melaka Gateway project |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=2059568 |access-date=11 August 2023 |website=BERNAMA}}</ref>
In March 2022, KAJD signed an MOU with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority to collaborate on the investment and operations of the free-trade zone on the project's first island (PME1).<ref>{{Cite web |title=KAJ Secures Investors Melaka Gateway Mega Project |date=16 March 2022 |url=https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022/03/780614/kaj-secures-investors-melaka-gateway-mega-project}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=KAJ Development Inks MoU Exchanges MoA with Investors in Dubai |date=17 March 2022 |url=https://themalaysianreserve.com/2022/03/17/kaj-development-inks-mou-exchanges-moa-with-investors-in-dubai/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melaka Gateway Developer Inks MoU MoA for PME1 Megaproject |date=16 March 2022 |url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/business/56436/melaka-gateway-developer-inks-mou-moa-for-pme1-megaproject}}</ref>
In March 2023, it was announced that the Sultan of Johor was the second-largest shareholder of the project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 March 2023 |title=Johor sultan now Melaka Gateway's second largest shareholder |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/657711 |access-date=11 August 2023 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>
On 12 September 2023, the project was back on track, following support and approvals from the state and federal governments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2023|title=Melaka Gateway advances with new Investors, shareholders, and dynamic leadership |url=https://www.thesundaily.my/business/melaka-gateway-advances-with-new-investors-shareholders-and-dynamic-leadership-MD11478400 |access-date=11 September 2023 |website=theSun}}</ref>
==See also== * Megaprojects * Arab City Melaka * Forest City, Johor
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|melakagateway.com}} * [https://www.brimonitor.org/case-studies/melaka-gateway/ BRI Monitor case study]
{{coord|2.1790|N|102.2557|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
Category:Artificial islands of Malaysia Category:Islands of Malacca