MELAKA, Aug 24 — Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam has requested the federal government to extend the runway of the Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam here.
He said it is to enable LTAM to accommodate landings of new generation aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, with full load capacity, like at Rotterdam The Hague Airport in the Netherlands.
“The airport, which initially served as a hub for tourist flights, has now become a hub for low-cost and business sector flights with connections to over 50 destinations across Europe,” he said.
He said this while delivering a speech at the investiture ceremony of Melaka state awards, decorations and medals at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh here today.
Commenting further, Mohd Ali said Melaka recorded the arrival of more than 15.9 million tourists in 2025, an increase of 5.9 per cent compared to 2024.
He said that up to June this year, 7.2 million tourists visited Melaka, reflecting the state’s continued strong appeal both domestically and internationally.
“The state government’s initiative in providing more than 840 creative, innovative, and competitive tourism products is commendable.
“Programmes like Melaka Bila Larut Malam and the organisation of the Car-Free Zone in Banda Hilir not only enrich the experience of tourists but also contribute to a friendly and vibrant city atmosphere,” he said.
Mohd Ali also congratulated the state government on the implementation of the Melaka Rice Seed and Rice Project, which has shown encouraging yield improvements.
He said that the success reflects the state government’s commitment to helping farmers obtain legitimate rice seed supplies at more affordable prices, thereby ensuring food supply stability and increasing local white rice production.
“Similarly, the establishment of the Giant Freshwater Prawn Aquaculture Centre in Sungai Rambai, which is capable of producing 900 giant freshwater prawn larvae per cycle, has also been successful.
“This initiative is further strengthened by the establishment of the Melaka Aquapreneur Training Centre in Merlimau, which aims to produce modern agricultural entrepreneurs through training based on practical skills and current technology,” he added.
