MELAKA, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Islamic Religious Council (MAIM) is offering “win-win” incentives, including rental exemptions and reductions, to attract entrepreneurs interested in restoring and operating seven vacant heritage waqf premises at Jonker Walk, a popular tourist area.
The strategic move involves a collaborative restoration approach with tenants, as the heritage-listed buildings require restoration and conservation works that must comply with strict local authority (PBT) requirements.
MAIM secretary Shaifulfazlee Mohamad said of the 32 waqf premises at the iconic tourism location, 25 had been successfully rented out while the remaining seven were ready to be revived.
He said as an initial step, five of the seven badly damaged premises along Jalan Hang Kasturi and Jalan Kuli had been cleared since mid-last month at a cost of RM42,000, covering tree-cutting, pesticide control and site cleaning works.
“For dilapidated and risky premises, we have installed safety barriers to ensure the safety of visitors. At the same time, we have marked damaged structures to help potential tenants plan the repair works,” he told a media conference after inspecting the sites here today.
On the restoration privatisation approach, Shaifulfazlee said MAIM was prepared to offer flexible rental arrangements to help tenants manage their initial investment costs.
“Among the planned incentives are rental exemptions of three to six months, rental discounts for up to three years during the return-on-investment (ROI) period, as well as more reasonable long-term rental contracts,” he said.
He added that the base rental rates for the seven premises were assessed according to the standards of the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), with competitive rates ranging from RM700 to RM2,600 per month.
To date, MAIM has received three business proposals from interested parties and is reviewing their financial capability and business sustainability before granting approval.
“There are no restrictions on using the premises as galleries, offices, retail spaces or concept-based accommodation, as long as the businesses comply with syariah requirements. Interested entrepreneurs may contact the MAIM Property Development Division (Rental Unit),” he said.
Shaifulfazlee said rental collections from the 25 occupied premises were fully channelled towards supporting the ecosystem and management of Masjid Kampung Hulu and Masjid Kampung Kling, including staff remuneration, religious programmes and building maintenance.
“These assets are permanent waqf properties that cannot be sold. With the arrival of new tenants, we are not only generating funds for mosque-related welfare activities, but also preserving Melaka’s heritage architecture while further boosting tourism at Jonker Walk,” he said.
-- BERNAMA