JUNE 27 — Malacca is mortified. The state government has embarrassed the historical city and the country by shutting down the popular Jonker Walk night market.

Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron has just put us on the world tourist map — not through a stroke of marketing wizardy, but with the chilly ruthlessness of a villain plotting the demise of an icon.

Despite a barrage of criticism, Idris insists that Jonker Walk poses a huge traffic problem and that the four-week trial to close the tourist destination was to mitigate traffic flow in the area.

Little does he realise that the heavy traffic problem is due to people thronging Jonker Walk. That to any city must be a nice, welcome problem — because you want people to make a beeline there.

The Malacca government has suddenly shown a lack of strength to promote what has become an international tourist attraction and family-friendly destination since its opening 13 years ago.

Malacca depends heavily on the tourist ringgit and one wrong move could badly affect the invigorating power of citizens and communities to achieve economic success.

Why isn’t Idris prioritising tourism? Why is he backtracking on the government’s promise to create the best environment for enterprise and wealth creation?

Ensuring that the three arrows hit their marks will require unremitting focus on the part of the archer, something Idris doesn’t seem to be able to provide.

As a result the first bleak scenario under the new chief minister has emerged: 300 traders at the night market that operates from Friday to Sunday have been left in the lurch.

The unwise move has also spawned allegations of reflexive hostility arising from political retaliation.

Malacca is an ambitious city, eager to join the world’s top tourism brand names, and to shut down a proven product is a story of wasteful government interference in everyone’s lives.

Jonker Walk is a portrait of natural entrepreneurship and the will of every family to improve its lot through its own efforts without depending on handouts.

Idris should lead this ambition instead of air-brushing a landmark out of Malacca with a stroke.

The overwhelming necessity of reforming the private sector stands out and the guardians of the state must hug its prized assets close.

The thrust of redistributing wealth from high finance to ordinary citizens and the right of liberty and equality is in question.

Idris has emerged as an adversary when he should be acting more like a unit with the people.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.