The historic Ayer Molek prison, located in the heart of Johor Baru city, is set to be repurposed as a temporary parking area in preparation for the upcoming Asia Pacific Regional Climate Change Week (APRCW) 2023.
Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman announced that the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) is working to clear overgrown vegetation from the old prison compound to create additional parking space for attendees of the event, which is scheduled to take place from Nov 13 to 17.
To address the shortage of parking in the city area, the city council plans to turn both the prison area, covering 5.2 hectares, and a neighboring plot of land into temporary parking areas.
Mohd Noorazam emphasized the need for the additional parking, stating that the high volume of vehicles expected to enter Johor Baru during the event necessitates the provision of extra parking space.
He also announced that free shuttle bus services will be provided for those parking at the two locations, which will transport visitors to the Persada International Convention Centre, the venue for APRCW 2023.
The mayor encouraged the public to take advantage of the shuttle bus service, highlighting that the distance between the prison and the convention center is approximately 850 meters.
APCRW 2023, a regional collaboration platform organized by the Johor and Federal governments as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is expected to host over 2,000 delegates from various countries.
The event will focus on four main areas: energy systems and industry, cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure and transport, land, water, food, and agriculture, as well as society, health, income sources, and the economy.
Mohd Noorazam also highlighted Malaysia’s recent commitment to climate adaptation and sustainable energy, including the launch of the National Adaptation Plan and the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
For the purpose of climate adaptation, Malaysia is prioritizing resilience in five key areas: public health, agriculture and food security, forestry and biodiversity, water resources and security, as well as infrastructure and urban concerns.
The Ayer Molek prison, which began operations in 1883 and used to accommodate up to 1,500 convicts, ceased its main operations in 2005 and finally closed down in 2018.
