“This is a long-term plan. The shortest distance between Melaka and Dumai is 47km,” he said at a press conference here for the launch of Melaka Week at Expo 2020 Dubai.

State executive councillor Ab Rauf Yusoh said so far a Malaysian company had expressed interest in building the tunnel but was only capable of meeting 50% of the project cost.

However, he said the agreement and approval of the Indonesian government was required for the project to be implemented.

“If everything goes smoothly, construction of the tunnel will take four to five years,” he added.

In 2019, Bloomberg reported that the Indonesian government was considering a bridge linking Melaka and Sumatra as part of a US$70 billion plan to build toll highways to link Indonesia’s islands together.

The state government has also invited investors in the Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone, which involves the reclamation of a 23,000-acre (9,300-hectare) site spanning 33km.

Sulaiman said the zone was a suitable location for investments in the shipping, maritime activities, logistics and manufacturing sectors.

He said the project would comprise a container centre, ferry and cruise ship terminal, duty-free zone, logistics hub, oil and gas terminal, ship repair facility as well as for ship-to-ship transfer activities.