The market looking brighter with the new lighting.
PART of Pulau Tikus market in Penang has been spruced up with a landscaping project near the public toilet and old lighting changed to LED light tubes.
Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit said Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had spent RM568 for the landscaping and RM16,000 for the LED lighting.
He said there were complaints from traders and market-goers about the smell and mess beside the toilet.
“We also received complaints that some people threw cigarette butts and rubbish there.
“So, I proposed to MBPP to cover up the area but they counter proposed to landscape it with some plants, ” he said when he and MBPP councillor Connie Tan visited the market recently.
“We will continue to beautify the market and we want to add more greens.
“We will be putting up some decorations in Pulau Tikus town before Chinese New Year to lift up the spirit of the people, ” Lee said.
Lee (with yellow mask) and Tan (right) being briefed by an MBPP worker on the landscaped area near the public toilet at Pulau Tikus market in George Town. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
He added that future plans for the market were in the pipeline but at the moment, it is important to help sustain the livelihood of the traders there.
“We must make sure that any plan made for the market will not affect the traders, ” he said.
Lee said the landscaping project was completed on Jan 8 while 151 LED lights were put up throughout the market between Dec 14 and 19.
“The LED lighting will help save 62% of the electricity charges.
“Each year, the electricity bill comes up to about RM15,000 but now with the LED lights, we expect it to be about RM5,800.
“This is a massive reduction, ” Lee noted.
Market worker Muhammad Rizuan Abdul Razak, 25, said the area beside the toilet used to be dirty and smelly.
“But now with the plants, the surrounding air is more fresh and it is also pleasing to look at.
“Our customers are more at ease when visiting our stalls now and they don’t complain of the bad odour and ugly sight like before, ” he added.
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