THE Federal Government’s allocation to repair and upgrade hawker centres and wet markets has been welcomed by petty traders in Pasir Gudang in Johor.
Belatuk Petty Traders Association chairman Md Izam Ibrahim said they had been facing water issues for four years and hoped that the Budget 2024 allocation would resolve this.
“We do not have washrooms at our site so imagine the difficulties of stall owners.
Md Izam says traders at Belatuk are plagued by water and power supply issues.“We hope that the allocation can also be used to provide parking space for our customers.”
He said there was also no surau at Tapak Penjaja Belatuk so traders had to travel some distance to the nearest mosque and go to a nearby restaurant to use the washroom.
Md Izam added that the site’s electricity supply was insufficient.
“We have 50 stalls at the centre but only 24 power points and once there was a power trip so none of us could operate.”
He suggested that the council also erect a signboard to indicate the hawker centre’s location.
Taman Scientex Petty Traders Association chairman Kamaruzaman Sheikh Ahmad also said the allocation was timely to help its 62 members move to a new location.
“The city council designated our current site as a temporary trading zone and now that the developer has taken back the land, we have been ordered to relocate.
“We have been operating here for at least two years and we hope the government can provide us with a permanent place with better amenities.
Kamaruzaman: Taman Scientex traders would like the funds to go towards providing metal carts.“We had earlier used our own money to create a storage area and makeshift surau.”
Kamaruzaman said the city council required traders to operate from a metal cart that costs around RM3,000.
“Some of us are still using tents and portable tables because we cannot afford such costly stalls.
“We would be grateful if the council could use the allocation to provide the items.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his Budget 2024 speech announced a RM110mil allocation to revitalise 150 local authority areas which include repairing and upgrading hawker centres and market infrastructure.
Of that sum, RM10mil has been allocated to enhance the aesthetics and cleanliness of 10,000 stalls and small businesses, while RM50mil is to build 4,000 units of new commercial space.
