The old site of Pasar Awam SK10. Traders were relocated to the temporary site on Jalan SK6/1 in 2023. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
Assemblyman wants design changed to accommodate more parking
THE long-awaited rebuilding of Pasar Awam SK10 in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, is expected to start early next year.
Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), in a statement, said it was reviewing the technical proposal and negotiating the price with the architectural firm that won in a market design contest.
“This process is being carried out before the letter of acceptance is issued to the firm, which will then be appointed as the lead consultant.
“The project is expected to take 24 months,” added MBSJ.
The RM12mil project would be a modern facility with a ground floor dedicated to wet goods and fresh produce and an upper floor for dry goods, food stalls and a communal space.
StarMetro earlier reported that the redesign of Pasar Awam SK10 stemmed from a collaborative competition organised last year by MBSJ and the Malaysian Institute of Architects.
The contest sought innovative concepts for a two-storey market on the 0.267ha site at Jalan Pasar in Kampung Baru Seri Kembangan. (see map)
The competition attracted 91 entries, with 10 firms receiving prizes, including the top three winners.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced the winners in May.
However, the revitalisation effort faced a significant hurdle as the design brief for the new market did not mention parking facilities.
To facilitate the demolition of the old market, traders were temporarily relocated to a site in Jalan SK6/1 in April 2023, while the old market site was sealed off with concrete barriers and hoarding for safety purposes.
On Aug 14, StarMetro highlighted the traders’ complaints of loss of income at the temporary site due to lack of parking space and customers’ reluctance in visiting for fear of getting fined for illegally parking their vehicles.
In the same statement, MBSJ said it has provided a parking lot in front of the temporary market in Jalan SK6/1 and would constantly monitor the situation to manage traffic and customer needs.
Later, in a interview with StarMetro, Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki said her suggestion for the nearby MBSJ Seri Kembangan Multipurpose Hall at Jalan Besar to be rebuilt as a multi-level community hall with parking was deemed unfeasible due to time and logistical constraints.
She is now lobbying for a substantial expansion of the new market’s design to include a multi-storey parking facility.
She is advocating for the two-storey market to be expanded into a four-storey building, incorporating two levels with at least 600 parking bays.
“I have written to the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) on the matter, emphasising the need for such a facility to cater to both market-goers and visitors to nearby shops.
“I am hopeful that the plea for integrated parking will be considered, since construction is still some months away,” she added.
Wong said if MBSJ worried about additional cost, it should seek funding from KPKT or the state government.
She envisioned the revamped Pasar Awam SK10 would incorporate sustainable features such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting and a composting machine.
She added that extended operating hours or two operating sessions daily could address the shift in customer preferences and better cater to the working crowd once the market was completed.
