Some 100 traders from fire-ravaged Pasar Pasir Puteh have been relocated to a temporary site in Kampung Baru Pasir Pinji, Ipoh. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN and ANNABELLE LAWRENCE/ The Star
TRADERS and customers are adjusting to doing business at a temporary site after last year’s fire destroyed the Pasir Puteh wet market at Jalan Chung Ah Ming in Ipoh, Perak.
For many, the move to Jalan Hoover in Kampung Baru Pasir Pinji, about 250m from the old wet market, is a relief.
Some 100 traders from the 67-year-old Pasar Pasir Puteh were relocated to the temporary site on Sept 8.
This followed a midnight fire at the old market on Feb 13, 2024, with about 90% of the structure destroyed.
In the interim, market vendors were allowed to trade below tents at the old location.
Dry goods seller Ou Yuet Soo said although she was grateful to have a place to trade, she could not wait to return to the old market.
Many traders say the temporary market is comfortable, but it will take time for customers to find them.
“I have been doing business there for over 40 years. It holds so many memories.”
However, she pointed out that at the new site, vehicles loading and unloading goods on the concrete slab drain covers had caused them to break.
“I worry that people, especially the elderly, might fall into the drain and get hurt.
“I hope that the authorities will do something about it,” she said when met at the temporary trading site.
Another trader, who wanted to be known only as Wong, said business had dropped by about 10% in the two days after relocation.
“At the old market, people would start coming in at 6am.
“Here, we only see the first few customers at around 7am.
“However, I believe that once more people know about this place, they will start coming regularly,” added the trader who sells bread, coffee powder, and kuih.
Phang: New trading lot more comfortable.
Food vendor Phang Choon Kiew, who sells chee cheong fun and pau, said the new place was more comfortable and not as hot as the old market.
“It can be a bit troublesome when it rains, but overall I am happy,” she said.
Phang said that she had rushed over to the Pasar Pasir Puteh when she heard about the fire.
“I was fortunate that my stall was not affected, but I still had to move with the other traders. I cannot wait to return to the old market,” she added.
Chicken seller Chan Tock Soon said he suffered losses of around RM5,000 due to the fire.
“I hope to go back to the old site one day, because business was much better there,” he said.
See Hua: Competition will be held for a new market design.
Sing Wai Neng said it was still too early to determine whether business would be good.
He said the temporary site was clean and not as stuffy compared to the old market.
“The toilets are also well maintained,” the trader said, hoping that business would pick up once regular customers got used to the new location.
Dry goods trader Lim Cho Hui said the temporary site was more convenient.
“We don’t have to carry everything back home every day. I just put a lock and leave it,” he said.
However, Cho Hui said rainwater would sometimes flow into stall areas.
Customer Tan Beng Joo, however, said the temporary site felt more congested.
“The old market was bigger and had more space to move around.
“You could walk freely without bumping into people.”
For housewife Goh Sew Hwang, her preference is the temporary site as “it is nicer and cleaner, including the toilets”.
Tan feels that the temporary site is smaller and congested..
She is glad to have the temporary market so she could continue to shop at her regular stalls.
Sew Hwang said she was also looking forward to seeing a brand new market come up at the old site.
“I hope it will have upgraded facilities,” she said.
During a visit, Pasir Pinji assemblyman Goh See Hua said he was aware of teething problems at the temporary site.
“Among the issues are water ponding and broken concrete slab drain covers,” he said.
“We are also considering installing closed-circuit TV cameras to improve safety,” he said.
See Hua urged residents nearby to show their support for the traders.
“Since the old market burned down, foot traffic has dropped.
“Some customers have gone to other markets and may not return.
“I hope residents around Pasir Pinji will come here to shop and help the traders rebuild their livelihood,” he added.
See Hua said Ipoh City Council (MBI) was scheduled to launch a design competition for the new market building, in collaboration with Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT).
“Once the winning design is chosen, we can begin construction works,” he said, adding that the necessary allocations would also need to be secured.
MBI councillor Jayden Lim, who is in charge of the Pasir Puteh zone, said the design competition was expected to be launched next month.
“Once the winning entry has been selected, a quotation will be prepared and the tender process will follow, which may take about six months,” he said.
“If everything goes smoothly, we expect the tender to be finalised by June or July next year.
“The entire redevelopment of the old market is expected to take about three years to complete,” Jayden added.
