Traders at a wet market in Jalan Lengkuas, Pudu have been forced to operate at a temporary site in Kuala Lumpur for the last eight years now despite being promised a new facility within three years.
The completion date for the new market, located just opposite Pasar Sementara Jalan Lengkuas and next to Devi Sri Maha Karumariamman Alayam temple, is still up in the air as it
completely lacks basic utility infrastructure.
Fruit seller Yip Chie Wai, 35, said his business plummeted after moving to the temporary site.
“There are simply not enough parking bays here.
“The original market had a larger carpark that attracted customers,” he said.
Another vegetable seller,identified as only Ho, said poor foot traffic forced many stalls to operate just three days a week.
“This has dragged on for eight years. “Many of us can no longer sustain our businesses.
“Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) must expedite the construction of the new market,” she said.
Ho added that the construction of a nearby condominium, which began in 2023 and completed earlier this year, made matters worse.
“Swirling dust during construction drove customers away and falling debris hitting the roof raised safety concerns.
“Now that the condominium is completed, our temporary market is seen as an obstruction because it sits on an access road for residents,” she said, adding that the new residents rarely shopped at the market.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who visited the site with DBKL officials and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, said bureaucratic red tape was the main cause of the prolonged delay.
He said the new market was currently 80% complete, but utilities such as water, electricity and sewerage infrastructure were not ready yet.
“Connecting these utility systems involves several agencies including Tenaga Nasional
Bhd, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd and Indah Water Konsortium, which takes time.
“To make things worse, the contractor was found to be incapable of building the sewerage infrastructure.
“DBKL had to fork out an extra RM1.5mil to resolve the issue, further delaying the project,” he said, adding that RM5mil was allocated for the new market.
With the project now six months past its deadline at the end of last year, Tan said no one could confirm a completion date.
“However, DBKL has been doing weekly assessments of the work progress since last year.
“What I can do now is strengthen the monitoring and push the authorities to get the work done as soon as possible,” he added.
Nevertheless, not all traders are eager to relocate.
A grocer known only as Chong said she preferred the current site.
“The road to the new market is very narrow and blocked by abandoned cars.
“The temporary market has better access,” she said.
DBKL did not respond to queries at press time.
