FOOD operators at the Puteri Wangsa food court in Ulu Tiram, Johor, are hoping a long-awaited facelift will breathe new life into the 20-year-old premises and draw customers back.
An allocation of RM100,000 had been approved under the Madani Infrastructure Project (Prisma) to upgrade the food court at Jalan Badik 16, Taman Puteri Wangsa.
Mixed rice stall operator Mohamad Amir Dulah Hussein, 56, said the food court had gradually lost patrons over the years as deteriorating facilities and poor accessibility made the premises look neglected.
“The staircase leading to the stalls is in poor condition, while many of the handrails are rusty and damaged.
“The lack of accessibility features, including ramps, also makes it difficult for senior citizens and people with disabilities to visit.
“The upgrading is much-needed to attract more customers,” he said, adding that he had been operating there for more than 12 years.
Nasi ayam penyet seller Hera Juwita Mohd Kassim, 46, said the building’s faded paintwork made the food court look run-down and abandoned from a distance.
“There used to be standardised tables and chairs provided as part of the premises, but these were removed years ago,” she said.
Hera said each stall now uses its own tables and chairs, resulting in a lack of uniformity.
She also claimed that some individuals loitered at the rear of the building, where several shops were no longer operating, affecting the image of the food court.
“An upgrade to improve the food court’s image and customer comfort will definitely give the place a new lease of life,” she added.
Customer Low Seng Kee, 55, who lived nearby, hoped the toilets and hand-washing facilities would also be upgraded.
“The toilets are locked to prevent suspected homeless people from using them, but that is inconvenient for customers,” he said, calling for cleanliness standards to be improved.
Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah said he had visited the food court to speak with tenants and identify the improvements needed.
“The upgrading project will begin after the letter of acceptance is issued and is expected to take four to six months to complete,” he said.
Puah added that three other projects had also been approved under Prisma in the parliamentary constituency.
These included RM200,000 for roof repairs at SMK Puteri Wangsa, RM100,000 to build a sheltered parking area at Surau Jumaat As Saddiq in Kampung Baru Sri Aman and RM50,000 for playground upgrades at Palma Kipas Flats in Taman Dato Chellam.
