They fear losing livelihoods as upgrade works to take five years
PLANS to temporarily relocate traders for upgrading works at Buntong wet market in Ipoh, Perak, have drawn objections from various quarters.
The plan has prompted MCA and MIC representatives from Ipoh Barat to seek an amicable solution with Buntong assemblyman M. Thulsi.
They plan to submit a memorandum, backed by 131 traders’ signatures, highlighting concerns over the proposed four- to five-year relocation period at a temporary site about 2km away.
Ipoh Barat MCA Youth chief Chung Kok Heung said the traders were not against upgrading the market, which is more than 70 years old.
However they, especially the elderly traders, feared prolonged relocation would affect their livelihoods and customer base, he said.
The traders, he said, hoped the relocation period could be shortened to between six months and a year.
“If the matter remains unresolved, we will bring the memorandum to Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Ipoh mayor Datuk Zamakhshari Hanipah,” he told reporters when met at the market.
Chung said the traders were also unhappy with the consultation process and claimed they had not received sufficient details about facilities at the temporary site.
Ipoh Barat MIC information officer Richard Ferdinand said traders were concerned about restrictions on slaughtering chickens and preparing fish at the temporary market.
He urged the authorities to consider carrying out upgrading works at Buntong wet market in phases, allowing traders to continue operating near the existing premises.
Chicken trader Raymond Anthony, 49, said relocating could affect his business, while Wong Kim Yin, 77, who has been selling prayer items at the market for 37 years, questioned the need for a complete overhaul.
She said some facilities, including the roof and ceiling fans, were recently replaced.
Perak MCA public services and complaints bureau chief Charles Yuen urged authorities to improve security, citing alleged drug abuse, theft and vandalism around the market.
He said suspected drug users had been breaking into traders’ stalls and stealing belongings in the past two years.
He added that a memorandum had been submitted to Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation to be delivered to the district police.
When contacted, Thulsi said residents and customers wanted a new market rather than renovation works, to address longstanding problems involving traffic flow, parking, waste management, safety and uneven flooring.
The existing building, she said, built more than seven decades ago, was no longer suitable for present-day needs.
“Building a new market would allow for better planning and infrastructure, particularly in addressing waste disposal involving fish and meat.”
Thulsi denied claims that traders had been instructed to vacate the existing market by the end of the month.
She said the relocation date would be announced once the temporary market’s completion timeline was confirmed.
She added that she would help the traders promote their businesses and organise programmes to attract customers to the new location.
On food preparation, Thulsi said slaughtering chickens was prohibited at new markets under existing government policy, but fish could still be cut and sold as usual.
She said traders would be given tables measuring 1m x 1.5m or 1.6m, while some would be given two or three lots depending on their requirements.
Thulsi said the temporary market in Jalan Kanthan was a RM2mil facility built on land large enough to accommodate both traders and customers.
“We have records of traders who agreed to the move before construction of the temporary market began,” she added.
