JOHOR BARU: Wet market operators in Pasar Besar Taman Molek here are urging immediate action from the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) to repair and upgrade some of the amenities at the premises.
According to a fishmonger, Lee Chin Tai, 47, the market that was built back in 1996 needed modern features to provide convenience to the tenants and visitors who come to the market, especially the elderly and people with disabilities (OKU).
“The metal drain cover at the entrance and exit of the loading bay could not handle the heavy load of the lorries that come in and out. So the tenants here have pooled their money to cement the cover.
“However, part of the cover has broken and the road leading into the premises is filled with potholes,” he said when met at the market on Friday (July 15).
The stairs at the market main gate are also not elderly and OKU-friendly, he added.
Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung, who visited the place, said that she had lodged a report on the matter back in April and early July this year and had brought it up again during the recent state assembly.
“However, until today, no action had been taken by the council.
“For the short-term solution, I will be using some of the allocations for assemblymen to build a handrail at the stairs to make it easier for the elderly,” she said.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the state government will look into the tenants' complaints to find a suitable approach.
“We have just upgraded the market's rooftop, the drainage system, repaired the toilet and tiles on the floor, as well as upgraded the fences around the premises.
“The upgrading works were done in 2019 and cost around RM150,000,” he said.
