BATU PAHAT: The Federal Government has approved an allocation of RM9mil to build a wholesale market and upgrade its existing facilities here.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he received the good news last week.
“It is something the people of Batu Pahat have long awaited,” said Dr Chua.
According to the plan, the existing market located in Jalan Pasar will be demolished and replaced with a new building.
Wholesalers in the market will be relocated to Taman Kota Murni, some 2.5km away.
Too old: The 50-year-old public market in Batu Pahat in Jalan Pasar that needs upgrading to cope with increasing population.
In November last year, Dr Chua, Batu Pahat municipal council president Abdul Rashid Ismail, Penggaram assemblyman Datuk Koh Chee Chai and several councillors visited the market to have a closer look at the problems faced by the traders and customers at the market.
Dr Chua said the facilities in the 50-year-old market is unable to cope with Batu Pahat’s growing population and demand.
He added that the new venue for wholesalers would cost RM3mil, while rebuilding the present market would require another RM6mil.
“A committee including representatives of all sectors in the market such as chicken, fish, vegetables and meat retailers and wholesalers would be set up to manage stall distribution works after the projects completed,” he said.
Batu Pahat Municipal councillor Kang Beng Kuan would lead the committee to look into the needs and coordination works, he said.
“We hope the process will run smoothly and we appeal to all the traders to give their fullest cooperation,” he said, adding that Semarah assemblyman Datuk Ariss Samsudin would also assist the committee.
Dr Chua said that the allocation of stalls in wet markets after moving or relocation has been a perennial problem as too many traders are vying for the limited trading spaces.
“Some have licences but do not run the business in the market, while other traders conduct their business in the market with no licences,” he added.
In another matter, councillor Kang said an open tender has been called and the project is expected to commence next month.
He said RM6mil of the total allocation came from Housing andLocal Government ministry, while the rest of RM3mil was from the Prime Minister’s office.
