Traders want quick development

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BATU PAHAT: The town’s public market stakeholders want development projects to begin as soon as possible.

Market traders and wholesalers association chairman Tan Hap Koon said the market is old, crowded, messy and is desparate for a change.

He hoped the market’s wholesalers could be relocated to another place so that the 40-year-old market could be renovated as soon as possible.

“The market simply cannot cope anymore with the increasing number of people trading and shopping here.

“We estimate that there are more than 200 people doing business in a limited space here,” he said.

A real hassle: Batu Pahat public market surrounding areas are congested due to increase of vehicles and lorries in and out the areas to unload goods.

Tan added that the traders had waited for the market to be redeveloped for the past 20 years, but to no avail.

The trader’s association, said Tan, was informed by the town council that no budget was available for the developing Batu Pahat’s retail and wholesale market.

“We have submit a proposal to the council to use the fund to build market for wholesalers first as it is more urgent.

“We can proceed to rebuild the existing market once the whosalers are temporarily re-settled,” he said.

At present, the wholesalers are utilising lots outside the market, causing traffic congestion when lorries are unloading goods during peak hours.

Commenting on the issue, fishmonger Lim Kian Soon said retailers and wholesalers must be segregated for a better business evironment.

“Retailers and wholesalers do not mix in most of the markets as it will cause a lot of complications due to price differences.

“Some customers question why certain stalls are selling more expensive than other without knowing one is retailer and other is wholesaler,” he said.

Lim said the wholesalers have no problem moving to a new location in Taman Kota Murni.

While some agree to temporarily relocate, a number of traders in the market said they were confused over issues re-developing the area.

“If the wholesalers move away, we have to spend money on transportation to get the staff from wholesale market,” said another fishmonger, who declined to be named.