SIBU, August 8: Pasar Tamu Taman Indah will be turned into a daily trading site for traders once a covered structure, estimated to cost RM2 million, is built under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Central Youth chairman Michael Tiang, who visited the market today, pointed out that with the market relocated to Taman Indah, the long-term plan was to turn the area into a new township.
“In order for business to prosper, there is a need to ensure that traders have a conducive environment to do business. The covered place to provide traders with shade and protection from rain and sun, thus needed to be constructed,” he said.
The Tamu was opened on Aug 1 after it was relocated from Jalan Mahsuri. Most traders there are using canopies to operate their business. However, there are also those who do not own a canopy and are thus exposed to weather risk.
“Next year, a covered place will be built so as to make it a permanent Tamu. Once that is done, the traders can trade seven days a week instead of at weekends only,” he added.
By making the Tamu a daily trading place, Tiang, who is also a political secretary to the Chief Minister, emphasised that it will also help to create economic impact for the area.
“There are a lot of residents in this area. So this place can be a new township for the town. This will be the long-term plan,” he said.
On the purpose of his visit to the market, he said it was to get feedback from the traders, business owners in the area, as well as members of the public on the new site.
He later gave away free hand sanitisers to all the hawkers and educate them on personal hygiene.
Meanwhile, Sibu Municipal Council’s Market and Petty Traders chairman, Councillor Albert Tiang disclosed that the number of traders had increased to 137 from 114 last week.
On traffic congestion around the Tamu, he said the council had this morning started to issue compounds to those who parked their vehicle illegally.—DayakDaily
