KUCHING, Feb 26: Shopkeepers along Khoo Hun Yeang Street, located opposite the open-air market, want parking bays to be delineated and drawn in front of their shops to provide more convenience to customers as well as for loading and unloading purposes.
Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen together with Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii have visited all the shops along the street to collect written requests and petitions from the shopkeepers there.
“We have collected the signatures of those in agreement with the proposal and shall submit them to DBKU (Kuching North City Commission) next week.
“In our walkabout today, almost all the shopkeepers agreed to have a row of car park bays to be drawn in front of their shops,” he said in a statement today.
From the feedback gathered from shopkeepers, Chong, who is Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman, was made to understand that previously, there was a bus stop and bus lane in front of the shops.
However, due to the unbearable and unhealthy exhaust fumes emitted from these waiting buses with their engines running most of the time while waiting for passengers, the bus stop was relocated to the opposite side of the road.
“As such, the road in front of their shops has sufficient space and width for a row of carparks to be delineated.
“We hope that DBKU will accede to the request of the shopkeepers so as to provide more convenience to their customers,” he said.
The shopkeepers, added the Stampin MP, hope that with the creation of these proposed parking bays, it will help their businesses, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic that has taken its toll on all of them for the past two years.
Julian Tan, who is a special assistant to Chong, was also present. — DayakDaily
