Traders want roof over their heads

LOCATED a 40-minute drive away from Kuala Lumpur, the township of Bandar Sungai Long, in Kajang, Selangor has been rapidly growing.

Yet it lacks a proper market complex since its inception 30 years ago.

Instead, for over 20 years, traders have been operating from temporary locations and this makeshift market has been relocated three times.

Despite calls for a proper market to be built, the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) is instead going ahead with plans to build a temporary structure for the morning market traders there.

Currently at Persiaran SL 1, the morning market sees a segment of the street closed daily from 5am until 11am for its operations.

In an effort to provide a proper trading space, the local authority rezoned two plots of land in Jalan SL 2/3 for market use in 2021 and named it Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long.

Pasar Mahkota Sentral in the neighbouring township has 120 stalls as well as a food court with 30 stalls. It also has 180 parking bays in its basement and compound.

MPKj then attempted to relocate some 200 traders from Persiaran SL 1 to the site but only half of them moved and they have been trading under makeshift canopies ever since.

The rest have remained on Persiaran SL 1 as they are upset about the lack of a permanent structure and proper facilities at Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long.

Then in September, the Local Government Development Ministry (KPKT) approved a RM650,000 allocation to construct a temporary structure, with some basic facilities, to house the traders.

Some 100 traders are still operating from Persiaran SL 1 and have refused to move to Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long until a permanent market is built.

MPKj corporate unit director Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman said the municipal council had applied for the allocation from KPKT.

Once the temporary structure is completed, all market traders will relocate to the site to operate under one roof, he said, adding that a project tender process was underway.

However, this arrangement has divided the traders.

A survey by StarMetro found that those operating at Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long, where the temporary market is going to be built, are happy about the upgrade.

But traders operating at Persiaran SL 1 are not happy, saying that the project would be a waste of public funds.

They want a permanent market comprising a multi-storey building with parking facilities and other amenities similar to the Pasar Mahkota Sentral in the neighbouring township of Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

Conducive place needed

Some 100 traders at Laman Niaga Bandar Sungai Long are, however, in favour of the temporary market.

Pertubuhan Penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Laman Niaga Komuniti Bandar Sungai Long chairman Yap Keam Fui said they needed a conducive place to trade and a temporary market would suffice.

He said they were operating under worn-out canopies that could give way at any time.

“A new roofed structure is what we need,” he said.

He said if MPKj had enough funds to build a multi-storey building, they would be in favour of that, too.

“As long as our rental rate is maintained as it is, we will be okay with any building plan for the market.

The open carpark near the Persiaran SL 1 market is often full on weekdays because many university students park there.

“Our concern is to make sure that all traders are able to sustain their businesses in the new building,” he said.

Vegetable vendor Chan Keng Yeng, 59, who preferred a roofed structure, said markets in buildings were usually hot and stuffy.

“Adequate ventilation is important for a market and the roofed structure would be perfect,” she said

MPKj councillor Kwan Say Hong said a large-scale market was not suitable for Sungai Long, especially if it were built using a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.

Yap says a temporary market is okay as long as the rental rate is maintained.

A BOT model is a public-private partnership where a private company is given the concession to finance, build and run a project for a specified period.

“Mahkota Sentral Pasar, which was built using the BOT model is only 3km away from Sungai Long morning market and has many vacant lots due to its high rental rates.

“Traders say the monthly rental and utility payment for a lot in Mahkota Sentral Pasar is about RM700 a month and it is too much for them.

Chan prefers a roofed structure with good ventilation.

“Traders at MPKj-run markets pay only about RM150 a month,” Kwan said.

Waste of money

The traders operating from Persiaran SL 1 want MPKj to call off the temporary market project.

Persatuan Peniaga-peniaga Kecil Bandar Sungai Long chairman Fanny Lim Foong Kuan said MPKj officers had explained to them that the temporary market would only be for a couple of years as a permanent structure was in the pipeline.

“MPKj’s proposed temporary market is just like replacing the canopies with a big roof over the stalls.

“If there are not enough funds to build the permanent market now, MPKj should wait until there is or find alternatives to fund the project.

“Building a temporary one for us to move into, only to ask us to move out a few years later to make way for the building of a permanent structure does not make sense.”

Instead, she said MPKj should allow the traders to operate from the roadside until there were enough funds to build a permanent market.

Lim says MPKj should wait until there are enough funds for a permanent market structure.“Otherwise, a portion of the RM650,000 could be used to upgrade Persiaran SL 1, like resurfacing the road and building a roof on the sides where we set up our stalls to make the area more conducive for the traders and customers.

“The balance could be put towards the permanent market while MPKj looks for alternatives to fund it.”

She said the township needed a market with ample parking space. Since a university is nearby, the students take up many public parking bays, especially on weekdays.

“A market complex with a multi-storey carpark is a good idea. It would alleviate the parking problem in the area.”

StarMetro has reported on the market issue several times.

In its latest report on Oct 26 titled “Sg Long market to be ready by 2024”, then MPKj acting president Mohd Fareez Mohd Ariss @ Mohd Hatta said KPKT would include an application for the permanent market project in the Fourth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan by March 24.

Whether the application is approved or not would only be known in 2025.

If funding was a problem, fishmonger Fadhil Yihun, 49, proposed for the market to be built using the BOT model.

Fadhil: Market should have affordable rental and parking rates.However, he said many traders feared that the stall rental rates would be high if the market was run by a private company.

“MPKj needs to strike a deal with the private company to ensure affordable rental and parking rates will be offered and maintained for market traders throughout the concession period.

“The private company could look into other ways to make a profit such as renting the market complex out as an event space or the food court, shops and offices at commercial rate.

“The area is densely populated and is in demand for such commercial spaces,” he said.

‘Not a wise move’

Kajang assemblyman David Cheong Kian Young told StarMetro that a temporary market would be a mistake if it were to go through.

“The traders need a permanent market. Until they get that, it is best to allow them to operate where they are.

“The money could be put to better use, such as improving other MPKj markets that are in dire need of an upgrade.

“Using the money to build a temporary market with the possibility that it will be torn down to make way for a permanent market in the next couple of years is not wise,” he said.

Cheong added that he was also doubtful that the sum from KPKT was enough to fund the temporary market project.